Thrills and spills in the ‘United Action Emirates’

ABU Dhabi/Dubai — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of a federation of seven emirates but its two most well-known ones are, undoubtedly, Dubai and Abi Dhabi.

The city of Dubai is a major aviation transport hub and is also known for its iconic skyscrapers: Tom Cruise scaled the world’s tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa, in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol. Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan currently fronts Dubai’s tourism campaign.

Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE, has been catching up with its neighbour on the tourism front, with its Unesco world heritage sites and architectural triumphs such as the Yas Viceroy. It is the only five-star hotel in the world to straddle an F1 racetrack and which is built half on land, and half over water.

But while many would think of visiting the two cities for a shopping holiday, an extended stopover on the way to Europe, or even a fun-filled trip to enjoy the various family-centric attractions, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also great spots for adventure seekers.

There is so much action for those wanting thrills in the UAE that you may as well call it the “United Action Emirates”.

The fact that it is sunny in these cities almost every day of the year also makes them ideal for outdoor activities.

But avoid visiting between June and August as daytime temperatures soar above 40°C, making it unbearable to be outdoors for anything more than a few minutes. November to March are the best months, as the temperature hovers between 23°C and 30°C in the day.

It is also possible to visit both cities in one trip as they are about an-hour-and-a-half’s drive apart and it is easy to get taxis that will drive you between both of them.

Desert Escapades

Thanks to the desert areas in both emirates, one of the best things to do here is dune bashing. This involves traversing the sand dunes with an experienced driver who takes you on an adventure in a four-wheel drive. You will be thrilled by the fact that it is so amazingly different from the buzzing tourist and business hubs just a short drive away.

If you want a longer desert experience, sign up for an evening desert safari, which includes the off-road adventure on the dunes and also stops for some stunning sunset photos so make sure there is enough space on your phone to capture everything.

The evening ends with a visit to a traditional Bedouin-style camp, where you will be treated like royalty and served an Arabian buffet dinner, before being taken back through the dunes, to your hotel.

But if you prefer to be the driver of your own desert adventures, get on a quad bike or even a sandboard and glide down the dunes.

Big Red is Dubai’s most famous sand dune, standing at 91m high, and here you can rent a quad bike or learn how to sandboard like a pro.

Or visit the largest desert in Arabia, Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter desert, where you will drive over the high dunes, to reach the Liwa Oasis. You can surf the dunes here and you might even catch a glimpse of the gazelle that roam the area.

There are many tour companies that offer packages for such trips so do some research online or visit the official tourism sites for more information.

Thrill Rides

If you prefer the view from the top, get on a hot air balloon for some spectacular views of the vast Arabian desert. It is a view like no other, with sand dunes far below you and the camels that roam the land appearing as tiny spots on the ground. Hot air balloon rides are available in Dubai and some companies do offer transport to and from some hotels in Abu Dhabi. The ride takes about an hour and departs early in the morning, with breakfast served afterwards.

Thrill seekers might not be satisfied with just being in a balloon so skydiving is an option. Skydive Dubai takes you on a plane to an altitude of almost 4,000m, where you jump and experience a free fall for around a minute. After your instructor pops the chute, you enjoy your more relaxing five-minute descent. You can choose to do your skydive over the iconic Palm Jumeirah with spectacular city views or above the sand dunes in the desert.

And if you want to experience a skydive but, well, do not have the stomach for the real thing, head for the SkyVenture Abu Dhabi, where you will be put through a personalised training session before you are allowed to “fly” and experience an indoor skydive.

Those who prefer to get their kicks closer to the ground should head to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Delve into the history and design of the famous car brand and ride alongside a virtual F1 pro in a motion-based simulator. You can also race the actual Abi Dhabi Grand Prix venue — the Yas Marina Circuit — in a state-of-the-art simulator, either solo or with a group. But if you only want the real deal, you can drive a Ferrari California after a lesson with a Ferrari expert.

There are plenty of other activities here for the whole family, such as go-karting and hair-raising rides, even one in 4D.

You will also find the world’s fastest roller coaster here; Formula Rossa goes faster than an F1 car, as you are blasted 240kmh in just 4.9 seconds. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted.