During a global pandemic, all is certainly not calm. But things are a little bit brighter, as quarantine restrictions are slowly lifted. For instance, the Middle East, a region that usually sees more than 50 million tourists a year, has reopened its borders. While some countries in the Middle East are still very much locked down due to worries with the virus, there are a few that have started accepting international tourists, with a few entry requirements. The UAE, for instance, opened its borders for tourism on July 7 and has recently relaxed some of the entry and exit restrictions (the latter one applies for residents only).
A federation of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain – the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a charismatic country on the Eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula. Washed with a suave glimmer of urban life, it is the modern hub of shopping, culture, and iconic architectural structures. It is a melting pot of cultures and also an ideal destination for those seeking education and employment opportunities.
In light of the celebration of Christmas, we created a “Bucket List” of sorts to make the most of the holiday season, inspired by the popular English Christmas carol:12 things to do in the UAE.
Here are the 12 things you can do in UAE:
They say it took an optimist to invent the aero plane and a pessimist to invent the parachute. But the person who invented skydiving was just nuts. Fortunately, after years of scientific advance, skydiving is now a perfectly safe pursuit and can be enjoyed by anyone with a loose screw.
Whether you are living locally or just visiting, a tandem skydiving experience over the iconic Palm Jumeirah Island or the desert is a must-try in Dubai. Also, if you’ve longed to feel the rush of flying through the air at speeds over 120 mph, the perfect opportunity for you is to try Tandem Skydive – Abu Dhabi. After about a minute of freefall, you can either choose to pull the ripcord or have the instructor do it for you.
The world’s longest zip line is none other than found in the UAE, propelling thrill-seekers at speeds of up to 150 kilometres an hour down the Middle East country’s highest mountain peak. The zipline can handle as many as 100,000 people a year, and though there are no age restrictions, riders must be at least 1.22 meters tall and no heavier than 150 kilograms.
Dubai’s soaring skyscrapers, man-made islands, and glittering marina are even more impressive when viewed from above. So make the most of your time in Dubai, UAE with a helicopter tour that lets you view it from an angle most never experienced. Fly around landmarks, see beaches and waterways, marvel as you fly over incredible architectural feats, and snap impressive bird’s-eye photos. Some tours give you aerial tours to The World Islands, Burj Khalifa; Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, among others. There are also choices of durations to suit your schedule, while some have perks like a commentary from your pilot, providing you with a great overview of the city. Surely, you will return with unforgettable memories of Dubai.
Dubai is famous for both old and new architecture. The city is full of tourist attractions in the form of the world’s largest skyscrapers, world-class five star and seven-star hotels, lush green private beaches, world’s largest shopping mall, theme parks, water parks, and desert safari. There are many ways to explore the world’s most famous city, but nothing is better than a lavish ride. Make your trip memorable with a luxury limousine ride and take a sightseeing ride in the city of gold.
A limousine ride is especially recommended for couples, families, and groups. It can also be used for a ride from one place to another for a posh experience. The Limo ride is also recommended for special events like birthday, honeymoon couples, and a marriage proposal.
If you’ve ever dreamed of coming face-to-face with beautiful (and scary) sea creatures but never quite got round to learning how to scuba dive, Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai is the best option for you. The ocean-themed resort has an immersive experience, Aquatrek Xtreme, allowing visitors to walk along the floor (or seabed, if you like) of The Ambassador Lagoon, one of the biggest open-air aquariums in the world.
Visitors are fitted with an Aquatrek helmet, which provides a continuous supply of air (three times more than you would need, in fact, just to be on the safe side) and keeps you completely dry. You then descend a ladder 10 metres to the bottom of The Ambassador Lagoon for a guided tour, where you might encounter some 65,000 marine animals, including sharks, stingrays, and plenty of colourful fish.
Get a bird’s-eye view of Dubai and experience the sights from a different perspective on an exciting Gyrocopter Tour. Experience the thrill of a private flight onboard a gyrocopter, a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift, over the iconic The Palm and Burj Al Arab area. This is one most amazing 20 minutes you could ever get, feeling the VIP thrill of a private flight.
If you are looking for some water sport, you should definitely need to give eFoil a go. An eFoil is a surfboard with an electric motor that flies above a hydrofoil wing. The eFoil motor is near silent and is powered by a rechargeable battery that can be charged with power from a renewable source. It is great fun and lets you interact with the marine environment in a very exciting way. Absolutely an incredible experience of flying over water.
- Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai offers a variety of activities & gives you a chance to ski, snowboard, meet the penguins, zip line, or take a chairlift ride.
Immerse yourself in a world of fantastic colours, spectacular animals, and incredible experiences. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is an experience that brings you closer than ever to over 33,000 aquatic animals.
Imagine flying over dunes, just meters above the ground, watching gazelle gallop through the desert, and climbing up high for a selfie with Dubai Lake before exploring the local camel farms and villages. These are the perks of the Tandem Paramotor – The Desert Experience. Its versatility and high level of safety allow us to give you the ultimate Dubai desert experience.
No building in modern history has aroused so much curiosity and intrigue as has Burj Khalifa. Your “At the Top of Burj Khalifa” visit will answer all your questions. From your vantage point on level 124 of the world’s tallest building, you will experience first-hand this modern architectural and engineering marvel and know at last what it is like to see the world from such a lofty height. You can choose your entry to the world’s tallest building on either Prime Hours or Non-prime Hours.
- World’s Largest Fountain at The Pointe
Nakheel Malls recently broke the record for the world’s largest fountain, measuring at a whopping 7,327 m² in Dubai, UAE. The record-breaking fountain named The Palm Fountain was designed with a few tricks including colour and brightness controls. Located at The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah, the waterfront attraction creates a relaxing environment while its water jets dance to songs from all around the world. The fountain spreads over 14,000 ft² of seawater and is equipped with shooters capable of blasting water 105 metres into the air. It also features over 3,000 LED lights in multiple colours that light up the sky over the ocean.
Planning a Christmas bucket list is exciting. The holiday can be one of the best times of the year as it lasts about a month and involves family, friends, lights, and presents. Since it only comes once a year, don’t feel like you have to complete everything on this list at once (given that we are still on pandemic times). You can spread it out over a couple of years. What matters most is you enjoy the Christmas season and have as much fun as possible with your family and friends.
