An adrenaline junkie’s paradise, Dubai has endless thrills and spills for extreme sports seekers. From feeling the rush as you skydive above The Palm to heart-quickening ziplining at 1,700 feet, here are seven of our favourite adventure sports in Dubai to experience on your next visit.

Shark diving

Fancy swimming with the scariest creatures of the deep? Getting up close and personal with these legendary predators is an electrifying experience like no other, whether you’re a skilled diver or simply looking to discover more about sharks. Plunge to the depths of the Dubai Aquarium’s 10-million litre tank to meet the largest shiver of Sand Tiger sharks in the world.

Experience shark diving in Dubai at: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Waterpark

Take watersliding to the extreme at Wild Wadi Waterpark. There’s the daredevil 30m drop of the Jumeirah Sceirah ride, which shoots you along at 80kph, or the hair-raising Flowrider where you can try and surf! The best place to visit for aquatic adventure sports in Dubai, Wild Wadi Water Park at Jumeirah Beach Hotel has over 30 rides and attractions for all ages.

Experience  Wild Wadi Waterpark 

Sandboarding

Take advantage of Dubai’s vertiginous dunes and catch some serious air—in the desert! Sandboarding is one of Dubai’s most thrilling adventure sports, perfect for speed freaks in search of high-octane activities on the sandy slopes. You’ll be chauffeured in a 4X4 across the undulating desert plains to a prime sandboarding spot, where you can really let rip. Why not combine your sandboarding experience with a fun desert safari tour?

Experience sandboarding in Dubai with: Ocean Air Travels 

Snowboarding

From sand to snow… Yes, you can actually snowboard in the Middle East. It’s winter all year round at Ski Dubai, an incredible indoor ski centre that houses 3,000 square metres of the powdery white stuff. With full equipment hire and varying runs for all skill levels, you can take to the slopes with your family and snowboard or ski to your heart’s content.

Experience snowboarding in Dubai at: Ski Dubai

Ziplining

Travel just a little distance north of Dubai to Jebel Jais at Ras Al Khaimah, and you’ll uncover the highest mountain in the UAE. Home to Via Ferrata, this is where you’ll find the world’s longest zipline—a nail-biting 1km ride. But hurtling headlong through the dizzying mountain peaks at 150kph isn’t the only thrill of this experience; you’ll also scramble and climb through the photogenic terrain with a professional instructor.

Experience ziplining in Dubai at: Via Ferrata at Jebel Jais, Ras al Khaimah

Skydiving over The Palm

Imagine leaping out of a plane at 13,000 feet over the beautiful branches of The Palm, freefalling at 120mph. Skydiving is an unforgettable experience, but diving out above Dubai’s mesmerising Palm islands is truly something to behold. Get your heartbeat-raising kicks diving in tandem with an experienced instructor. It’ll be videoed as well, so you can relive the moment again and again!

Experience skydiving in Dubai at: Sky Dive Dubai 

Watersports

You could hire a paddle board or surf board or make like a superhero and jet pack your way over the Arabian Gulf at speeds of 40kph on a flyboard. With super-strength jet propulsion, your flyboard will propel you through the air like a bird before you dive back down underwater like a dolphin. An extraordinary adventure sport to experience in Dubai, flyboarding is surprisingly easy to master but the thrill is far harder to forget.

Experience flyboarding at: Searide Dubai

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