10 things to do in Dubai
Dubai can easily be called the Fun Capital of the world and in this post I have listed my top 10 things to do in Dubai.
When traveling with kids and family, it is not easy to balance the trip itinerary to suit everyone’s tastes and hence these 10 things to do in Dubai will ensure everyone’s got something of their liking during the trip.
- If you’re visiting Dubai in the winter months, you have to visit Global Village and Miracle Garden
It is rightly first one in the top 10 things to do in Dubai as you will not find anything like it anywhere else in the world – not to this scale for sure. Global village take away the prize for a single place to offer cultures, food and wares from all over the world. Add to this is its wide range of kids activities in Dubai. - IMG: The world’s biggest indoor theme park with some fantastic roller coasters and rides
The best part about IMG is that its indoor. In Dubai’s soaring temperatures, it is almost a basic requirement. The other great part is that its a theme park catering to all age groups: infants, toddlers, little kids, teenagers and adults.
While it is not that huge and there are essentially 5-6 rides (Velociraptor, Predator, Thor etc) which could get the adrenaline high. Velociraptor and Predator are roller coaster while Thor gets you circulating in a 360 degree fashion at high speeds.
Advisable to do this on a weekday when there is not much rush and just enough that the place is lively. There is also a haunted house walk which is fun.
Since there are jus 5-6 rides which get your adrenaline soaring, there is bound to be a huge queue for them during the weekends. There are a more food joints within IMG than there are rides, so rest assured no one will go hungry.
For someone who hasn’t experienced sailing in a yatch, this would be my absolute next in the list of 10 things to do in Dubai. and while it doesn’t sound so, its also one of the best kids activities in Dubai.
For a more personal experience, renting a yatch is a way to go. And guess what, you don’t even need to break a bank for it. Especially if you opt for renting the yatch through one of the discount options (Groupon.ae, headout or entertainer Dubai) you may get 50% off straight away. To know more about experiencing Dubai for less, check out this post.
You will get a pilot/ captain who will drive the yatch while you relax indoors or in the sun with drinks and food. You can arrange for your own food and drinks and usually the yatch rental only includes water and basic juices or soft drinks.
A yatch has restrooms and bedrooms on the lower deck; open seating area and covered seating area on the upper deck.
Typical capacities are 6-10 people, upto 12 people and upwards of 12 people.We took the yatch from Marina for a 2hr cruise, in which he took us all the way upto Burj Al Arab and then back. I recommend taking it in the evening when its not too sunny and you can experience both Dubai in sunlight and Dubai skyline in the night.
3. Enjoy the nightlife at Barasti Beach or Opt for a walk in the Dubai City Walk (an open air mall)
Barasti beach is a fun option if traveling without kids or have an option to leave the kids at home.. Although its a beach it isn’t one of kids activities in Dubai. If you have to travel with kids, enjoy City Walk. It is a wonderful concept of an open mall. If the weather is on your side, you can have some amazing time shopping, eating and enjoying there. City Walk has something for everyone and every age goup
It boasts of having The Green Planet for ecologically oriented. It is a tropical rainforest in the middle of the desert with over 3000 plants and animals in their natural habitat. Educational and fun for the children. Some of the other places include activity arenas like Hub Zero, Little Explorers, Caboodle and the like.
City Walk also has a large repertoire of famous restaurants. You can check out my review of one of my favourite restaurants there: Farzi Cafe (yeah I love my desi khana anywhere in the world)..
Also there are usually one or two exhibitions, parades and shows (like laser and water show) which are going on at any point in City Walk. One thing I can guarantee you is you wouldn’t get bored. Finding parking here on a weekend may be a challenge, although worth taking.
4. Desert Safari and sand boarding
Traversing the huge sand dunes in a 4X4 vehicle, getting henna on hands, watching the local dances, with a camel ride thrown in and ending the night with good food. This is desert safari for you, in short. Typically starts around 3:00pm with the pickup from you hotel/ apartments around 1:30/2:00pm depending on your location.
Its not for the faint hearted and definitely not recommended for people with spine or back issues.
Those looking for more adventure can combine sand boarding along with desert safari too. If your child can take it, the guys organizing it will allow you to take the child/children. Our elder one was 3yrs old and she actually enjoyed the safari with the whole experience.
This makes into the list of 10 fun things to do in Dubai due to its uniqueness and things specific to Dubai.
5. Relish the Thai food on the riverside at Pai Thai in Madinat Jumeirah
Madinat Jumeirah is a place worth visiting in Dubai. 3 hotels interconnected with canals, ferrying tourists and patrons from one place to the other in a traditional abra (Arabic wooden boat) is no mean feat. Now you can get to see the hotel from inside and experience an abra ride only if you have reservation in one of their restaurants. Some of their restaurants which I like include Ushna (Peshawari cuisine), Trattoria Toscana (Italian), Folly by Nick (rooftop bar, you have to see the view from this rooftop) and Pai Thai. You can check out my review of Pai Thai here.
And if you’re looking to shop for souvenirs, the souq (market) inside Madinat Jumeirah should prove useful.
6. Get up close and Swim with the dolphins at Atlantis and Enjoy the Aquaventure Water park
There are multiple options that Atlantis offers: just petting the dolphins or actually swimming with them in deeper water. Dolphin encounter is the most basic option, open to all ages and non swimmers too. The other options like Royal Swim and Dolphin Adventure take place in deeper waters and thus knowing swimming well is a pre-requisite.
Budget a complete day for this since you also get access to Aquaventure Water Park, complimentary with any option chosen. The activity in itself may take about 4-5 hours, post which you can enjoy in the water park.
At many other places in the world, it may be seasonal to swim and interact with the dolphins. Here in Dubai, one can do it all year round and hence it makes to the list of 10 fun things to do in Dubai.
7. Spend the evening at one of the famous beaches in Dubai (JBR beach, Kite beach or La Mer)
Dubai is home to fun beaches with calm waters, perfect for a swim. The beach itself is buzzing with food trucks, kids activities, lights, pop up shops and what not. Both JBR and La Mer are excellent choice for any evening. Like most other places in Dubai, parking is a nightmare during weekends. Apply discretion when driving yourself.
La Mer and JBR also have a boardwalk running along the length of the beach for those not wanting to get the feet dirty.
Kite beach, next to Lamer is famous for kitesurfing (as evident from the name). During good weather (read Nov – Apr) one can spot a lot of kitesurfing on this beach.
8. Escape Reality: get your brains working in a team
Perfect for an indoor fun afternoon. Can be done in teams of 4,6 or 8, friends and family can come together to solve clues and puzzles to escape from a locked room in 60minutes. To know more about Escape Rooms, you can check out this post.
Dubai is a place to enjoy with friends and family. Sometimes all we want to do is just have fun without sightseeing or going in the sun. Escape Reality is just the place and thus makes to my list of 10 fun things to do in Dubai.
9. Visit the old Dubai and Gold Souq for some dates, nuts and glittering jewellery
Dates and Gold: 2 things old Dubai is famous for. Take a walk in its alleyways, in the old souk area to discover old Dubai charm.
There are some walking tours organized during winters, which give you more than a glimpse in this part of Dubai.
10. Try the PappaRoti at any of their outlets
“Dubai aakar ye nahi khaya to kuch nahi khaya” (translates to If you come to Dubai and don’t try Pappa roti you haven’t eaten anything worthwhile). With a lot of outlets spread across Dubai, pick the one most conveniently located. Order your Pappa Roti with any of their sinful cold coffees and ignore the calories for that one night.
The connection with Papa in Pappa Roti is of course not clear. Neither Roti (In Hindi Roti means a chapati). I believe if loosely used, Roti can mean bread. Bread – and unlike any that you may have eaten so far.
I haven’t included Burj Khalifa, Miracle Garden and the like since my assumption is they might just be on your list already. Also, some activities are para sailing and sky diving are not the best or the cheapest here so I have decided to not include them. I would recommend places like New Zealand and South Africa for those adventures.
Read this post to know how to do all these fun activities for less. This post lists out the deal sites and deal options that you can opt for, for any of the paid activities above.
