We Tried These Exciting 6 Sports Activities in Dubai and Lived
Ever get super pumped to try something, only to fail spectacularly? That was me with sandboarding. I was all pumped up, ready to glide down like a pro—until my face met the dunes, and I got a nice, crunchy taste of sand. Yeah, not the snack I was expecting.
And let’s not forget the slow, painful climb back up while my friends laughed their heads off. I had to pretend I wasn’t dying inside.
But honestly? Totally worth it. Dubai is packed with epic sports activities my crew and I love. And if you’re up for some action (and maybe a few fails), here are our all-time favorites.
What sports can I do in Dubai?
There are a bunch of sports you can do in Dubai! Notable ones for the active adventurers are dune bashing in the desert, water sports, cycling, and skydiving.
Dune Bashing
Media credit: sapphirelunatravels
Website: http://www.desertsafaridubai.com/
Address: Baniyas Complex – Baniyas Rd – Deira – Al Rigga
Contact Details: +971 58 889 5373, +971 56 5364 484, +971 4 2087 466
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 11:30 PM
Fees:
- Need to inquire directly about rates
Feeling adventurous with enough energy to last a couple of days? You can experience the thrill of dune bashing in 4×4 vehicles (like Land Cruiser or Jeep), sandboarding, quad biking, dirt biking, and camel riding in the vast Arabian Desert.
Many desert safari tours (available morning, evening, or overnight) include traditional entertainment, such as belly dancing and henna painting. We also believe wildlife enthusiasts would enjoy getting up close and personal with the trained falcons!
Overall, this could be a Bedouin (group of traditionally nomadic Arab people) camp experience. This is where you can indulge in local food, BBQ dinner, and even stargazing—a lovely date idea for introverts!
Pro tips:
The best time for Desert Safari is October to April when the weather is cooler.Do you get motion sickness? For us, it’s smart to take medication before trying dune bashing.
Water Sports
Media credit: nemo_watersports_dubai
Website: https://www.dubai-jetski.com/
Address: Fishing Harbour – Jumeirah St – Umm Suqeim – Umm Suqeim 2
Contact Details: +971 50 471 7002, +971 50 481 7002, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 7 PM
Fees:
- Jet Ski Tour
- 30 minutes – from AED 300
- 1 hour – from AED 500
- 2 hours – from AED 935
- Parasailing
- Solo Ride – AED 400
- Ride for Two – AED 450
- Sunset Solo – AED 500
- Sunset Duo – AED 850
- Jet Сar
- 20 minutes – AED 500
- 30 minutes – AED 600
- 1 hour – AED 1,200
- Flyboard
- 30 minutes – AED 350+
- Combo Parasailing
- Parasailing + Jet Ski – AED 600 to 1,500
- Parasailing + Flyboard – AED 600 to 1,100
- Combo Flyboard
- Jet Ski for 30 minutes – AED 600
- Jet Ski for 1 hour – AED 600
- Wakeboard
- 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours – from AED 400
- Tubing & Adrenaline Tour
- 30 minutes or over – AED 600+
- 45 minutes or over – AED 1,000+
Dubai’s beautiful coastline offers a range of water sports, including jet skiing, parasailing, flyboarding, paddleboarding, and wakeboarding. But if you want chill options, we think you can choose a simple yet delightful sightseeing tour instead.
And if you’ve got the means for it, why not rent a yacht instead? This would be good for 4 to 50 people—you can throw in a big birthday bash while enjoying multiple water sports with gorgeous views!
Handy hack:
We recommend wearing a waterproof jacket and using a waterproof phone case. This way, you can capture amazing moments on the boat without worrying about you or your phone getting soaked.
Golfing
Media credit: topgolfdubai
Website: https://topgolfdubai.ae/
Address: 35M6+2G – Emirates Golf Club – Topgolf – Emirates Hills 2
Contact Details: +971 4 371 9999, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10 AM to 2 AM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9 AM to 2 AM
Fees:
- Monday to Wednesday
- 10 am to 5 pm
- AED 160 per hour per bay
- AED 80 for +30 minute extension
- 5 pm to 2 am
- AED 200 per hour per bay
- AED 100 for +30 minute extension
- 10 am to 5 pm
- Thursday
- 10 am to 5 pm
- AED 160 per hour per bay
- AED 80 for +30 minute extension
- 5 pm to 2 am
- AED 240 per hour per bay
- AED 120 for +30 minute extension
- 10 am to 5 pm
- Friday
- 10 am to 5 pm
- AED 200 per hour per bay
- AED 100 for +30 minute extension
- 5 pm to 2 am
- AED 260 per hour per bay
- AED 130 for +30 minute extension
- 10 am to 5 pm
- Saturday
- 9 am to 5 pm
- AED 200 per hour per bay
- AED 100 for +30 minute extension
- 5 pm to 2 am
- AED 260 per hour per bay
- AED 130 for +30 minute extension
- 9 am to 5 pm
- Sunday
- 9 am to 2 am
- AED 220 per hour per bay
- AED 110 for +30 minute extension
- 9 am to 2 am
Dubai is home to several world-class golf courses, such as Topgolf, Emirates Golf Club, and Jumeirah Golf Estates. These courses host prestigious tournaments and offer facilities for golfers of all skill levels.
Topgolf is one of the most popular options. For us, it’s a thrilling, high-tech entertainment venue for pros and enthusiasts to enjoy interactive games, great food, and a vibrant atmosphere.
And here, we like that you get your own private bay to hit golf balls and aim for targets with different point values. Plus, we find it handy that you can order food and drinks right to your bay.
Nifty trick:
To pass the time while waiting for your turn at Topgolf, why not play billiards or watch a football game first?
Cycling
Media credit: shirlygomezr
Website: https://www.cyclingtracks.ae/alqudra.html
Address: Al Qudra Cycling Track
The city features dedicated cycling routes, including the Al Qudra Cycle Path, which spans 86 kilometers through the desert. It’s a popular spot for both recreational cyclists and serious athletes.
Also, the long track has one main lap divided into several routes. Each route is flat and free of vehicles, which we believe means riders can enjoy a safe ride. We say keep on the lookout for good coffee stops along the track as well!
Insider scoop:
We suggest taking Link-1 at Al Qudra Cycling Track for beautiful desert views! It’s also serenely quiet and very scenic for photo stops. Don’t have a car? Taxis can drop you right at the start point of the track for your convenience!
Fitness Classes and Boot Camps
Media credit: fbc_fit_solutions
Website: http://www.fbcfitsolutions.ae/
Address: Jumeirah Beach Rd – Umm Suqeim – Jumeirah 3
Contact Details: +971 55 606 5129
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 8 PM to 9 PM
- Friday to Monday – Closed
Prefer to work out with other people? There are plenty of outdoor fitness classes and boot camps in parks and beaches in Dubai! These sessions often include activities like yoga, HIIT, and group training led by certified instructors.
If you need more motivation, FBC DXB offers a fun and high-energy fitness boot camp where you can get the best mix—strength, cardio, and endurance workouts so you can get fit and toned in all the right places.
Expert advice:
Take comfort over style! We know it’s great to look great at the beach, but it can be humid really quickly. It’s wise to wear light and breathable workout gear to ensure your comfort.
Skydiving
Media credit: skydivedubai
Website: https://www.skydivedubai.ae/
Address: Al Seyahi St – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: 800 46354448 (Inflight Dubai: Al Ain-Dubai Road (E66), Margham), +971 4 377 8888 (Palm Dropzone: Al Seyahi Street, Dubai Marina), +971 4 832 8080 (Desert Campus: Al Ain-Dubai Road (E66), Margham), [email protected]
Fees:
- Tandem Over the Palm – AED 2,749
- Tandem Over the Desert – AED 2,199
- Gyrocopter Flight – AED 1,199
Want to jump from 13,000 feet with breathtaking views of Palm Jumeirah? You can get a pure adrenaline rush with Skydive Dubai!
The entire thing could take around 2.5 to 3 hours, though the actual dive time is around 3 minutes or less. To ease your nerves, be sure to pay attention during the briefing for a smooth, enjoyable, and safe experience.
Of course, there are precautions to note, such as removing jewelry, phones, and accessories. We also like that lockers would be provided with no extra charges.
Smart suggestion:
Our advice is to eat something light before heading to Skydive Dubai. We heard some divers don’t eat anything before the jump and report feeling nauseous afterward.