Authored by Vinod & Divya

There’s no doubt that the UAE is one of the most fascinating and interesting places in the world, but with a huge range of outrageous adventure activities, it is also one of the world’s most exciting.

The United Arab Emirates is a country that prides itself on being the best; they have the tallest skyscrapers, the biggest shopping malls, the most luxurious hotels (even creating an extra 2 stars for the iconic Burj Al Arab – the world’s only 7 star hotel).

Anything you can do elsewhere in the world, you can bet that the UAE can do it better! And when it comes to adrenaline pursuits, the rush is even more exhilarating, and even more intense!

Not to be outdone by any other destination, the following are outrageous things you can only do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – each one is sure to get your blood pumping!

Outrageous Things You Can Only Do in Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Arabian Desert Safari (Dubai)

Dubai’s famous dune tour is an insane activity where you jump in a four wheel drive, and go dune bashing at high speeds through the tallest sand dunes of the Arabian desert.

Hold on tight, and make sure you’re wearing a seat belt, otherwise you’ll go flying as the car catches some air. You’ll fly over towering dunes, and take them at 90 degree angles, screaming at the top of your lungs as you blow through the most spectacular desert scenery you’ve ever seen.

While 4W Driving is the most popular option for these desert safaris, you can choose to roar around the desert yourself on 400cc quad bikes that can be rented at the dunes. Sandboarding can also be done here.

While there are many sand dune experiences in other parts of the world, what makes the Dubai desert safari so unique is the combination of an Arabic camp at the end of the experience.

Most tour packages include a barbecue dinner and entertainment programs at a Bedouin camp which may include camel rides, henna, belly dancing, and falconry shows. Some tours even offer overnight stays out in the desert.

The basic package starts from AED 65 and can go up, depending on the extra activities chosen. You can book online or request your hotel for the best operator. Below is the tour we recommend booking:

Try Black Diamond Ice Cream

Where: Dubai

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Have a taste for the most expensive ice-cream in the world? Head to Scoop Ice Cream Cafe on Jumeirah Road to see this liquid nitrogen sundae made right in front of you!

Black Diamond Ice Cream is made from Madagascar Vanilla, Iranian saffron, and Italian truffle slices, garnished with 23 carat, edible gold flakes. It’s served in a royal handmade golden Versace bowl (and spoon), which you can take home with you!

While stopping for ice-cream may not sound like one of the most adventurous activities in the world, your wallet will surely be screaming! It costs a whopping AED 2,999 ($816.50 USD).

If you don’t have $800 to drop on a scoop of ice-cream, you can drop by for their much more reasonably priced scoop of the day, as this is definitely one of the places not to miss in Dubai.

The World’s Fastest Roller Coaster

Where: Abu Dhabi

Ever wanted to ride on the world’s fastest rollercoaster? The Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi reaches a top speed of 240 km/hour in just 4.9 seconds!! (150 mph).

The ride starts inside the indoor theme park, accelerates through the dome, travels outside the park, and returns to the loading station inside the building. It climbs a height of 52 meters before starting the heart-stopping drop.

The train’s cars look like flashy red Formula One Ferraris (and travel just as fast). It is so intense that you’ll be handed goggles to protect your eyes from the desert sand.

This is a solid crazy thing to do as it requires nerves of steel to go through with it, especially after reading the warnings that are posted just before it takes off. But for speed maniacs, this is a must-do on your visit to Abu Dhabi.

It costs AED 295 ($80 USD) for a full day pass at Ferrari World.

The Formula Rossa has held the title as the world’s fastest rollercoaster since opening in 2010, though it has fierce competition; Saudi Arabia has announced it will open the tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster in the world in 2023.

Image: Studio Sarah Lou (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Camel Racing & Polo

Where: Abu Dhabi & Dubai

Camel racing is a pretty big event in the UAE with people coming from around the world to watch the races. You can catch it in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The main season runs from October to April where races are held several days each week. More than a dozen beautifully maintained race tracks are scattered throughout the country with several conveniently located near Abu Dhabi.

The energy is palpable at these heart-thumping races, and the atmosphere is quite the experience!

Al Wathba Camel Race Track as well as Al Maqam Track allows visitors to witness this incredible spectacle free of charge where you can watch the sheikh owned camels run for glory and be rewarded with royal treatment.

In Dubai, British Polo Day is an annual event where instead of playing polo on horseback, they play while riding camels!

Dive Into a Shark Safari

Where: Dubai

There are many places around the world which let you swim with sharks and dolphins, but what about scuba diving without a cage? Or, taking a water slide straight into a shark infested lagoon?!

Yes, shark safaris in Dubai are next level crazy!

This is a hugely daring thing to do even for the most seasoned adventurers. The Shark dive experience at Aquaaventure Water Park allows you to get up and close with adult sharks while wearing a state-of-the-art oxygen helmet.

The Water Park is located in Atlantis The Palm Hotel. Take the Dubai Metro to The Mall of the Emirates Station and then take a taxi to Atlantis, The Palm.

Entry to the water park costs AED 240 ($65 USD). Shark Dives can cost upwards of AED 2600 ($707 USD).

Race an F1 Supercar on an F1 Track

Where: Dubai

Zoom the F1 track in supercars at the Dubai Autodrome for the ultimate adrenaline rush. You can drive Ferraris, Porches, Lamborghinis and more F1 cars at this 5.39 km karting circuit.

The Autodrome has played host to numerous world-class races over the past decade. It also has a racing school, indoor and outdoor karting tracks, and entertainment facilities.

Ticket prices range from AED 250 ($68 USD) for passenger experience and go up over AED 10,000 ($2722 USD) for a self-drive experience. It is located on Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

Click here to check availability.

Skydive Over the World’s Tallest Building

Where: Dubai

Host to one of the biggest annual international skydive championships, skydiving in Dubai is a serious sport! While you can skydive all around the world, this is the only place to do it for a birds eye view of iconic landmarks like the 7-star Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world).

There are two official locations which offer skydiving in Dubai. The first is over the dunes, which is best done at sunset when you can truly appreciate the vastness and beauty of the Arabian desert – more sand than you could possibly comprehend.

The other is a city jump which will see you fly over the Palm Jumeirah, the world famous man made archipelago which sits on the water and even has it’s own private beach. The views over the island and neighbouring marina are truly mind-blowing.

Your skydive is video recorded, and pictures are also taken by professional cameramen. It costs around AED 1200 ($326 USD) and you can book via Skydive Dubai or using the link below:

This crazy list can go on and on, but we will stop here and let you plan your holiday with all the fantastic things to do in Dubai. So go on and be adventurous!

Vinod & Divya are Software Techies by profession, gradually driven towards travel by passion. They are the founders/editors of the travel blog ‘Budget Travel Plans’ and are based in India.

Together with their adorable three year old, they have travelled across exotic destinations including Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Srilanka, Bhutan and the Middle East. They aim to share their budget travel experiences, as well as advice on traveling with small children.