Dubai is a wealthy city in the United Arab Emirates, a modern metropolis with a long coastline along the Persian Gulf. Dubai is known for luxury and excess, and accordingly, the activities you can enjoy on a Dubai vacation are limited only by your imagination.
Skydiving
For thrill-seekers, head to Palm Jumeirah to do some skydiving. Dubai has a number of manmade islands, and Palm Jumeirah is one of the most popular. You’ll get a breathtaking view of Dubai’s cityscape, from high above the buildings. If you’re a little wary of skydiving, or you want to take some extra time to think it over, relax at the Skydive Café, where you can watch others fly through the sky.
Dubai Mall
Everything is bigger and more luxurious in Dubai. The Dubai Mall isn’t your run-of-the-mill suburban shopping center. This entertainment complex houses an aquarium and underwater zoo, an Olympic-sized ice rink, a Reel Cinema, an indoor theme park, and hundreds of high-end fashion stores. Whether you love shopping or interactive entertainment, the Dubai Mall is a must-see.
Dubai Museum
Dubai isn’t all just commercialism, glitz, and glamour. It’s also full of rich history, preserved stunningly at the Dubai Museum. The building itself was built as a fort in 1800, and the exhibits inside take you on a journey of the region’s history. From the humble Bedouin lifestyle, to the cosmopolitan city it is today, Dubai’s history tells the story of a dynamic, fascinating corner of the world. Plus, entry to the Museum costs less than a single US dollar!
Desert Safari
For $11 USD, take a desert safari with friends for beautiful photo-ops, camel encounters and a desert BBQ to end the day. If you’re the athletic type, you can even try out sandboarding! After dinner, enjoy a smoke out of a traditional water pipe (shisha) along with some belly dancing performances.
Ski Dubai
You might not think that skiing is a possibility on your Middle Eastern vacation, what with the sand, the sun and the arid heat. But Dubai has you covered. Visit Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort that offers day passes for only $51 USD. Ski conditions stay ideal year-round because this indoor retreat makes its own, artificial snow. The whole complex is like a little oasis of winter within a vast, hot desert.
