Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.
Imagine this: Heart pounding, palm sweating, and all your senses are on hyper alert. Not everyone thinks this is an appealing situation, but for some people, it’s the best feeling in the world.
And because of this insatiable feeling, they’ll try to get their fill of this adrenaline rush, anywhere they go.
If you’re one of these people (or would like to try something albeit out of your comfort zone), you should have the UAE on your radar.
Known for its extravagant attractions and record-breaking marvels, but apart from that, it also plays host to the breathtaking natural wilderness. Which make great backdrops for your next adventures!
In fact, writing this has gotten our adrenaline juices going…so much so that we’re now trying our luck to see if we can find ourselves a good deal for flights to go here! Here are the many reasons you have to make your way to the UAE if you’re an out and proud adrenaline junkie like us.
What’s a list of adrenaline-soaked activities if you don’t have skydiving in it? Leaping off an airplane surely seems like a good idea if your definition of fun is staring down the earth 4,000 meters from the ground.
Several seconds of free fall is considered the highlight when you dive straight, wind in your face before the parachute opens and you’re safely buoyed back down to land. The Palm Zone near the iconic Palm Jumeirah Island in Dubai is a particularly popular drop zone for the spectacular view and is one of the most unique backdrops for a jump.
New to skydiving? Don’t worry, you’ll be guided by instructors on the tandem skydive and if you dare, you can even opt to learn to be a certified diver here.
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North of Ras Al Khaimah is where you’ll find Stairway to Heaven, a notorious mountainous path connecting the emirate to Oman border. The ancient shepherd’s route is fraught with craggy rock walls, narrow paths, loose grounds, and elevation gain up to 1,000 meters, but it doesn’t stop expert mountaineers and extreme sports enthusiasts from attempting it.
Those who manage to finish the 17-kilometer hike will be rewarded with a sweeping view of rugged mountains and plains and an immense sense of accomplishment. Make sure you are physically fit and accompanied by experienced guides.
You Get to Face Off the “Scary Mountain”
Reachable by several-hour car ride from Abu Dhabi, Liwa Oasis at a stretch called Empty Quarter is a sandy playground that attracts racing and sand sports enthusiasts all over the world.
The star here is Tal Moreeb, a giant sand dune that both intimidates and excites visitors with its 300-meter height and 50-degree slope to the top; it’s considered to be one of the world’s highest sand dunes. You’ll need a 4×4 to conquer the here.
With a name that translates to “Scary Mountain” in Arabic, Tal Moreeb is basically an open invitation for all thrill seekers. Every year, that invitation comes in the form of Liwa International Festival, a seven-day racing and sand sports event where drag racers from all over the world convene to compete for the fastest time taken to reach the top of the dune.
After all the excitement during the day, camping under the stars will be a perfect way to spend the night, but you can also search for hotels in Wego for a more luxurious experience out in the desert.
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Snowboarding with no snow? No problem. Leave the glittering skyscrapers of Dubai behind and head over to the desert for a fun-filled day. Just about half an hour on the Dubai-Hatta road will get you face to face with the intensely hued sand dune called Big Red.
It’s exactly like snowboarding, really; just hop on your board and slide down. The enormous sand dune is constantly shaped by strong desert wind, adding new challenges every time you hit the sand. Undoubtedly, sandboarding is one of the best UAE adventures out there and is something we recommend people to try out.
You Get to Ride World’s Fastest Roller Coaster
Zooming down the road in a supercar is pretty much guaranteed to give you a much-needed shot of thrill. However, not everyone has the opportunity to do so.
What if there’s something that offers a similar sensation? It might even excite you more: the speed of an F1 race car combined with the stomach-turning fun of a rollercoaster.
Ferrari World in Yas Island, UAE, has something for rollercoaster lovers and daredevils who think that any old ride won’t do anymore.
The branded theme park houses Formula Rossa, considered world’s fastest rollercoaster in the world. Launching you out of the starting gate at 240kph under 5 seconds, Formula Rossa gives you the sensation of racing in a Ferrari and without ever slowing down once, it’s pure intensity from start to finish. How’s that for a rush?
You Get to Swim With Sharks
There are few animals in the wild that can elicit nerve and fear as much as sharks. Granted, it’s mostly bad rep due to their oft misleading depictions in popular culture, but getting close to this predator is still guaranteed to get your heart racing.
Dubai Aquarium and the Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall offers just that.
Once you enter the 10-million liter tank housing the largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks in the world where you’ll get to swim alongside vibrant marine creatures and the sharp-toothed special guest stars, guided by certified divers.
Want to just chill and watch schools of colorful fish? You can also opt for cage snorkeling. Alternatively, you can also check out our list of other epic water-based adventures in MENA.
Hopefully, this article has convinced you to head to the UAE for your fill of adrenaline adventures. Between the stunning scenery and the many heart-pumping activities, a trip here is a must for those looking for adventure.
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