The UAE boasts plenty of awesome ways to set pulses racing, whether that be from great heights or at breakneck speed.
So, if the quiet life ain’t for you, or you’re after some heart-pumping activities, check out these awesome, thrill-inducing sports and activities.
Hold on to your hats, here are the best adrenaline-inducing activities and extreme sports in the UAE.
Canyoning at Wadi Showka
If hiking doesn’t give you enough of a buzz, try hiking through water. Essentially that’s what canyoning is, and at Wadi Showka you can climb, scramble and wade your way through a week’s worth of workouts in one go, plus have a slap-up Emirati lunch to keep you going. You can book for a small group and the prices depend on numbers and when you go.
Various prices via Adventurati. Wadi Showka, Ras Al Khaimah (050 280 3662).
Dune bashing in the Liwa Desert
Even after years of living in the UAE, we at Time Out never tire of taking our visiting loved ones for a thrill-a-minute dune bash in the Liwa Desert. If your heart doesn’t start racing as your driver pulls off outrageous manoeuvres, you’re braver than us.
Prices vary. desertsafariuae.ae.
Fat Biking at Bab Al Shams
In years gone by, the thought of trying to tackle the desert on two wheels was purely the domain of madmen. But some bright spark came up with the idea of fitting e-bikes with oversized tyres that will make short work of those demanding dunes. The Bab Al Shams resort offers one of the best tours. When we first heard of ‘fat biking’ we had visions of it being an event in an overweight Olympics, but this isn’t some sick joke – it’s a great workout and a whole load of fun at the same time.
Dhs210. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Al Qudra Road, babalshams.com.
Flying down flumes at Wild Wadi Waterpark
With around 30 fun slides and experiences there are plenty of hair-raising experiences here. Ramp the adrenaline up (if you dare) by sliding down Tantrum Alley – three ‘tornado’ slides – and Burj Surj – two super-fast slides that cascade down into a bowl. Or check out the park’s main attraction, the infamous Jumeirah Sceirah. The adrenaline-inducing ride has two 32-metre-high tandem slides which will see you plummet at a speed of 80kph. Hold on to your breakfast.
From Dhs69. Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, wildwadi.com (04 348 4444).
… Or at Yas Waterworld
Just like everything on Yas Island, Yas Waterworld makes us very happy indeed. Themed around an old Emirati legend, the park is divided into four thrill levels: Adrenaline Rush, Exciting Adventure, Moving and Grooving and, finally, Young Fun. Each zone caters to different age groups and with 40 slides there is something for everyone (even the big ‘fraidy cats). The Tot’s Playground is ideal for parents of younger children as they can let them splash around safely in the shade.
From Dhs270. Open daily 10am-5pm. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, yaswaterworld.com (600 511 51).
Holding on tight for a splashingly good banana ride
A giant banana floating atop the wash is not the most natural of sights, but the bumpy ride out on the waves makes for a hilarious, heart-pumping family activity. You’ll scream, you’ll laugh and, more than likely, you’ll fly off the back and into the drink. So remember to hold on tight.
Prices vary. Sky & Sea Adventures Dubai, JBR (04 399 9005). Abu Dhabi Marine, Abu Dhabi Corniche, abudhabimarine.ae (056 946 6898).
Hot air ballooning over the sands
If you’re both an early riser and high flyer, this is perfect for you. Arguably the most thrilling way to witness an Arabian sunrise, a trip up, up and away with Balloon Adventures Dubai will take you to heights of 4,000ft. The wildlife of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve below will look like mere dots on the landscape and apart from the sound of the propane burning, it’s wonderfully serene up there…
Dhs1,250 (adults), Dhs1,100 (kids aged five-11). Pick up from 4am across Dubai. ballooning.ae.
Kite surfing out on the waves
Kite surfing is synonymous with UAE beaches, and it will be a very cold day indeed when sun seekers fail to spy at least one surfer skimming along the waves with his trusted flying machine. It’s a tricky skill to master, but certainly one everyone can try their hand at – even if it means taking a few glugs of seawater as part of the learning process. How does the song go again? Let’s go fly a kite…
Kite Zone Dubai, Jumeirah 3, kitezonedubai.com (056 815 4146).
Look Iron Man-levels of cool while flyboarding
Look oh-so-fly with a flyboarding experience on Palm Jumeirah. And whether you faceplant straight into the mighty blue or remain drier than a camel’s knuckle while hovering above the wash below, this truly is a memorable activity to grasp with both hands (and any other appendage you can wrap around it). Strap your feet onto a board and soar through the air as jet nozzles force water out at tremendous force, sending you up to 15 metres in the air. Gnarly.
Hydro Water Sports, Palm Jumeirah, hydro-watersports.com (054 598 5353). Abu Dhabi Marine, Abu Dhabi Corniche, abudhabimarine.ae (056 946 6898).
Paintballing with sharpshooting pals
Paint isn’t just for DIY jobs. Pack it into a pellet, jam it into a magazine and you’ve got a screaming good time on your hands. There are a million (almost) different ways to enjoy paintball – from capture the flag objectives to save-the-teammate missions – but the tried-and-tested team skirmish is where it all began. With abandoned huts and vehicles littering the arena, there are plenty of places to take cover (think the Nuketown map on Call of Duty). The only potential hazard is a medley of bruises the following morning, and that’s only for those breaking cover too soon and too often. Brave enough to enter the fray?
From Dhs120. paintballdubai.com.
Paragliding above the desert
There are few better ways of evoking the UAE’s national bird, the falcon, than by enjoying a sky-high experience as you soar through the air and wave at the lifeforms below. There will be some amazing vistas from above and your first flight over serene sands and deserted dunes will make you scream out for more.
From Dhs1,100 via Middle East Experience in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (050 436 6029).
Parasailing over the city
Soaring above the city’s lapping waves while strapped to one of your nearest and dearest as you’re being propelled by a speedboat, as well as a hefty gust of wind is when this place gets really exciting.
Dubai: Arabia Horizons, arabiahorizons.com (050 540 2520). Abu Dhabi: abudhabiparasail.com.
Sandboarding like Tony Hawk on the dunes
Dubai may been known for its larger than life indoor ski centre, but the UAE’s first love will always be sandboarding. First of all it’s much more accessible – pick any spot in the desert and you’ll likely find a decent enough dune to conquer, and the only critical piece of gear required is a board (none of this thermal stuff required in baking outdoor temps Shaun White). Package deals from tour operators usually include dune buggy hire and camel riding, so it’s a full gamut of desert sports in one go. When it comes down to it, orange sand melts the face off white powder. End of.
Various locations across the UAE.
Screeching around Yas Marina Circuit in an F1 car
Dream of screeching around Yas Marina Circuit in a F1 car? Wake up and smell the hot tarmac, hot rod, because now is your chance to drive, drag and drift your way around the world famous track in a garage-load of different vehicles that Dom Toretto would be proud of. Experiences come with full safety briefings to make sure you can hit every chicane in style. Time to start your engines.
Prices vary (Dhs1,840 for the F1 experience). Open daily 9am-11pm. Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island (02 497 9000).
Skydiving over Palm Jumeirah
Plunging over the Palm having leapt from 13,000ft is just one of those ‘must tell the grandkids’ moments, especially when you can have video proof of you boldly going where none of your family have before. It’s terrifying and electrifying in equal measures.
From Dhs1,599 (tandem dive). Dubai Marina (04 377 8888).
Wakeboarding on the ocean blue
Being towed behind a speedboat while pulling off flips and tricks even Newton would’ve marvelled at is one thing, but doing so purely by cable power is something else altogether. Al Forsan in Abu Dhabi is the Middle East’s best facility bar none, leaving its rivals lying miserably in its wake. Don’t face plant in the waves though.
From Dhs140 per hour. Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi (02 556 8555).
Walking on the roof at Ferrari World
Ferrari World’s red roof is one of the most recognisable sights in Abu Dhabi. Standing 50m above sea level, the huge 200,000 square metre structure, in iconic Ferrari red, has a diameter of 700m and the biggest Ferrari logo in the world. After a 600m climb, from the top you’ll be able to see panoramic sights of Yas Island and beyond. Double up with a zip-line experience for twice the fun before hitting the rides proper.
Dhs125 per person (Dhs175 with zipline). Daily noon-8pm. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 496 8000).
Ziplining at Jebel Jais
The zipline (the world’s longest, no less) at Jebel Jais is probably the number one thing to do on this list. But there’s more to Jebel Jais than that, including an aerial obstacle course. There’s absolutely loads to try at this spot, so if you’re an adrenaline seeker it should shoot to the top of your must-try list, now.
From Dhs300. Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah (050 626 3955).
Zip over Dubai Marina
XLine zip line offers thrill seekers the chance to zoom over the glistening waters of Dubai Marina at speeds of up to 80kilometres per hour at an incline of 16 degrees, headfirst in true Superman-style. It’s one of the best ways to see the city, while getting your adrenaline rush, too.
Dubai Marina, xdubai.com/xline.
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