So it’s Dubai summer. The temperature is too hot outside and you’re asking yourself, what can I do today? Or what can I do to keep the kids entertained? So whether you live here and just want ideas for something to do or whether you’ve booked a holiday and didn’t realise you’d be entering a giant outside sauna. Here are some activities and things to do in Dubai summer.
Evening pool party or evening swim
Depsite the fact it can still be pretty warm outside even at night, taking a dip in the pool can be very refreshing. Depending on whether you want more of a party or a more relaxed vibe here are some of my picks.
Azure Beach at Rixos JBR, Dubai Marina
Sunday to Thursday – Sunset Tribe – 2 for 1 on house beverages. 6pm til 9pm. It’s a relaxed but high end with a DJ.
Thursday & Fridays – Vogue Pool Party – 8pm till 1am. Much more of a party style than Sunset Tribe. (Rixos JBR)
*Both are currently not available due to Coronavirus
Umm Suqeim Beach 1, Umm Suqeim
Every Night – This one is totally free, Dubai Municipality now allow people to swim until Midnight at this beach. Thanks to the lifeguards and smart poles illuminating the sea keeping everyone safe.
Horizon Pool Bar at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina
Daily 11am till 11pm & Midnight on weekends – This one has a swim up bar so you don’t even need to get out for a drink! (Le Meridien Dubai Marina)
Visit a shopping mall
The malls are always a popular choice in Dubai. There are a lot of options to choose from than just wandering around the shops. Cafes, restaurants and cinemas feature in most of the large malls. However Dubai Mall even has a theme park, an ice rink and a Kidz Zone where they can try out being a fire fighter or a surgeon.
Mall of Emirates has a ski slope, complete with an alpine style hut where you can have a hot chocolate with marshmallows. Perfect for pretending you’ve taken a short trip to a ski resort. Parking is free for most of the malls (except Mall of Emirates) and it’s easy to just wander around for a few hours, forgetting your in Dubai in summer.
Indoor theme park or indoor adventure activities
Due to Dubai being the city that it is, already adaptions for Dubai’s summer have been made. There are lots of adventurous activities that are contained indoors. Leaving you to enjoy the air-conditioned coolness. Some of my picks are:
IMG World of Adventure, City of Arabia – Rides & adventure areas – 257 AED per person, though you can regularly find discounts on this price in my deal saving group “Live for Less- Dubai, Abu Dhabi & UAE” (Live For Less)
Bounce, Al Quoz – A large trampoline park, suitable for adults and kids – 85 AED (75 if you book online) per person over 3 years of age or over 110cm tall for your first session. (bounce.ae)
Adventure Zone, Sheikh Zayed Road – Rock climbing, skateboarding and other adventurous activities! – Prices starting from 65 AED (adventurezone.ae)
Spa day
Dubai is a city of hotels so it’s never hard to find a nearby spa to escape the Dubai summer. Expect luxury, stunning pools and exquisite facilities. My top picks are:
Talise Ottoman Spa – Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah
This hotel has stunning and unique spa facilities including a traditional hammam. Perfect if you want that full Arabic experience! Plus it’s located on the Palm so it really feels like you’re escaping from it all! Please note men and women are separated unless you book a special couple treatment.
Treatments start from 290 AED (Talise Ottoman Spa)
Amara Spa – Park Hyatt, Dubai Creek
This beautiful hotel that combines Dubai’s history with a modern hotel. A nice bonus is the treatment rooms with their own little gardens with outdoor showers. There’s also fragranced steam rooms and jacuzzis.
Treatment prices start from 375 AED or you can check out this Amara offer with lunch on Expedia
ShuiQi Spa – Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah
This sleek and ultra-modern spa is stunning and if you’re visiting as a tourist. Visiting inside Atlantis is definitely a must! Again the spa facilities are separate to male and female but there are couples treatments available to book.
Treatments start from 100 AED and massages start from 575 AED or this very reasonable offer on Expedia with lunch
Camp or trek into the mountains
If you go high up enough in the mountains you can feel like it’s a Dubai winter instead of a Dubai summer! It’s up to 10 degrees cooler in the mountains than at sea level. At night, you might even need a jacket plus you get a beautiful clear view of the stars. If you already own a tent, then it can be a low cost solution where you can choose from many locations. Alternatively, can go for a mountain camp and have a taste of old bedouin culture.
Staying in Dubai, you can make your way to Hatta mountains. If you don’t mind going further; Jebel Jais is in Ras Al Khamiah, Jebel Al Akdar in Oman or head to the Omani peninsula for Jebel Al Harim. The higher up you go, the cooler it is!
Have you done any of these this Dubai summer? Let us know what you think of them in the comments below!
Planning a trip to Dubai but don’t know which area the stay in, check out this article:
What area is the best and which Dubai hotels?
