Outdoors · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
5 best outdoor things to do in Dubai
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Philosographer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Dubai Marina and JBR Walk, Desert safari and Dubai Miracle Garden. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 16–19 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 16–19 hours
- Areas
- Dubai Marina, Dubai desert and Al Barsha South
Outdoors in Dubai
Waterfront · Dubai Marina
1.Dubai Marina and JBR Walk
Walk the marina at dusk, then take a dhow dinner cruise or eat at one of the JBR beachfront restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Dubai desert
2.Desert safari
Choose operators that work inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, and skip dune driving if you are pregnant, have back problems or have very young children.
- Time needed
- 6 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
- Photo spot
Garden · Al Barsha South
3.Dubai Miracle Garden
Visit in the late afternoon in November or December, when it is cooler and the displays are freshest.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Beach · Umm Suqeim
4.Kite Beach
Swim only between the flags, and come early in the morning in the warmer months, before the sand heats up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Theme park · Palm Jumeirah
5.Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers
Arrive at opening on a weekday, and visit in the cooler months when queues on the open-air slides are bearable.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | Dubai Marina and JBR Walk | 2–3 hours |
| Dubai desert | Desert safari | 6 hours |
| Al Barsha South | Dubai Miracle Garden | 1.5 hours |
| Umm Suqeim | Kite Beach | Half a day |
| Palm Jumeirah | Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers | Half a day to a full day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 2 free, 1 low cost, 1 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Desert safari. The longest visit is Desert safari; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Desert safari: Book with a licensed operator that includes hotel pick-up.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Dubai Marina): Dubai Marina and JBR Walk, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Dubai desert): Desert safari, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Al Barsha South): Dubai Miracle Garden, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Umm Suqeim): Kite Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Palm Jumeirah): Aquaventure and the Lost Chambers, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- January: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm, sunny days around 24°C and cool evenings; peak season, with the Dubai Shopping Festival in full swing.
- February: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Some of the most pleasant weather of the year, ideal for the beach, the desert and outdoor dining.
- December: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, with warm days, festive events and the highest prices around Christmas and New Year.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Dubai Marina — Waterfront towers, Marina Walk and yacht-lined promenades
- Palm Jumeirah — Resort island of beach hotels, Atlantis and private beaches
- Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim — Low-rise villas, public beaches and the Burj Al Arab
More of Dubai
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Dubai?
Dubai Marina and JBR Walk. Marina Walk circles a canal lined with skyscrapers and yachts and leads to The Walk at JBR, a beachfront promenade of cafés and restaurants.
+Which of these are free in Dubai?
Dubai Marina and JBR Walk and Kite Beach.