Things to do in Dubai

I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to go to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, with my best friend twice. We had an absolutely amazing holiday both times so here’s my pick of the best things to do in Dubai.

Dune Bashing in the Desert

We went on a desert safari while we were in Dubai and it was my favourite activity. It was a great trip and really good value for money as it only cost us around £150 for all three of us. The 4×4 driver picked us up from where we were staying and took us into the desert. There’s the option of quad biking too if you want more of an adrenaline rush.

The dune bashing was truly quite scary – it felt as if the car was literally going to tip over! We had a crazy driver who I think was made all the more crazy the more we screamed! There was also a beautiful sunset and we took full advantage of this photo opportunity. Is there anything more beautiful than a sunset in the desert?

After the dune bashing, we were driven to a desert camp where we rode on camels, had henna tattoos on our hands and ate delicious food from the BBQ. There were also traditional dancers for us to watch.

Ladies’ Night

With Dubai being in a Muslim country, I wasn’t really expecting there to be a big party atmosphere but I was completely wrong, it is very Westernised. You can only drink in hotels but Tuesday is Ladies’ Night in the city where you are rewarded for being a girl with free drinks. We went to the Madame Butterfly Ladies’ Night at China Grill at the Westin Hotel where there was a band playing and bubbles were on tap all night. In fact, you didn’t even need to go to the bar to get a round in, waiters came round and topped up your glass every time it got half empty.

We then headed upstairs to a nightclub which was called Bussola. We had a great night, got invited to about a million after parties and danced until we couldn’t walk. In fact, I had TOO much fun as I was pretty much out of action for the whole of the next day and I didn’t leave the house.

Sundowners on the Beach

Drinking cocktails at sundown on the beach – what more can I say? WHY are sunsets in other countries the most beautiful thing? We went to The Jetty Lounge at the One & Only for ours and drank delicious daiquiris right by the sea front as we watched the sun disappear.

Friday Brunch

Again, this is somewhat of a boozy affair. Weekends in the UAE fall on Fridays and Saturdays and so Friday is a big party day. We headed to the Grand Grill Steakhouse for brunch which was 350AED (about £62) for all you can eat and drink from 12.30 – 4pm. Apparently this was one of the more limited brunches in terms of food but I thought it was fantastic. There was a selection of salads, BBQ items like burgers, ribs, chicken drumsticks, and steaks which were cooked to order. I chose the sirloin steak, rare of course, and it was cooked to perfection.

The drinks were good too. There was wine on offer, cocktails and spirits. Everyone gets really dressed up for brunch and then (if you can handle it!) it’s on to the next bars. This brunch did start to get a little bit rowdy, there was a rugby team on the table next to us so it wasn’t long before we got roped into playing a drinking game with them! We then went to Candypants at XL at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, The Observatory at the Marriott and Level 43 at Four Points by Sheraton. We ended up getting home at 3.30am!

Sailing on a Yacht

Seeing the coast of Dubai on a yacht is a don’t-miss experience while you’re there. We were lucky enough to be taken out on a boat by some friends but you can hire a yacht from the harbour and it’s quite reasonably priced. There’s nothing better than sitting on the front of the boat, sipping on bubbles and feeling the wind in your hair before jumping off for a swim in the Arabian Sea. Not to mention how warm the sea is, it’s like a bath! You get a great view of the Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab, plus the rest of the buildings in Dubai.

Zero Gravity Beach Club

A trip to Dubai wouldn’t be complete without heading to a beach club. We went to Zero Gravity, next to the drop zone for Skydive Dubai. Zero Gravity has direct access to the beach and a glass-fronted infinity pool.

Visit in the week for a chilled day where you can paddle in the sea, read your book and sip your drink in peace, or head there on a weekend for parties with DJs and performers.

Head to the top of the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world with a height of 830m to the tip. You can go to the top of the building where there are observation decks giving you incredible views of Dubai below you. It’s really quite breathtaking being up so high and something that you should do if you’re in Dubai.

Be sure to buy your Burj Khalifa ticket in advance as they work out cheaper than buying them when you get there.

If you’ve visited Dubai before, let me know your top tips below!