10+ Things to Do in Dubai for Adults

Dubai is a glittering playground for grown up vacations - from sophisticated dinner cruises to adventurous speedboat sightseeing and days spent relaxing at the beach.

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
A tourist takes a photo of the Dubai skyline

Dubai is a glittering, modern city, filled with top-notch attractions to appeal to every interest. Whether you’re interested in exploring the history of this amazing destination or you just want to enjoy the beaches and the sunny weather, you’ll find something delightful to do during your time in Dubai. So, if you’re looking for things to do in Dubai for adults, we made a list of activities that couples and groups of friends will enjoy, including...

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Dubai Tour
  • Island Beach Getaway Cruise in Abu Dhabi
  • Burj Khalifa At the Top
  • Royal Safari Experience
  • Ski Dubai Polar Pass
  • RIB Speedboat Sightseeing Tour
  • and more!

Hop-on Hop-off Dubai bus tour

First things first, why not see all the best sights and sounds of Dubai on a comprehensive Big Bus Dubai tour. It’s a good introduction to the city for first-time or infrequent visitors, and there are multiple routes to choose from. Highlights from different routes include the Burj Khalifa, Heritage Village, Spice Souk, City Walk, Mall of Emirates, Pier 7, and many more. Big Bus Dubai gives you the flexibility to hop off and visit the things that catch your interest.

Speedboat sightseeing tour

yellow-speedboat-awaits-tourists-tours-excursions

Getting out on the water is a must when visiting this sun-soaked desert city. Aboard this hair-raising speedboat ride, you’ll take an adventurous cruise around the Palm and enjoy the magnificent 360-degree views of Dubai's best bits. You'll see the city's shimmering skyline, the luxurious hotels, the Sheiks' palaces, and the stunning, sail-shaped Burj al-Arab. Bring your camera along for those all-important photo opportunities.

At the Top - Burj Khalifa

Burj_Khalifa_Observation_Deck

Travelers of all stripes won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to see the view from the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa. At the Top: Burj Khalifa is the observation deck of this stunning architectural marvel, located on the 124th and 125th floors. Enjoy interactive media displays on the way up and at the top. Once there, you’ll get panoramic vistas of the city, the beach, and the arid desert that surrounds Dubai. Don't forget your camera!

Activities at Atlantis the Palm

dubai-atlantis-hotel-on-artificial-island

Kick back and relax at Atlantis the Palm, one of the best resorts in Dubai. And you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy their enchanting offerings. Enjoy a day of exciting splashy fun at Aquaventure Waterpark, packed with exhilarating rides and slides. Or, learn about the countless exotic marine creatures at the Lost Chambers Aquarium, which has 20+ exhibits for you to explore. Then, spend an afternoon relaxing on the beach. Bliss!

Royal Safari Experience

Delight in an evening safari adventure as you roam the Arabian desert and try dune bashing through the shifting sand. Your destination is the Arabian Fortress, where you’ll be greeted with an array of traditional fare, like Arabic coffee and dates. Watch the sun set over the desert (a romantic activity for couples) and enjoy authentic Arabic activities and demonstrations like henna painting and traditional dancing. Then, indulge in a five-star dinner buffet and perhaps some shisha to unwind.

Dubai dinner cruises

dhow-cruise-dinner-dubai

If you’re looking for a romantic excursion or a friends-only adventure in Dubai, a dinner cruise is a safe bet. There are plenty of options to choose from, so it’s just a matter of which sounds the most appealing. A sunset dinner cruise in Dubai Marina is perhaps best for a date where you can see the city come alive while the sun sets. The Dhow dinner cruise has the potential for some couple-centric fun and plenty of opportunities just to enjoy the good food and sightseeing of Dubai Creek.

Arabian Culinary Experience

If a dinner cruise isn't your thing, but you and your significant other still want to sample the tasty local cuisine, then try out this unique Arabian Culinary Experience. Hosted at Al Hallab restaurant (with locations in the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates), this exciting adventure into international cuisine is sure to please.

Specializing in traditional Lebanese cuisine, Al Hallab features a wide variety of traditional mezze, grilled meats, salads, desserts, and other delicacies. What better way to get an overview of the real flavors of the region?

Ski Dubai Polar Pass

young-blonde-smiling-woman-dressed-white

Who says Dubai is all heat and desert? Slide into the world of Ski Dubai for an unbeatable indoor skiing experience. Your Ski Slope pass offers you the freedom to choose from a number of activities. Whether you want to ski the day away, try your hand at snowboarding, or ride a toboggan, you’ll have the best time enjoying winter sports together. Keep an eye out for some of the park’s more curious visitors with a Snow Classic pass – the Gentoo and king penguins that wander around throughout the day.

RIB Speedboat sightseeing tour

RIB_Speed_Boat_Sightseeing

Another great way to see the city is from the water – a unique perspective that a bus tour simply can’t replicate. The Speedboat Sightseeing Tour is a particularly exciting option for water-borne adventurers, offering insights and commentary at high speeds for 90 minutes. You'll get mesmerizing views of the skyline around Dubai Marina and the surrounding waterfront. 

iFly Indoor Skydiving

stand up paddleboarding Dubai Marina

Soar through the air on a skydiving expedition, without the flight. iFly Indoor Skydiving is a distinctive experience that offers the fun and exhilaration of skydiving and bungee jumping. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have any experience, either – new skydivers are welcome and the event itself is pretty low-key for first-time flyers. 

Watersports around Dubai Marina

wakesurfing-young-woman-wetsuit-learning-wakesurf

There are few things more delightful than visiting a beach city with friends or loved ones. Take advantage of Dubai’s amazing beaches with some water activities. Do some active sightseeing by way of stand-up paddleboarding, or try something new with a windsurfing lesson. If you need something more relaxing, just enjoy the scenery on a kayak tour. Whichever option you choose, you’ll get to make the most of the sun and surf of this desert paradise.

Rock Republic climbing walls

Rock_Republic_Climbing_Walls

Active couples and friends will want to challenge themselves – and each other! – at Rock Republic Bouldering Gym. They welcome climbers of all levels of experience and fitness, so no need to already be a rock wall junkie to participate, though you're bound to be hooked. Enjoy the freedom to climb a variety of walls at different fitness levels, as long as you’d like.

Go-karting

kart-crossing-finish-line

Strap in for an electro-powered thrill ride on an awesome go-kart at E-Kart Zabeel. You'll get behind the wheel of the latest generation of electric go-karts and enjoy a blast around a state-of-the-art track. Competitive racers among your party will delight in seeing times shared on the scoreboard at the end. What are you waiting for? Let's ride!

Save up to 50% on Dubai attractions  

Discover our full line-up of Dubai attractions, from At the Top - Burj Khalifa to Dubai Miracle Garden.

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Dubai
Blog

Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai for First Time Visitors

Dubai is the Middle East's glittering jewel, full of adventure and luxury. It's no surprise that the top attractions in the Emirates are a great place to start when planning a trip to Dubai.
Lindsay Eagan
Dubai Marina by night
Blog

Things to do in Marina, Dubai

A city within a city, Dubai Marina lies to the southwest of the Palm. Built around an entirely artificial three kilometer waterway and eight kilometer promenade, the marina is just a couple of decades old, yet already around 50,000 people reside in its waterside apartments. But visitors will find plenty of things to do in Marina, Dubai too. The long stretch of sand at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a favorite haunt of beachgoers, Dubai Marina Mall has 140 stores for all day shopping and the marina’s waterways are similarly inviting. Here’s our guide to the attractions of Dubai Marina! Take your pick of the views Lined with stunning glass and steel towers to one side and gleaming private yachts bobbing on the gentle swell of this inlet of the Persian Gulf on the other, there’s so much to look at it can leave your head in a bit of a spin. Arrive by metro, tram or taxi and one of the best things to do first is get a feel for the neighborhood’s elegance by strolling a stretch of the marina promenade, lining its entire length. You don’t need to be an ardent hiker to get a feel for the marina though, since even the shortest walk between cafés will give you a good sense of what the marina is all about. Should you want to save your shoe leather completely, it’s also very easy to explore Dubai Marina from the water. Hop aboard a traditionally-built dhow on a marina cruise and as you take in the cityscape you’ll learn all about how the marina was turned from empty desert to what you see today. To get the adrenaline flowing there are at least two further options to consider. Head to Amwaj Towers, the departure point for the XLine zipline, and you’ll get a thrilling ride across the marina to the mall, and a video for prosperity. If even that’s not a big enough adrenaline rush, Skydive Dubai has to be the place for you, operating parachute jumps over the Palm. For views without the need of a parachute, Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel could be the answer, rising to twice the height of the London Eye. Get on the water Marina cruises aren’t the only way to get on or near the water. The clean sands of the marina’s two main beaches – The Beach and JBR Beach – are an alternative to the main channel. Broad expanses of gold running for more than a kilometer, even on the busiest of days it’s not usually hard to find a spot to throw down a towel with views of the Burj Al Arab. Family-friendly, behind the beach there’s a selection of places to grab a bite to eat, with many turning into much-loved bars and nightclubs as the sun sets behind Ain Dubai. One of the hottest spots of the moment is Zero Gravity, nestled within the landing ground for SkyDive Dubai. Beach club by day and sophisticated night club come evening, sip a cocktail before dancing till dawn to sets from the best DJs around. Before that there’s ample opportunity to experience life from the viewpoint of a jet ski or try your hand at flyboarding, wakeboarding and kayaking at Water Adventure. Relax with some retail therapy Looking to take advantage of Dubai’s reputation as a magnet for shopping? Look no further than Dubai Marina Mall. Occupying four floors and with a total area of 36,000 square meters, choice is not going to be an issue whatever you’re searching for. Its dome is a great place to grab a coffee whilst deciding whether it’s high fashion or simply some window shopping that’s your main objective. In the cooler months, the exterior also hosts a number of kiosks serving up tasty takeaway treats. Reel Cinemas also has all the latest movie releases across its six screens. Art lovers, both collectors and gallery goers, aren’t short of things to do in Marina, Dubai either. Although there’s no state backed collection in the neighborhood, there are more than enough private and independently run art spaces welcoming browsers. What unites them is a focus on contemporary works from artists yet to make their name worldwide, but within that vast spectrum of delights you’ll discover everything from pop art to sculpture inspired by Asia. Enjoy a round of golf Sports fans are also well catered for by what to see and do at Dubai Marina. In addition to the raft – excuse the pun – of water sports, other reasons Dubai Marina is worth visiting are the golf courses that lie close at hand and club. On the less serious side of swinging a golf club there’s not just minigolf but 3D blacklight minigolf. The marina’s indoor course has been decorated with hand-painted three dimensional art from some of the best artists around and promises to be the world’s largest blacklight golf adventure. There are three different themed rooms in all, totaling 18 bending, obstacle-ridden holes. For the real thing you’ll have to step outside of the official boundaries of Dubai Marina, but only by 200 meters or so until you reach the Emirates Golf Club. The region’s original golf club, it has three different courses blending desert scrub with perfectly manicured greens – and all with views of the skyscrapers which have made Dubai such a must-visit destination. If that’s not enough, there’s also the Montgomerie Golf Club at Emirates Hills, designed by none other than eight time holder of the European Tour Order of Merit Colin Montgomerie with the help of the late Gordon Desmond Muirhead, full time course creator. Discovering what there is to do in Dubai Marina It forms only a small part of Dubai, yet the marina has plenty to keep visitors entertained. Just a short trip from the Burj Khalifa and other top sights, it now forms an unmissable part of most people’s vacations. Hit the neighborhood with Go City and you’ll be able to discover all the things to do in Marina, Dubai for yourself. And you’ll make big savings on admission to many major attractions at the same time!
Ian Packham
beaches in dubai
Blog

Best Beaches in Dubai - Itinerary

Dubai is known around the world for its mesmerizing modern architectural marvels, its opinion on income tax, and most importantly, its brilliant beaches. Yes, this jewel in the UAE's crown is absolutely full of them, and they're ripe for the picking. Of course, the best beaches in Dubai should absolutely be on top of your travel itinerary, thanks to the region's amazing warm weather and rain-free skies. So, which are worth a visit? Well, read on and we'll tell you! These are the best beaches in Dubai that should be top of your itinerary! Including: JBR Open Beach La Mer Kite Beach Al Mamzar Beach Park Umm Suqeim Beach and more! JBR Open Beach One of the biggest and arguably best beaches in Dubai, and well worth adding to your travel itinerary, is the Jumeirah Beach Residence - or JBR. This massive beach has everything you could ever want - clean white sand, warm blue water, and enough space to stretch out and make the most of it. While much of the beach is dedicated to ocean-side hotels, there's more than enough for you and yours. And, alongside all that brilliant white sand and warm water, you'll find snack bars, toilets, lifeguards, and more. The water itself is shallow until pretty far out, standing at 4 feet tall, so you can happily wade, float, or swim through it without worrying about being swept away. However, this does mean it's not ideal for sea-based activities like watersports. It's also open 24 hours, though swimming is not permitted after the sun goes down due to the risks involved. Umm Suqeim Beach If you want to undertake watersports like surfing, you will be better served by a trip to Umm Suqeim Beach. You'll find more than a few people riding the waves here, and while they're hardly magnificent, they're about as good as you'll get in the Persian Gulf. Another 24-hour beach, but this time you can go for a dip when the sun sets, thanks to the Smart Power lights that stay on until midnight. You'll have to get out then, though, because swimming in the dark is a big no-no. Alongside the sea activity, you'll find plenty of beach to call your own, a handful of facilities like lifeguards and restrooms, as well as some more unusual bonuses like a beachside library and a playground perfect for kids. You'll also be right next to the Buraj Al Arab, a luxurious 7-star hotel, if you want to take some photos and pretend you're important enough to be staying there. La Mer One of the newest beaches on this list, but more than worth adding to your itinerary, La Mer is one of the best beaches in Dubai. A jack of all beach trades, it offers stunning seaside views, watersports, shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities you won't find anywhere else. Done sunning yourself on the daily-cleaned sand? Why not catch a movie at the nearby cinema? Had enough of the clear, blue water? Go for a walk along pathways lined with palm trees. And, if you've got the cash to splash, you can even rent a private beach house from the Sea Level beach club. Kite Beach While not a beach in itself, Kite Beach is well worth a visit. Named after the windy conditions that make it an ample playground for kite-flyers, Kite Beach is actually a part of Umm Suqeim Beach. The wind also makes it a great place to take part in some wind and kite surfing, should that be up your alley. If you're hungry, the large number of food trucks that are set up on the bay will be sure to tickle your fancy. Featuring cuisine from across the globe, you can pick up anything from bbq chicken to pizza. Or, if you're looking for more of a sit-down experience, you'll find proper restaurants and cafes just a stone's throw away on Jumeriah Beach Road. Of course, all of that coexists with the usual beach affair you can expect from Dubai, with plenty of white sand, blue sea, and clear skies. Al Mamzar Beach Park If you're looking for the perfect beach to take your little ones, Al Mamzar prides itself on being one of the most family-friendly beaches in the city. Not only do you get one of the best beaches in Dubai, but you'll also find picnic areas, playgrounds, and swimming pools that are free for every visitor! If you're bringing kids, put Al Mamzar on your travel itinerary! They even ladies-only days on Monday and Wednesday, meaning only women, girls, and boys younger than 4 can enter. Ideal if you're more comfortable with that environment! You'll find showers, bathrooms, and changing rooms on-site, and if the sun's a bit much, you can rent a parasol and stay shaded while you lounge. And that's our list of the best beaches in Dubai you absolutely must add to your itinerary! Looking for more fun things to do during your vacation in Dubai? Why not check out Go City? With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want. There's so much to do, see, and experience that no matter what you decide to do, you'll love your time in the city!
Dom Bewley

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.