Things to do in Dubai in the Morning

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…