Dubai, the city of gold, is known for its glamour and opulence. The city is full of shiny buildings and unique structures. Sightseeing and shopping are two of the most popular activities in Dubai. Apart from these, there are plenty of amusement parks in Dubai to keep tourists and locals busy and entertained. However, not many know that Dubai is also a popular adventurous holiday destination. If you are an adventure lover, you would have a thrilling time trying out the numerous adventurous activities. Here we offer you the top adventure activities in Dubai.

Skiing


It is hard to believe that you can indulge in skiing in the desert city of Dubai. Nevertheless, the extraordinary Emirate city has made this possible as well. The Mall of Emirates in Dubai is home to the largest indoor ski park in the world, Ski Dubai. The place has the longest ski slope in the Middle East with varying difficulty levels. Apart from skiing and snowboarding, you can also try ziplining, zorbing, tobogganing, etc. here. Ski Dubai also has a snow park, where you can play games in the snow as well as meet the resident penguins.

Dune Bashing


One of the most adventurous activities to do in Dubai is dune bashing. This usually is a part of the Dubai desert safari, although you can engage in it as a separate activity as well, if you so wish. Dune bashing happens in a 4x4 vehicle with slightly diffused tires. Once all the passengers are seated, the professional driver switches on the engine and takes you on a rollercoaster ride on the high and low sand dunes. The dune bashing ride is thrilling, exhilarating and at the same time, completely safe. However, children under the age of 5, pregnant women and people with heart diseases should avoid this.

Flyboarding


One of the coolest adventurous activities that you would find in Dubai is flyboarding. A water sport, flyboarding lets you fly above the water while you stand on a board. The board is attached to a jet ski engine, which propels the board up, giving you the chance to zoom over the water. Once you are in the air, you can control the flyboard using hand controls or simply with your balance. However, mastering the skill of flyboarding is not always easy. It requires lot of practice to manoeuvre the flyboard expertly.

Ice Skating


Another adventurous activity that you would get to enjoy in Dubai is ice skating. The enormous Dubai Mall has a huge ice skating rink, the Dubai Ice Rink. Extending from the ground floor to the second floor of the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Ice Rink has an Olympic-sized ice rink, where you can indulge in skating sessions. The place also holds coaching sessions for beginners. Apart from the regular skating sessions during the week, Dubai Ice Rink also has Snowfall Session and Disco Session during the weekend. You can also rent skating aids here. 

Helicopter Ride

The helicopter ride offers an adventurous way of sightseeing in Dubai. Helicopter sightseeing tour is great for those who do not have the time to explore the city completely as well as for those who want a unique sightseeing experience. The helicopter ride would give you the opportunity to see the iconic buildings like Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Hotel Atlantis, etc. closely. You would also get to see a bird's eye view of the entire city, including the Palm Jumeirah, the palm-shaped island. Although this is not a physically challenging adventure, helicopter ride in Dubai is nothing less than thrilling. 

Hot Air Balloon Ride


Hot air balloon ride in Dubai usually happens in the desert during the early morning hours. It gives you the opportunity to see a breathtaking sunrise and at the same time admire the raw beauty of the desert. Floating some 4000 km above land, hot air balloon ride would give you a unique insight into the vastness of the desert. While hot air balloon ride is a group activity, you can book one for you and your partner to make it a romantic activity. Some companies also offer hot air balloon ride over the Dubai city.

Sky Diving


If you want to do the most adventurous activity in Dubai, it has to be sky diving. The thrill that you feel while jumping 4000 meters above the ground, from a moving airplane, is incomparable. In Dubai, you can go skydiving either at the desert or in the city. If you choose the latter, you would not only get to see an aerial view of the entire city but also of the Palm Island. When you jump off the airplane, you would be freefalling for a minute before you open up the parachute, followed by a gentle descent of 5 minutes. If you do not thing you are ready for actual sky diving, you can also opt for skydiving at iFly Dubai, an indoor sky diving area.

Scuba Diving


With the blue ocean surrounding the city of Dubai, it is a haven for a variety of water sports and adventures, one of the best being scuba diving. The popular scuba diving spots give you the chance to explore the underwater life that includes more than 500 species of fish like sea snakes, manta rays, turtles, Arabian angelfish, etc. There are a few shipwreck sites as well, which make for an amazing scuba diving experience. On the other hand, if you want to give your scuba diving experience an edge, go for shark diving encounter at the Dubai Mall Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

Kite Surfing

Another water sport that would thrill the adventurer in you is kite surfing. This is a combination of parachuting and wakeboarding and gives you the chance to show off some awesome moves over the water. The best place to indulge in kite surfing in Dubai is the Kite Beach, where the wind and water conditions are perfect for the sport. If you are a beginner, you may require a few training sessions before you are skilled to manoeuvre the kite expertly. While you are in Kite Beach, try out some other water sports as well, like stand-up Paddleboarding to add more excitement to your visit.

Ziplining

If you are all up for an aerial adventurous activity in Dubai, ziplining is something you must definitely try. Dubai has the longest urban zipline in the world. Located in Dubai Marina, it is also the fastest and the steepest zipline that you would find in the world. While the adrenaline rush is something that you would definitely enjoy while ziplining, you would also get to see an aerial view of the glamorous Dubai Marina, complete with the luxury yachts, hotels and buildings. As there are two parallel-running ziplines here, you also get the chance to zipline along with a friend or loved one and turn it into a fun competition.

Conclusion

Few other adventure activities in Dubai include deep-sea fishing, bungee jumping, mountain biking, hiking, sandboarding, quad biking, flat tyre biking, etc. In short, Dubai has everything to give you an unforgettable adventurous holiday of your lifetime.