Dubai: 10 amazing outdoor experiences to try this winter

 Iconic family entertainment destinations and attractions that you can visit

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From horse riding in the desert, to the world's largest record-breaking fountain, here are 10 outdoor activities you have to try in DubaiImage Credit:

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HATTA WADI HUB: Hatta Wadi Hub and Hatta Resorts, which are dedicated to providing UAE residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in a spectacular national park in Dubai, reopened on 1 October and will remain open until the end of April 2021. Hatta Wadi Hub offers adventure seekers a wide range of experiences to suit different tastes, ranging from hiking to mountain biking. This year, three new activities were introduced: a 10-metre high climbing wall that includes five lanes; a slingshot that propels those looking for adventure, fun and suspense to a height of up to 50 meters, and paragliding, which provides the opportunity for visitors to view Hatta from an unprecedented vantage point. In addition, there is the Hatta Hiking Trails, an activity that extends for a total length of 32.6 km, giving visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the surrounding mountains up close.Image Credit:

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HORSEBACK RIDING IN THE DESERT: Head down to the Al Jiyad Stables for a scenic ride through the Al Qoudra desert. Located in the Al Marmoom Conservation Area, the Marzooqi family has shared their passion for horse riding and endurance training by offering classes for beginners and experienced riders. Al Jiyad is home to over 120 horses. For a relaxed activity you can join a horse or camel safari through the desert, where you’ll spot gazelles, oryx, and other wildlife. During weekdays, you can ride horses for Dh150 per hour and on weekends it Dh200 per hour.Image Credit:

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DUBAI SAFARI PARK: Dubai Safari Park, a wildlife reserve, animal sanctuary and education centre opened its doors to visitors on 5 October following a comprehensive revamp of many of its facilities. As a unique tourism and edutainment destination, Dubai Safari Park will allow visitors to observe wildlife in their natural habitats, interact with animals in a safe and healthy environment, and discover fascinating facts about a diversity of species native to the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It will also help families and children gain a better understanding of the importance of wildlife conservation and environmental protection. A thermal camera has been installed and manual thermometers are used to screen visitors while social distancing of two metres between people will be strictly enforced. Spanning 119 hectares, the Dubai Safari Park is home to 3,000 mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. The Park features a group of new animals including African elephants and giraffes while rare animals at the Park include the Komodo dragon, Spiral-horned antelope, Arabian Oryx, coloured African wild dog, gorilla, gibbon, bongo and lemur.Image Credit:

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SCUBA DIVING AT THE ATLANTIS TANK: The Ambassador Lagoon is an 11-million-litre marine habitat and one of the largest aquariums in the world. It is also the largest open-air aquarium in Africa and The Middle East at just over three million gallons. The manmade habitat houses marine life found in the local waters of the Arabian Gulf, including different types of sharks like the Zebra shark, Grey Reef shark, Bowmouth Guitar shark, White Tip Reef Shark, Black Tip Reef shark and the Arabian Carpet shark. It costs Dh1,100 per person for a 30 minute dive.Image Credit: Virendra Saklani, Photographer

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DUNE BUGGY WITH BIG RED: If you’re interested in a bit of a desert adventure, then check out Big Red DXB. They provide adventure enthusiasts with memorable buggy tours. These buggies come with a 4-wheel drive system and automatic gearboxes – making them super easy to operate. The best part is you don’t need a driver’s license to enjoy the activity.Image Credit: Supplied

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SURFING AT THE BEACH: Now that the wind is picking up, it’s the perfect time to learn how to kite surf. The activity is a combination of flying a kite and surfing on a board and the result leaves you feeling like you are weightlessly levitating over the water. Check out Dukite, who offer the most comprehensive kite surfing lessons in Dubai. Kite surfing lessons typically run for one to two hours at a time.Image Credit: © XPRESS / Francois Nel

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DUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS: Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR), the largest integrated theme park destination, comprising a triad of theme parks, has opened its Hollywood-inspired theme park, Motiongate Dubai, along with the Lapita Hotel, a one-of-a-kind Polynesian-inspired resort in the UAE. Featuring 27 thrilling rides and attractions, Motiongate Dubai has reopened with enhanced safety measures to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy fun-filled experiences within a safe environment. To celebrate its reopening DPR has a buy one get one free offer on tickets purchased before 31 October 2020.Image Credit:

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DUBAI GARDEN GLOW: Dubai Garden Glow opened its doors for its 6th Season. This year’s theme is ‘Back to Nature’ and people of all ages are sure to find a spot where he/she can enjoy Dubai Garden Glow’s latest attractions. It is home to various thematic recreational areas, including the Alluring Glow Park, Biggest Dinosaurs Park, Spectacular Art Park and Miraculous Magic Park. Over at Glow Park, soft hues interlace with dominant colour palettes to create a bright world of artistic installations. Developed around the theme of Back to Nature, more than 500 light installations were impressively created to liven up the park.Image Credit: Antonin Kelian Kallouche

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THE PALM FOUNTAIN: Launches on October 22. Dubai’s newest tourist attraction is The Palm Fountain, the world’s largest fountain that will attempt to break a ‘Guinness World Record’ when it opens on 22 October at The Pointe, Dubai’s premier lifestyle and dining destination by Nakheel Malls located in the Palm Jumeirah. The attraction is the only multi-coloured fountain in Dubai and is spread over 14,000 sq ft of sea water. The fountain’s super shooter will stand tall at 105 metres and come alive with over 3,000 LED lights. Visitors to The Pointe are invited to the launch to enjoy an entire day of festivities, with all-day events and competitions from The Pointe’s restaurants and, starting at 4pm, an array of live entertainment including multiple DJ sets, dance shows, performers and a magical fireworks show.Image Credit:

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GLOBAL VILLAGE: Reopens on October 25. Global Village, the biggest outdoor family entertainment destination and cultural park in the Middle East, is all set to welcome visitors for their 25th season, while following enhanced hygiene and wide-ranging precautionary measures to help safeguard their visitors. A brand new website and mobile application are planned for the launch to ensure guests can quickly and easily purchase tickets, pay for parking and top-up the Wonder Pass for contactless entry to rides and other attractions and shows. Global Village promises its guests a unique season full of surprises within a family ambience full of fun and excitement and exceptional shopping experiences, in addition to the opportunity to explore different cultures and cuisines at the many country pavilions.