Dubai skyline and the iconic Burj Al Arab in the morning light

Things to do in Dubai in the Morning

Watch the sun rise over the desert, ascend the world’s tallest building, make a splash in the epic Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis the Palm, and much more!

Beat the heat with our guide to all the best things to do in Dubai in the morning. Our favorite pre-noon activities include hot-air ballooning over the Arabian Desert, shopping (and sightseeing) at Dubai Mall, smelling the roses (and millions of other plant varieties) at Dubai Miracle Garden, and dawn yoga on Jumeirah Beach.

See Sunrise over the Desert

Camels trekking through the desert

See Sunrise over the Desert

There are few things more breathtakingly romantic than the opportunity to watch the sky glowing burnished gold, mellow yellow and rose-pink as the sun comes up over the Arabian Desert. There are a number of ways to experience this most essential of Dubai activities. The most common is on a dawn safari across the dunes with local guides – and camels. You’ll ride your new pal over undulating sands to a Bedouin-style camp where you’ll be rewarded with a light breakfast and a cushion on which to rest your bruised derrière. You can also book trips that ramp up the drama with a spot of additional sand-boarding or thrilling 4x4 dune-bashing, which is precisely what it sounds like.

Or get a wholly different perspective with a hot-air balloon ride high over the dunes, with widescreen views over the desert to the distant Hajar Mountains.

Have a Stretch on the Beach

Sunrise yoga on the beach

Have a Stretch on the Beach

Jumeirah Beach tends to get – shall we say – a little busy as the day progresses, as sunscreen-dipped, parasol-toting sun-worshippers and water sports enthusiasts begin to congregate on the sands. Grab your yoga mat and get there early to beat the crowds (and the heat) and to indulge in a spot of morning meditation and/or yoga in (relatively) blissful peace and quiet as the sun comes up. Namaste.

Beat the Crowds at Major Dubai Attractions

Father and son at the aquarium

Beat the Crowds at Major Dubai Attractions

Many Dubai attractions are already up and running by 9AM, so whatcha waiting for? Morning is far and away the best time to explore this desert city’s many treasures because a) duh – temperatures are not quite so unflinchingly scorchio as in the afternoons and b) bucket-list sightseeing hotspots and air-conditioned indoor attractions are way less crowded.

Hit up the epic Dubai Mall, where morning shoppers can avoid long lines and peruse luxury and high-street brands from Armani to Zara without too much elbowing from fellow bargain-hunters. This space-age mega-mall is also where you’ll find top Dubai attractions including the Dubai Ice Rink and awesome Dubai Aquarium – get there early for uninterrupted views in its massive aquarium tunnel, where you can spot  sharks, rays and hundreds more marine critters cruising overhead.

Morning is also a good time to tick off the mighty Museum of the Future, tour the Burj Al Arab’s striking sail-like interior, and discover the Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis The Palm.

Top tip: admission to many of these attractions is included with a Dubai pass from Go City, which can save you up to 50% on standard entry fees. 

Check out our guide to the Dubai Aquarium and Lost Chambers Aquarium here.

Stop to Smell the Roses

Heart tunnel at the Dubai Miracle Garden

Stop to Smell the Roses

Usually open between October and May, Dubai Miracle Garden is a blooming marvel. Experience the world’s largest natural flower garden – 72,000 square feet of magnificent marigolds, sensational sunflowers, regal roses, and other alliterative varieties. There are a staggering 150 million flowers on display here, with eye-popping floral sculptures that include an 18-meter-tall Mickey Mouse, a life-size Emirates Airbus 380, and a Floating Lady in a red-and-white petunia dress. There’s also a heart-shaped flower tunnel that’s sure to make all your Insta dreams come true, and even a Smurf village complete with mushroom houses. Admission to Dubai Miracle Garden is included with the Dubai pass.

Haggle Your Heart Out

Spice Souk in Dubai

Haggle Your Heart Out

Bring your best haggling game on a shopping excursion to Dubai’s legendary Gold and Spice Souks. These atmospheric covered markets have been operating here in Dubai’s old town for more than a century, and tend to be a little less crowded in the morning. Step inside for a sensory saturnalia of musky scents and spices, glittering jewelry, and the hubbub of hard-selling traders and lively haggling around every corner. Hit the sweet spot with your negotiating skills to emerge triumphantly wielding bargain armfuls of saffron, frankincense, oudh and gold rings. Top tip: the Dubai pass includes a three-hour tour of the old town and its souks, accompanied by an expert guide who can help you sharpen up your bartering skills.

Take in Sky-High Views of Dubai

Tourist photographing the Burj Khalifa

Take in Sky-High Views of Dubai

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Dubai is just a tad competitive when it comes to laying claim to the biggest/tallest/best attractions in the world. We’ve already encountered the world’s largest natural garden (which also just happens to boast the world’s biggest covered butterfly garden as its next-door neighbor.) Then there’s Ain Dubai – the world’s tallest observation wheel – and Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building by some margin at a quite staggering 2,717 feet. Brave souls can take in the views from its observation deck, some 1,483 feet up on the 124th and 125th floors with the Dubai pass. And, now you’ve got a taste for it, you can also ascend the Atlantis’s Palm Tower for 360-degree views of the Palm Jumeirah, Bluewaters Island and Persian Gulf from a slightly less nerve-wracking (but still pretty nerve-wracking) 787 feet.

Make a Splash at Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm

Make a Splash at Aquaventure Waterpark

Part of Dubai’s massive Atlantis The Palm resort complex, Aquaventure Waterpark is – no surprises – the largest water theme park in the world. Mornings in Dubai can get pretty hot and sticky, so what better way to cool off than by launching yourself down some 50+ water slides across 54 epic acres? And these are no ordinary water slides either. Oh no. Take a Leap of Faith, in which victims riders plunge through a transparent tunnel in a shark-infested lagoon. Or get your stomach-churning kicks on the Odyssey of Terror, which just happens to be – yup, you guessed it – the world’s tallest water slide. A sandy beach and family-friendly splash zones provide the much-needed chill-out options.

Discover more fun things to do in Dubai in the morning and save up to 50% with a Dubai pass from Go City. Hit the buttons below to find out more…

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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abu dhabi best day trips from dubai
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Best Day Trips From Dubai

Dubai is all well and good. After all, you did decide to vacation there, and you are, of course, infallible. But what lies beyond Dubai's bright and brilliant walls? Well, explore the lands beyond on one of the best day trips from Dubai! Read on, and discover our top picks. Including: Abu Dhabi Qasr Al Watan Desert BBQ experience Quad Bike rides Camel-top travels and more! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Abu Dhabi One of the best day trips from Dubai is easily a tour of Abu Dhabi. The UAE's capital city, it's one of the most historic cities in the entire region. Compared to the modern decadence of Dubai, it's certainly a city with less of a focus on experiences. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth experiencing, if you catch our drift. Kicking off on the coast, you'll pass by famous spots such as the vast Jebel Ali Port, the National Exhibition Centre, Etihad Towers, the Louvre Museum, and Emirates Palace. Snap-worthy landmarks, if ever we saw some! With the perfect mix of culture, history, and modernity, it's the perfect place to hop out and explore. So, take this day trip from Dubai and see all of Abu Dhabi's best bits! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Visit Qasr Al Watan One of the biggest draws of taking a vacation abroad is exploring new cultures and learning about their customs. You might not get much of that in Dubai, as it's a city built for industry and tourism. So, if you want to explore Arabic culture, as well as the region's historical significance, with a trip to Qasr Al Watan? On the outside, you'll be treated to a magnificent white palace housed in the Presidential Palace compound. On the inside, you'll learn all about Arab heritage and culture and how it evolved over millennia. For centuries, the region was at the forefront of science and medicine, all while the rest of Europe was deep in the Dark Ages. Then, explore the Qasr Al Watan Library, which culture vultures will love to dive into. All in all, Qasr Al Watan makes for one of the most fascinating day trips from Dubai. Best Day Trips from Dubai - Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner You don't even need to venture too far from Dubai's city limits to experience one of the city's best day trips. Thanks to this delightful desert tour of the dunes, you can get a beautiful barbeque at your backdoor. Well, not literally. From the very start, you'll be treated like a VIP. Festivities begin as soon as you leave your hotel, when a deluxe 4x4 will pick you up. You'll travel in style and comfort into the desert surrounding Dubai, where you can take photos and admire the beauty of the setting sun. Then, you'll reach your basecamp, where you'll find the grill piping hot. Then, indulge in a whole host of BBQ treats, from grilled meats and veg to other local delights. When you've eaten your fill, prepare for an evening of entertainment! With belly dancing, a traditional Egyptian dance show, some smoky shisha, sandboarding, camel riding, henna painting, and more on offer, you're in for a great night! Then, when the festivities wind down, you'll hop back in the 4x4 and get a lift back to your hotel. The perfectly pampered end to a perfectly pampered evening! Best Day Trips from Dubai - Bug out in Dubai's desert! Switching gears now to something a bit more adrenaline-pumping. If you've never ridden over the dunes outside Dubai in a dune buggy, you've never truly lived. Change all that, and get behind the wheel on this amazing day trip out of Dubai. Like the BBQ evening, you'll get a ride in a 4x4 from your hotel to basecamp. Then, you'll board your metal hog and take the beast for a spin. For 30 glorious minutes, you'll do donuts, skids, and other buggy-related moves. And your guide will be on hand to ensure you don't blow up - or anything less explosive. If you've never boarded a dune buggy and, let's face it, you probably haven't, then give it a go on one of the best day trips from Dubai! Best Day Trips from Dubai - burn rubber atop a Quad Bike! If dune buggies don't quite do it for you, why not try a quad bike instead? These four-wheeled wonders can make quick work of Dubai's dunes, so consider hopping aboard and tearing up the desert like nobody's business. After your ride drops you at camp, you'll kick off your desert escapades by boarding a four-legged camel to take a more methodical tour of the surroundings. After your camel is sick of the sight of you, you'll reach a specially designed track nestled deep in the beautiful dunes. And then, well, it's time to ride, baby. You'll have plenty of time to ride around, squealing with glee. No one can hear your squealing out here, so let it all out. Then, when you've ridden your wheels down to the bone, hop back in your 4x4 and head right back to your hotel room. Excellent. Best Day Trips from Dubai - camel action! And finally, if the thought of riding a camel seems a lot more exotic than anything with an engine, don your best headwrap and live out your Laurence of Arabia dreams on this fauna tour of the dunes. Like the above, you'll be escorted in comfort - and air conditioning - to a camp deep in the dunes. From there, you'll saddle up and ride your two-humped friend for 30 gloriously bizarre minutes. Try and take some pics aboard a camel that cares not for your social media following. Good luck with that. Then, when you're done, you'll be taken back to camp, where you can refuel, relax, and enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, dates, and more before heading back to the city. Very nice. And those were our picks for the best day trips from Dubai! If you're looking for more fun within the city, 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.
Dom Bewley

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