9 Things to Try in Dubai

Dubai is a modern, growing destination in the Middle East. It is one of seven Emirates located in the country of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai has evolved quickly in recent years and is still adding to its tourist industry. At the time of this writing, Dubai is only 47 years old, gaining its independence from Britain on December 2, 1971. It is the capital city of the Emirate of Dubai and the largest, most populous city in the UAE. Its man-made marina and unique architecture and attractions make it a dream vacation destination. There is so much to do there. It can be hard to decide where to go. No worries. I’ve compiled a list of 9 things to try while in Dubai.

1. Desert Safari

The Red Sand Desert is an absolute must see when in Dubai. There are tours that will take you through the sand dunes to the middle of the desert. They usually include a camel ride, a buffet, henna tattoos, and belly dancing. There is an option to ride a 4-wheeler for an extra charge.

A word of caution: if you get motion sickness, beware of the ride through the sand dunes. The ride is rough and many become sick.

Also, the camel ride, in my opinion, is not all that it seems it would be. You usually have to ride with another person and it doesn’t last long. It’s like a pony ride where they walk in a short circle and then you get off the camel. But hey, at least you rode a camel.

Other than that, this is an awesome tour and makes for great pictures!

2. Miracle Garden

Miracle Garden is an amazing natural flower garden. It opened in 2013. It recently partnered with Disney and now has many Disney characters installed. This garden is massive and impressive. It was a pleasant surprise on my trip. Miracle Garden is only open from November to April. It’s fairly cheap to get in and it’s near another popular attraction, the Dubai Butterfly Garden.

3. Dinner in the Sky

This experience is both adventurous and delicious. The staff straps you into a rollercoaster-style seat and lifts the entire table up 50 meters into the sky. The crew cooks right in front of you! It’s like a thrill ride with dinner. The seats even turn and lean back for those who are brave enough to look down. I was not one of those brave people. This experience costs between $150 and $250.

4. Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure is located at Atlantis The Palm resort. Similar to Atlantis at Paradise Island in the Bahamas, you do not have to be a guest to enjoy the water park but can buy a day pass. There is a lazy river with rapids, several thrill rides, family rides, and even a beach. For a separate charge, you can even swim with the dolphins.

5. Burj Khalifa

Perhaps the most recognizable landmark and building in the Dubai skyline, the Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world. It was built to gain international recognition. “Burj” means tower in Arabic. Khalifa is the name of the ruler of the UAE and Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall. The views from the 125th floor are amazing!

6. Ski in the Mall

Full disclosure: I did not actually get to do this but it looks awesome!

Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort inside the Mall of the Emirates. You can get a ski lesson, ski, and snow board right inside the mall. There’s even a snow park where guests can go bob sledding or tubing. There is also a penguin encounter where you can interact with two species of penguins.

7. Ride the Abra to the Souks

An abra is a traditional boat made of wood. The boat will take you across the Dubai creek from the business district to old Dubai and the souks. The souks are markets where the locals sell handmade scarves, traditional dress attire, spices, souvenirs, perfumes, gold, and spices.

8. Yacht Party

You can’t leave Dubai without having a yacht party! You can charter a luxury yacht in the Dubai marina for a Friday or Saturday afternoon yacht party. These are extremely popular and fun. Some include food and an open bar. Cruising through the Persian Gulf on a luxury yacht was my favorite part of my visit to Dubai.

9. Souks

The souks remind me of American flea markets or straw markets in the Bahamas. They are located in Old Dubai. It’s a place where local vendors sell spices, gold, clothing, perfume, and souvenirs. Many items are handmade. This is the only place where you can negotiate prices. Gold is the only thing that has a set price.

The only fault I found with the souks is that many vendors will call black women Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, KeKe, or Obama. They will call Hispanic women Shakira. This comes off as very offensive. The tour guide assured me they didn’t mean to be rude but were just trying to gain my attention. Well, they did. It was just negative attention and I did not buy from there.

Below is a picture of the largest gold ring in the world. This ring can be viewed at the Souks.

So, those are the 9 things to try in Dubai. There is so much to do there; sky diving, zip lining, a river boat cruise, Friday brunch, infinity pools, skiing in the mall, Dubai Frame, museums, and upscale clubs – but I couldn’t list them all. These were my favorite and most popular activities. Make the most of your time and try out at least one of the experiences listed above. You will not be disappointed. If you’ve been to Dubai, comment below and tell me what your favorite experience was.