Things to do in Dubai

Walk hands-free around the outside edge of a skyscraper, harnessed to a safety rail 219 metres above Downtown Dubai.

Float on a column of air in a 10-metre glass wind tunnel – the feeling of skydiving, with an instructor and no plane.

The classic Dubai evening: 4x4 dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, then a BBQ dinner with tanoura and fire shows at a desert camp.

A cooler, quieter desert trip: dune bashing, sandboarding and a camel ride in the morning light – or leave before dawn for sunrise.

A one-hour camel trek through the dunes outside Dubai, the way the desert was crossed for centuries.

Drive your own dune buggy across Dubai's dunes with a guide – from a short self-drive to VIP and Can-Am Maverick tours.

Evening safari and BBQ, a night under the stars at a desert camp, then a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the dunes.

Rise over the dunes at sunrise in a hot air balloon – with options for breakfast, falconry, vintage Land Rovers or a private basket.

See the Palm, the Burj Al Arab, the World Islands and the Burj Khalifa from a helicopter – shared seats or a private charter.

Fly beside the pilot in an open two-seat gyrocopter for about 20 minutes over the Palm, the Marina and the Burj Al Arab.

Jump from 13,000 feet strapped to an instructor, free-falling at 190 km/h over the Palm Jumeirah.

The world's longest urban zipline: fly head-first for one kilometre across Dubai Marina at up to 80 km/h.

Scuba or snorkel in a 60-metre-deep pool built as a sunken city – no certificate needed for the discover dive.

Ride a jet ski along the Dubai coast with an instructor leading the way – past the Burj Al Arab, with photo stops.

Fly up to 150 metres above the sea behind a speedboat, with JBR, Ain Dubai and the Palm spread out below.

Stand on a board powered by water jets and rise metres above the sea – with an instructor controlling the power until you find your balance.

Hold on tight as a speedboat tows your group on a bright yellow banana boat off Palm Jumeirah – 15 or 30 minutes.

Sit in an inflatable ring and get pulled, spun and bounced across the water behind a speedboat – 15 or 30 minutes.

Fly above the water on an electric hydrofoil surfboard with a hand remote – 30- or 60-minute lessons with an instructor.

Selfies with lifelike wax figures of film stars, athletes and leaders – including a full Bollywood zone – on Bluewaters Island.

Dubai's huge open-air winter fair: 25+ country pavilions for shopping and street food, rides, stunt shows and fireworks.

A night-time park of millions of lights: glowing gardens, giant lanterns, a dinosaur park and an art park in Zabeel Park.

A 45-minute indoor show of bottlenose dolphins and fur seals dancing, singing, juggling and painting, in Creek Park.

Skate on an Olympic-size ice rink in the middle of the Dubai Mall – skates included, with penguin aids for beginners.

A child-size city where kids try real jobs – pilot, doctor, firefighter, chef – and earn 'kidZos' to spend.

Two floors of virtual-reality rides and games in the Dubai Mall, from a Burj Khalifa 'drop' to VR roller coasters.

One of the world's largest indoor theme parks: Marvel and Cartoon Network rides, a dinosaur zone and the Velociraptor coaster – all air-conditioned.

Real snow at -4°C in the desert: toboggan runs, a chairlift, giant snowballs and penguins at the Mall of the Emirates.

The world's largest waterpark: 105 slides and attractions, a 1 km private beach and river rapids at Atlantis, The Palm.

Watch the world's largest dancing fountain from a traditional abra boat on Burj Lake, right in front of the Burj Khalifa.

Two hours on a traditional wooden dhow with a buffet dinner and tanoura show – along the historic Creek or past the Marina's towers.

A glass-sided cruise along the Dubai Water Canal with a buffet dinner, live music and views of the Burj Khalifa and the canal's waterfall bridge.

Dinner on a three-deck modern cruise ship sailing from Dubai Marina past Ain Dubai and JBR, with a buffet and live shows.

An evening on the 220-foot Lotus mega yacht: several decks, pools and lounges, with a buffet dinner and DJ as you cruise the Dubai coast.

A two-hour dinner cruise from Dubai Marina on a modern yacht, with a buffet, soft drinks and night views of JBR, Ain Dubai and the Palm.

Three hours on a luxury yacht from Dubai Marina with a live BBQ, drinks and swimming stop, past the Palm, Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab.

A four-hour night out on the water: DJ, live BBQ and pasta stations and an open bar as the yacht cruises Dubai Marina.

A private little wooden boat for up to six, with Arabic coffee, dates and sweets, drifting along the Al Jaddaf waterfront at sunset.

Ride one of the world's fastest lifts to the Level 124 and 125 observation decks of the world's tallest building, with floor-to-ceiling views over Dubai, the desert and the Arabian…

A 150-metre golden picture frame with a glass-floored sky bridge: old Dubai on one side, the modern skyline on the other.

The only place to see the whole palm shape from above: the observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower, 240 metres up.

A glass-floored walkway and a transparent slide on the outside of a tower, 219 metres above Downtown Dubai, facing the Burj Khalifa.

Ride the elevated monorail along the trunk of Palm Jumeirah from the Gateway station to Atlantis, with views over the fronds and the sea.

A full day covering old Dubai, the souks, Jumeirah, the Palm, Dubai Marina and the Dubai Mall, with a guide and hotel transfers.

The world's largest natural flower garden: 150 million blooms shaped into castles, hearts and a life-size Emirates A380.

Walk among 15,000 free-flying butterflies in climate-controlled domes next to Miracle Garden – open all year.

Walk through a 48-metre tunnel under sharks and rays in one of the world's largest aquarium tanks, then meet penguins and a giant crocodile upstairs.

65,000 marine animals in the ruins of 'Atlantis': glass tunnels and chambers of sharks, rays and jellyfish at Atlantis, The Palm.

Stand in waist-deep water at Atlantis and meet a bottlenose dolphin up close – touch, play and learn with a marine mammal specialist.

A private, pre-booked car between the airport and your hotel – Dubai International, Al Maktoum or Sharjah airport, and on to Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah.

Be met at the aircraft gate and fast-tracked through immigration and baggage at Dubai Airport – or upgrade to the Elite service with a private lounge and car.

Point-to-point transfers by private car within Dubai, return trips, rides to other emirates, or low-cost shared coaches to the big attractions.

Your own car and driver for half a day or a full day – for sightseeing, shopping or meetings in Dubai, or a day in the other emirates.

A stretch limousine with chauffeur for a night out, a birthday or a photo tour of Dubai's skyline – by the hour.

Dubai's largest heritage museum: restored creekside houses telling the story of the city, its ruling family, perfume, pearls and the sea.

An immersive digital-art museum in the Dubai Mall: rooms of crashing waves, waterfalls, flowers and northern lights made of light and sound.

Twelve glowing, mirrored rooms of light, sound and water – an immersive 'universe' of stars and rivers at WAFI City.

A private table for two in the open desert: dune drive, camel ride and a BBQ dinner by lantern light, in an Arabic, modern or romantic set-up.

A three-course meal at a table lifted 50 metres into the air by a crane, with the Marina and the Palm below.

Two family favourites on one booking: the Dubai Frame's glass sky bridge and the Dubai Aquarium's shark tunnel.

A full day of indoor rides at IMG Worlds plus the sunset view over Palm Jumeirah from The View, on one booking.

The view from the world's tallest building, and the world's largest flower garden – 150 million flowers in shapes and sculptures.

Fly across Dubai Marina on one of the world's longest urban zip lines, then take in the city from the Burj Khalifa.

Three Dubai highlights: the giant aquarium in Dubai Mall, the view over Palm Jumeirah, and the golden Dubai Frame.

Go up the Burj Khalifa and watch the Dubai Fountain show from the boardwalk on the lake, right in front of the jets.

A luxury yacht cruise with BBQ dinner past Dubai Marina, JBR and Ain Dubai, plus a visit to the top of the Burj Khalifa.

The 150-metre Dubai Frame with its glass bridge, and the colourful Dubai Miracle Garden.

The Dubai Frame by day, then an evening at Global Village – pavilions, food and shows from around 90 cultures.

Flowers and wildlife: the Miracle Garden's floral sculptures and Dubai Safari Park's African, Asian and Arabian villages.