
Desert Safari
4x4s on the dunes, sunset and dinner at camp. In the evening, in the morning, with an overnight stay in the desert or in a private 4x4.

Attractions · Dubai and the Emirates
The desert at sunset, the view from the 148th floor, water parks the children will not stop talking about, and quiet corners of the old city most visitors walk straight past. Every attraction below is one we book ourselves, with the ticket types set out plainly and the price in dirhams.
Choosing well
Dubai rewards restraint. Two well-chosen things a day, with a gap in the middle for heat and traffic, beats five rushed ones. Mornings are for anything outdoors; the middle of the day belongs indoors, especially between June and September; evenings are when the city is at its best.
If it is your first visit, a sensible spine is one viewpoint, one desert evening, one day on or near the water, and one afternoon in old Dubai. Everything else is preference. Tell us who is travelling and we will say honestly what is worth it and what is not.
Most attractions sell several ticket types that look similar and are not: a timed entry versus an open date, a standard slot versus the hour around sunset, entry alone versus entry with hotel pick-up. The gap between them is often large, and it is usually the difference between queueing and not queueing.
All prices on this site are shown in dirhams (AED) and are indicative until we confirm availability. We send the final price in writing before anything is paid.
187 attractions

4x4s on the dunes, sunset and dinner at camp. In the evening, in the morning, with an overnight stay in the desert or in a private 4x4.

The tallest building in the world: 828 metres. An observation deck on levels 124–125, or from level 148.

A dhow boat on the old Creek or in the Marina, dinner on the water, or a private yacht.

The Atlantis water park: a Guinness record for the number of slides, a beach and a lazy river.

A giant picture frame with a glass floor: old Dubai on one side, the new city on the other.

A seasonal evening park with pavilions from dozens of countries, food and shows. Open from October to May.

The largest natural flower garden in the world, according to the garden itself: 150 million flowers in a season.

Closed for refurbishment from September 2026. It will reopen in the first quarter of 2027 with new exhibitions.

A giant tank in the middle of The Dubai Mall, a tunnel that passes beneath sharks and rays, and an underwater zoo on the floor above.

Real snow inside a shopping mall: a snow park with sledges and tubing, plus a ski slope for people who already know how to ride.

An indoor, air-conditioned theme park with Marvel, Cartoon Network and dinosaur zones. Open all year.

A LEGO park for families with young children, with more than 40 rides and an adjoining water park. Reopening on 7 October 2026.

A theme park inspired by Hollywood films, with roller coasters and rides from DreamWorks, Columbia and Lionsgate. Reopening on 7 October 2026.

An open zoo with an African village, an Asian village and a safari tour by bus. The eighth season opens on 12 October 2026.

A small city where children play at being grown-ups: pilots, doctors, firefighters and chefs. Indoor and air-conditioned.

A tropical rainforest inside a glass dome in City Walk, with a giant tree, tropical plants and animals.

More than 15,000 butterflies in ten air-conditioned domes, next to Miracle Garden. Open all year.

An observation deck between two towers facing Burj Khalifa, a glass slide between floors, and for anyone who dares, a walk on the edge outside.

The only way to see the palm shape of the Palm without taking a helicopter: an observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower.

You drive the off-road buggy yourself over the dunes, in convoy behind a guide. In the morning, at sunset or privately.

An hour of riding a quad bike over the red dunes, alone or in a pair, with a guide leading the way.

Lift-off at sunrise, up to an hour in the air above the dunes, and a quiet landing in the desert.

The Palm, Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa from above, on a shared flight of 12, 17 or 22 minutes.

A tandem jump from about 4,000 metres, a minute of free fall and a landing facing the Palm.

A guided jet ski tour as far as Burj Al Arab, and on the longer tours to Atlantis and JBR as well.

A resident acrobatics and water show, on a stage that fills with water and empties within seconds.

Out of the city and into the mountains: the turquoise lake of Hatta Dam, the heritage village and the views of the Hajar Mountains.

Old and new Dubai in one tour: the Creek, Al Fahidi, Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Al Arab and the Dubai Frame.

The lanes of Al Fahidi with their wind towers, the Al Seef promenade, and a crossing of the Creek in a wooden abra.

A promenade along the marina canal between towers and yachts, carrying on to JBR beach and The Walk.

The legendary aquarium at Atlantis has reopened as Lost World: 14 chambers with projections, more than 65,000 marine animals and a mermaid show in an open lagoon.

A dolphin and seal show in an air-conditioned hall in the heart of Dubai, an exotic bird show, and the chance to meet the dolphins in the pool and even swim with them.

More than 70 wax figures of stars, athletes and leaders, on Bluewaters Island opposite JBR. An indoor, air-conditioned outing for the whole family.

Swimming, a shallow-water encounter, kayaking or paddleboarding alongside dolphins in the Atlantis lagoon. Every ticket includes entry to the Aquaventure waterpark on the same day.

The deepest diving pool in the world: 60 metres, 14 million litres of water and a sunken city on the bottom. Snorkelling, a discovery dive and an underwater walk, with no certification needed.

Free fall with no plane and no parachute: you float in a vertical wind tunnel with an instructor right beside you, at City Centre Mirdif. From age 3.

Skating on real ice on an Olympic-size rink, on the ground floor of The Dubai Mall. A 90-minute session, skate hire included.

Twelve worlds of light, sound and projection at Wafi City: a glowing forest, a giant ball pool, an inverted waterfall and a mirror room with moons.

Around 250 Nile crocodiles in an African-styled park, with an underwater aquarium and a museum that tells the story of 200 million years of crocodiles. Next to Mushrif Park.

More than 15 colourful candy-themed rooms: a lollipop forest, a gummy bear pool and candy floss clouds. With tastings along the way.

A museum of immersive digital art at The Dubai Mall: waves, waterfalls, forests and Van Gogh paintings that wrap around the whole room, with music and scent.

A virtual reality and games park over two floors at The Dubai Mall: Burj Drop, a 2050 taxi drone, drift cars and a flight simulator. You pay only for what you play.

An indoor rollercoaster that launches you vertically upwards, more than 50 metres into the building, and holds a Guinness record as the rollercoaster with the fastest vertical launch in the world. A short, powerful experience inside an air-conditioned mall.

Twenty-five interactive worlds inside The Dubai Mall: mirror rooms, giant projections, shows that appear without warning and hidden rooms. A colourful, air-conditioned outing for friends, couples and families.

A play museum for children where everything is meant to be touched: colourful climbing nets, a water gallery, glowing balls and interactive projections. One adult enters with each child at no extra cost.

The city built on the Expo 2020 site: the Terra sustainability pavilion, the Vision pavilion, Al Wasl dome with the largest circular projection screen in the world and the Surreal fountain. The public space is open to everyone, and the pavilions are ticketed.

The largest open heritage museum in the Emirates, in restored houses on the bank of Dubai Creek: the Al Maktoum family house, the perfume house, the story of the Creek and life at sea. The place where Dubai began.

A table for 22 diners raised by a crane to a height of 50 metres, with a chef cooking beside you and views of Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab. Lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, in mid-air.

A three-storey driving range with 96 air-conditioned bays, microchipped balls that keep score and views of the Dubai Marina skyline. You do not need to know how to play golf to enjoy it.

A behind-the-scenes tour of a building shaped like a dhow: the main auditorium, the royal boxes, the hospitality areas and what lies hidden behind the stage. The way to see the opera house without a ticket to a performance.

An open-top double-decker bus that runs between Dubai's main sites: the souks and the Creek, the Dubai Frame, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Atlantis. Get on and off as often as you like while the ticket is valid.

A floating boardwalk 272 metres long on the lake at the foot of Burj Khalifa, about 9 metres from the fountain jets. Or a ride in a wooden abra on the lake during the show. Two ways to see the fountain show up close.

You take off from a speedboat under a parachute and look down on the Palm, JBR and Burj Al Arab. Alone or as a pair.

You stand on a board connected by a hose to a jet ski, and a jet of water lifts you above the sea. With an instructor beside you, even on a first attempt.

A watercraft shaped like a sports car, which you drive yourself along the coast, facing Atlantis and Burj Al Arab.

A private boat with a captain and crew, tackle and bait, heading out into the gulf for kingfish, barracuda and grouper. Also for those who have never fished.

An open speedboat leaves the marina, passes JBR and Atlantis, and on the longer tour reaches Burj Al Arab. With photo stops.

A 20-minute flight in an open two-seat aircraft, you and the pilot, at up to 1,500 feet above the marina, The Palm and Burj Al Arab.

A quiet 4x4 drive with a guide through Dubai's large nature reserve, looking for herds of Arabian oryx, gazelles and desert birds.

Paddle the calm water of The Palm, in a kayak or on a SUP board, with Atlantis in front of you. In the evening you can paddle a clear, lit kayak.

A short camel ride on JBR beach, horse riding in the dunes at sunrise or sunset, or a camel trek in the desert with a Bedouin breakfast.

Walk between the souks beside the Creek and taste Emirati, Lebanese and Iranian food along with street food, with a local guide.

The famous passenger liner QE2 is permanently moored in Dubai and now serves as a floating hotel. On the heritage tour you go aboard and see the captain's cabin, an original passenger cabin and a vintage Rolls-Royce in the ship's garage.

Two ways to drive a kart in Dubai: the professional tracks of Dubai Kartdrome in Motor City, indoors and outdoors, or Chaos Karts in Al Quoz, where the track is projected onto the floor and the race looks like a video game.

Nine colourful rooms of light, sound and touch, designed to release a little dopamine: a pillow fight, a ball pit, a corridor of lights and walls you are allowed to scribble on. An indoor experience for all ages at Oasis Mall.

One of the largest indoor activity parks in the Emirates: trampolines and ninja courses, laser tag, bowling, a climbing wall, VR, an arcade and slime rooms, all under one air-conditioned roof.

Sit on cushions in the courtyard of an old wind-tower house in Al Fahidi, taste Emirati dishes, and ask an Emirati host everything you wanted to know about life, customs and religion in the Emirates.

A small man-made island facing JBR beach, with the Ain Dubai observation wheel, a promenade, restaurants, a beach and a cycle path. You reach it on foot over a bridge from JBR, and in the evening you can dine in a private glass pod facing the marina skyline.

Sixty minutes to escape a 1970s prison cell: puzzles, locks and hidden clues, in a private room for your group only. Suitable for beginners, for families with children from age 7 and for friends.

A massage and flower bath, a facial for women, a Turkish hammam and the Thermal Oasis at Fairmont The Palm, or a private Russian banya. You choose the kind of pampering, and we book the venue for you.

Drive a Ferrari or a Porsche yourself, sit in the back of a Rolls-Royce with a driver, or tour the city in an open convertible or a classic car.

A professional photographer who accompanies you beside Burj Khalifa, on JBR beach, in old Dubai or in the desert. There are private shoots, night shoots, a flying dress, pre-wedding couple photography and reels.

Entry to a day of pool, private beach and a sunbed on Palm Jumeirah: RIVA Beach Club, which suits families, Fluid Beach Club at the Th8 Palm hotel, and the pools and beach at Fairmont The Palm.

Three ways to sit down to afternoon tea in Dubai: a gilded jewellery box at Fairmont, a Versace-designed lounge, and a Bedouin table facing the desert lakes.

Two large buffet meals at the two Atlantis hotels on Palm Jumeirah: Saffron at Atlantis The Palm, and the Gastronomy food market at Atlantis The Royal.

Two evenings where the food is only half the experience: a seven-course meal inspired by great painters, on the 30th floor above Downtown, and a Latin night at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.

Eight restaurants and dining experiences you can book through us: a meal on floor 122 of Burj Khalifa, Persian cuisine at Atlantis The Royal, Italian at Palazzo Versace, glass pods at Bluewaters and a bus with a transparent roof.

Eight air-conditioned venues for a hot day or an evening with friends: a trampoline park, a roller-skating rink, 3D mini golf, a smash room, life-size Pac-Man, dinosaurs in virtual reality, a cricket batting cage and a museum of illusions.

Ten experiences on the water and under it: a donut and a banana towed behind a boat, a fly fish, wakeboarding and wakesurfing, an electric hydrofoil board, a jetpack, a jetovator, an underwater scooter and a Seabob, against the Dubai skyline.

Parties on yachts with a DJ, a barbecue and free drinks, a pub crawl with a party bus between 4 bars, and private party yachts for groups. Ages 21 and over, with photo ID.

New Year's Eve in Dubai, 31.12.2026: a dinner cruise on a mega yacht, a dhow at the Marina, a speedboat facing the fireworks, a party on a boat or a celebration at a desert camp. Every event here is on a fixed date.

One digital pass for several attractions: Burj Khalifa, Aquaventure, a desert safari, a dhow cruise and more. You choose a number of attractions or a number of days, and book each entry from the app.

A digital SIM card you install on your phone before the flight. You choose a UAE-only plan, a regional Gulf plan or a global plan, and connect to a local network when you land.

Sit at a wheel in a pottery studio in Al Quoz, on your own, as a couple or with the children. A quiet, creative experience that comes home with you.

Drive a 1000cc buggy yourself, a Can-Am or a Polaris RZR, on the red dunes. For anyone who has outgrown an ordinary safari.

One day, six emirates: from Dubai through Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, to the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, and on to the oldest mosque in the Emirates, on the Fujairah coast.

Not another quick safari: a whole evening at a desert camp with a chef's dinner and shows, or a night at Al Khayma camp. A morning in the desert is something you remember.

Breakfast, a 3-course lunch or afternoon tea at At.mosphere, on level 122 of the Burj Khalifa, 442 metres above the ground. Modern French cooking and windows that face the whole city.

A 3-course lunch menu at the Asian restaurant CÉ LA VI, on level 54 of the Address Sky View hotel. An open terrace, a direct view of the Burj Khalifa, and a glass of wine or a beer with the meal.

A seven-course dinner, each course inspired by a great painter, with the table itself becoming a screen. Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa accompany the evening, on level 30 of the Sofitel Dubai Downtown hotel.

A Latin restaurant and bar at the entrance to Souk Madinat Jumeirah: food over an open fire, cocktails with and without alcohol, projections on the walls, and salsa, cumbia and samba that warm up as the evening goes on.

Serenity Spa at the Fairmont The Palm hotel: a Thermal Oasis with a jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room and an ice fountain, and a Turkish hammam ritual. Two entry options, ages 18 and over.

A private Russian banya in a villa in Jumeirah 1: hot steaming, a citrus scrub, a massage or a body scrub, a cold plunge and tea from a samovar. The whole banya is yours for 3 hours.

A beach club on the trunk of the Palm, with a pool, a private beach and a view of the Burj Al Arab. A day pass with a sunbed and a towel, or a ticket for two.

A beach club at the Th8 Palm hotel, on the western crescent of the Palm: two infinity pools, a private beach, a DJ and a view of the Marina skyline. A day pass, or lunch with wine followed by a day at the pool.

A guided tour of 3 to 4 supercar and luxury car showrooms in Dubai, with hotel pick-up, time for photographs and a drop-off at Dubai Mall at the end.

An hour-long journey into the world of the dinosaurs, on level 2 of Dubai Festival City Mall: a fossil store, a free-roam walk in virtual reality, life-size animatronic dinosaurs and a craft corner for children.

A 50-minute deep cleansing facial for women at Chado: the spa and beauty centre of a Swiss cosmetics brand, in a villa in Jumeirah 2. Open every day.

A day pass to the pools and the private beach of the Fairmont The Palm hotel: a sunbed with towels, changing rooms, a sauna and a steam room, or a cabana on the beach with a food and drink credit.

A daybed for two at The 305, a pink Miami-style beach club at West Beach on Palm Jumeirah, with a bottle of prosecco, a fruit platter, a pool, a beach and marina views.

Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge at Atlantis The Palm: scones, sandwiches and pastries by the hotel's head pastry chef, unlimited tea and coffee, and an option with a cocktail.

Afternoon tea served in a gilded jewellery box, at the Mashrabiya Lounge in Fairmont The Palm: savoury bites, pastries, scones, sorbet and tea, facing the waters of the gulf.

Afternoon tea in the lounge at the heart of the Palazzo Versace Dubai lobby: sandwiches, scones, pastries and Dammann Frères tea, beside tall windows overlooking the creek and the pool.

The grand buffet at Atlantis The Palm: more than 220 dishes and 20 live cooking stations, with a seafood night on Tuesdays. The ticket includes soft drinks, valet parking and entry to the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium.

A food market inside Atlantis The Royal: 17 live cooking stations, an oyster bar, a bakery and kitchens from around the world. Dinner every day between 18:00 and 22:00, with a private transfer option.

A Persian restaurant at Atlantis The Royal, by chef Ariana Bundy, following family recipes. A three-course meal beneath decorated arches and domes.

A Persian restaurant at the Palazzo Versace hotel, on Dubai Creek. A menu of several dishes to share, chosen by the chef, with a soft drink and valet parking.

The Italian restaurant at the Palazzo Versace hotel, facing Dubai Creek. A three-course menu, with a soft drink and valet parking.

A pan-Asian restaurant on the 6th floor of Pier 7, with a terrace facing the Dubai Marina towers. A three-course menu at sunset, with a welcome drink.

An Italian seafood restaurant at Dubai Harbour, facing the yachts and the marina towers. A three-course lunch, with water and coffee.

An Italian restaurant on level 52 of the Palm tower, with entry to The View observation deck. An early three-course dinner at sunset.

18 holes of minigolf under ultraviolet light, with 3D glasses, in three rooms painted from floor to ceiling: under the sea, in Arabian landscapes and in space. An indoor, air-conditioned outing on the JBR promenade.

Riding a board behind a boat, in two ways: 45 minutes of wakeboarding with an instructor opposite Burj Al Arab, or a private boat from Dubai Harbour for wakesurfing and wakeboarding, with a captain, boards and an assistant instructor.

A party on the water facing the Dubai Marina skyline: a night party with a DJ, a sunset party, a midday pool party, a superyacht, or a private yacht just for your group.

A full day out with a group and hosts: a meet-up at a bar with games, a pool party with a DJ and live acts, and at the end, queue-free entry to a large nightclub in the Dubai Marina area.

A wheel-throwing pottery workshop in a spacious studio in Al Quoz: 90 minutes with an instructor, clay, tools and kiln firing. And for anyone celebrating something, Clay & Dine: a private workshop in a room of your own with a hosting table.

Blend a perfume of your own: a tour of Dubai's historic souks and a workshop in a traditional perfume shop, or a guided fragrance tour through the boutiques of Dubai Mall with a scent expert.

A 20-minute flight with a private pilot over the Dubai desert: dunes, camel and date farms, a nature reserve with oryx and gazelles, and a view of a lake in the desert.

A 1000cc sports buggy, with you behind the wheel: half an hour or an hour in a Can-Am, a run in a Polaris RZR with sandboarding, or a guided Can-Am safari that ends with an evening at a camp.

A whole evening inside a nature reserve: sunset from a lounge on the dune, a three-course meal by the resident chef, a fire and acrobatics show, and desert activities for all ages.

Only 14 dune-shaped nests, with a king bed, an en-suite shower and a private terrace facing the desert. An evening with a chef's dinner and shows, a quiet night in a nature reserve, and breakfast with the sunrise.

A Bedouin camp in the Al Awir desert, with a meal from a restaurant awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide: an evening with a barbecue and shows, a camel ride at sunset, a night in a private tent or a luxury dome.

A small Bedouin village inside the Al Marmoom reserve, set among ghaf trees and a lake: Arabic coffee and dates, a camel ride, a photo with a falcon, an open Emirati buffet and a telescope trained on the desert stars.

An electric board that lifts clear of the water on a wing: a short briefing on the beach, then half an hour on the water with an instructor, in the sheltered water of the Palm's East Crescent.

The Seabob is a small electric watercraft that you hold by two handles, and it pulls you through the water. You glide along the surface and, if you want to, dive with it a little way below.

An hour-long massage followed by half an hour in a bath full of fresh flowers, at Soul Senses Spa in Oasis Mall. For one person or a couple, with a steam room and sauna before or after.

Abu Dhabi's great white mosque: marble, gold and vast chandeliers. Entry is by advance booking and in modest dress.

An art museum under an enormous latticed dome above the water. It also has a children's museum.

An indoor theme park under the sign of Ferrari, beneath the red roof of Yas Island.

An indoor park with the superheroes and cartoon characters of Warner Bros. Especially good for families.

The water park of Yas Island: slides, wave pools and areas for younger children.

An indoor marine park: huge aquariums, shows and rides, from the poles to the open ocean.

The presidential palace of the United Arab Emirates, open to visitors. In the evening there is a light show on the facade.

A museum of digital art that you walk into: light, water and movement all around you.

Abu Dhabi's new natural history museum, with enormous dinosaur skeletons. A strong draw for families.

The national museum of the United Arab Emirates, which opened in December 2025. The story of the land and its people, from antiquity to the present day.

The white fort, the oldest building in Abu Dhabi. An 18th-century watchtower in the middle of the modern city.

A long boardwalk through the mangroves, with the option of paddling a kayak along the channels. Quiet nature close to the city.

A vast aquarium at the Al Qana complex, with sharks, sea turtles and an underwater tunnel. A convenient stop on the way from Dubai.

The circuit of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. A behind-the-scenes tour, or driving a race car.

Abu Dhabi's garden city: a palm oasis, mud-brick forts and Jebel Hafeet. A day trip from Dubai or from Abu Dhabi.

The high dunes of the Empty Quarter, a 2–3 hour drive from Abu Dhabi. A full day in a 4x4 in the heart of the desert.

Pick-up from your Abu Dhabi hotel, a drive of less than an hour to the dunes of Al Khatim, and there a jeep, camels, sandboarding and sunset at the camp.

A family zoo in the north-east of Abu Dhabi, with more than 200 species. You feed the giraffes, see the elephants up close, and stay for the shows.

Real snow in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Sledges, a train, a carousel and a snow-covered tree house, at minus 2 degrees, with warm clothing handed out at the entrance.

Abu Dhabi's famous hotel, with domes, gold and chandeliers. You don't need to stay the night to go in: book a meal, afternoon tea or a gold cappuccino.

The world's largest hospital for falcons, the national bird of the Emirates. The tour shows real treatment, takes you into the free-flight aviary, and lets you hold a falcon on your hand.

A classical riding school on Jubail Island, with 40 white horses, a gallery, a library and a saddlery workshop. You tour the stables, and in the evening there is a show.

See Abu Dhabi from the water: the Corniche skyline, Yas Island and the mangroves. You can sit back on a guided tour, or drive a small boat yourself, without a licence.

Two air-conditioned glass domes at Al Qana, with more than 10,000 butterflies flying freely around you. Inside there are also sloths, binturongs, a caiman and a koi pond.

A covered, air-conditioned adventure park at Al Qana, with more than 20 experiences: climbing walls, rope courses, an air-bag jump, a zip line and a karting track on three levels.

A small, child-sized city inside Yas Mall. Children choose a profession, put on a uniform, work and earn the city's own money. More than 40 activities, from firefighter to astronaut.

A round glass lounge on the 74th floor of Etihad Towers, 300 metres above the city. You look out over the Corniche, the gulf and Emirates Palace, with tea or coffee in front of the view.

A double-decker bus with an open top deck that runs between the big sites of Abu Dhabi. You get on and off at your own pace, and you can add a tour of Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

For anyone already staying in Abu Dhabi: a guided tour with hotel pick-up that links Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the Corniche, the Heritage Village, the date market and Emirates Palace into one half day.

The first traditional stone Hindu temple in the Middle East: pink sandstone and white marble, carved by hand, with 7 spires for the seven emirates. Entry is by advance registration and in modest dress.

Paddle beneath the dome of Louvre Abu Dhabi, or between the mangrove trees of Reem Island with the skyline behind you. No previous experience needed, with a guide and full equipment.

Abu Dhabi is an archipelago of more than 200 islands. You head out to sea, see the skyline from the water, and stop to swim at quiet islands with white sand.

You take off from Mina Zayed port and fly along the Corniche, over Emirates Palace and Qasr Al Watan, as far as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. With headsets, so you can hear the pilot.

Ride a jet ski across the gulf, with the Abu Dhabi skyline in front of you. You start with a safety briefing, then head out alone, in pairs or with an instructor.

Ride along the beach at sunrise or sunset, take the horse into the sea, or head out on a private ride in the Al Wathba desert. Suitable even if you have never ridden before.

Before oil, Abu Dhabi lived off the sea and the desert. You walk around the Heritage Village, and sit down to a real Emirati meal.

Three ways to eat in Abu Dhabi beyond the usual restaurant: a dinner cruise on a large yacht from Yas Marina, a romantic meal for two on a desert dune, and a table at the café of Louvre Abu Dhabi.

An evening on a 165-foot yacht that sets out from Yas Marina: an international and Asian buffet with live cooking stations, a DJ and shows, and a view of Yas Island lit up at night.

A huge safari in an open reserve of 8 sq km, with animals from Africa. Open in the cool season.

A green island in the middle of Khalid Lagoon, with a butterfly house, sculptures and nature gardens. Especially pleasant towards evening.

An archaeological museum in the heart of a World Heritage site, and after it dunes, sandboarding and a sky full of stars.

Two parks in the same complex: the Pearls Kingdom water park and the Island of Legends amusement park. Slides, a lazy river, a big wheel and rides for children, about 20 minutes from Dubai airport.

Half a day in the cultural neighbour of Dubai: Al Hisn Fort, the Blue Souk, Souq Al Arsah and the Museum of Islamic Civilisation, with pick-up from your hotel in Dubai.

An open-top double-decker bus that runs between Sharjah's main sights. Hop on and off as often as you like during the day, and a short cruise is included in the ticket.

A tandem paragliding flight over the Al Faya mountains, or a buggy ride across the sands. Two ways to see Sharjah's desert up close.

Coral reefs, sea turtles and colourful fish in the bay of Khor Fakkan, on Sharjah's east coast. A snorkelling boat trip to the reefs, or two dives for certified divers.

2.83 km of flight on a cable above the Hajar mountains, from the highest peak in the Emirates. A Guinness record.

Four man-made islands with long beaches and resort hotels. The quickest way to see them: a guided jet ski ride.

A sail on a pearl divers' boat through the mangroves to a floating farm that grows pearls. At the end you open an oyster yourself.

Red dunes, camels, a Bedouin camp and a barbecue dinner under the stars. An evening safari or a morning safari in the Ras Al Khaimah desert.

A guided trip from Dubai into the Hajar mountains: a trail to a hidden oasis on Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the country, or a demanding loop in Wadi Shawka with a sunrise viewpoint.

A private tour with a driver-guide taking in the abandoned pearling village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, the national museum in the rulers' fort, the old souk and the fish market. From Ras Al Khaimah, or as a full day from Dubai.

Seeing Ras Al Khaimah from above: a hot-air balloon at sunrise over the red dunes, a microlight flight where you can take the controls, or a gyrocopter over the beaches and the desert.

A guided jet ski tour from Al Marjan Island, or a private cruise along the coast from Al Hamra Marina.

A small reef just off the shore in the Gulf of Oman: snorkelling, kayaks and paddleboards, with the Hajar mountains behind you.

You set off by boat from the east coast to the reefs of the Gulf of Oman, and swim with a mask and snorkel beside sea turtles, shoals of fish and coral.

A first try dive or two dives for certified divers, on the reefs of the east coast. Dibba Rock, an artificial reef, turtles and reef sharks.

One day from Dubai to the other side of the Emirates: the Hajar mountains, Fujairah Fort, the ancient mosque at Al Bidyah and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

A large adventure park in the Hajar mountains: a zipline, a giant swing, a climbing wall, archery, a pump track and 15 kilometres of mountain bike trails.

A ride at sunset among the farms, tracks and ancient sites of Qidfa, a swim with the horse in the sea, and an Emirati dinner in the village.

A private tour with a driver-guide through the smallest emirate: the museum in an 18th-century fort, Souk Saleh, the corniche and the Al Zorah mangroves.