Things to do this summer in Dubai
Key takeaways
If there's an ideal place with all types of activities in one place it has to be Dubai. This city is mainly famous for luxurious hotels, restaurants, and exclusive clubs. However, it has many other interesting locations to offer.
Every person can find exciting things to do in Dubai summer. The city has resorts with SPAs, exclusive restaurants, museums, wildlife reserves, aquariums, even skiing locations. You can rent a yacht at Dubai Creek for a romantic evening or a party with friends, explore the desert on camels, and so on.
Select any option based on your preferences, and we'll describe a few Dubai summer activities, so it's easier for you to decide.
Dubai Aquarium
- Where: The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai.
- When available: Monday–Thursday 10:00 AM–11:00 PM, Friday–Sunday 10:00 AM–12:00 AM.
- Entrance/ticket price: AED 199 (Regular Pass), AED 299 (Ultimate Experience), AED 100 (Penguin or Ray Encounters).
The Dubai Aquarium has gigantic tanks with thousands of sea animals. A 48-meter tunnel shows sharks, rays, and groupers from every angle. The Underwater Zoo is divided into themed areas with crocodiles, penguins, and otters.
The Penguin Cove looks cute and photogenic. People can walk through exotic ecosystems or meet rays and penguins. The glass boat ride shows marine species from above the water.
The Ultimate Experience includes Aqua Feast and discounted encounters. The Regular Pass includes a voucher for shopping. Dubai Aquarium combines visual variety, rare species, and interactive attractions in a vivid marine setting.
Dubai Parks and Resorts
- Where: Sheikh Zayed Road.
- When available: Opening hours vary; most parks work from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: From AED 295 for single-park access. There are multi-park tickets, but you have to check the price on the official website, as it may change.
This location is ideal for Dubai summer activities, as it includes several amusement parks. These are the four parks:
- Motiongate.
- Bollywood Parks.
- Legoland.
- Legoland Water Park.
Each park has unique architecture, colorful settings, and themed zones. Motiongate uses Hollywood-inspired design and includes action-packed rides. Bollywood Parks looks vibrant and dramatic with stunt shows and musical acts. Legoland suits families with kids through interactive attractions, while the water park has safe and fun water slides.
Visitors can explore cartoon universes, fairytale-themed attractions, and film-themed shows. Food courts offer familiar meals.
Overall, it has wide open spaces, colorful decorations, so it's easy to find something to do during a summer holiday in Dubai.
The Green Planet
- Where: City Walk.
- When available: Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Adults AED 99; children AED 75.
The Green Planet has a lush rainforest filled with exotic creatures and plants. You'll notice toucans, birds, sloths, snakes, and piranhas in natural-looking enclosures.
The air is humid, and the paths are well-organized. Over 3,000 species live inside a four-level tropical ecosystem, so it's a great location for nature lovers or people with kids.
AYA Universe
- Where: Wafi City Mall.
- When available: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: From AED 99.
AYA Universe functions like a hidden sanctuary, which isn't even real (as per the story). It spreads across twelve interactive zones inside Wafi City Mall. Each zone creates a surreal space with light, sound, and movement:
- The River uses bridges and color storms to connect energy zones.
- The Source looks like an enchanted garden with glowing pools and shimmering flowers.
- Harmonia has robotic lights that move with the rhythm of visitors.
- The Pool shows an energy vortex that swirls around your steps.
- Tides reacts with rippling walls when you move near them.
- Flora displays bioluminescent gardens with blooming trees.
- The Falls breaks gravity rules as water moves upward.
- Celestia surrounds you with orbs and starlight.
- Luna mixes cosmic sound with visual echoes.
- Outland introduces glowing animals that follow you.
- Aurora reflects your silhouette in stardust.
- Drift lets you lie beneath the stars.
As you can imagine, the experience is truly surreal and memorable, so it's one of the best Dubai summer activities and a "must" if you're visiting a city. It's perfect for all people: everyone will be impressed by this futuristic, beautiful, and strange location.
The View at the Palm
- Where: Palm Jumeirah.
- When available: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Last entry at 9:00 PM). Friday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Last entry at 11:00 PM).
- Entrance/ticket price: General Admission: AED 110. Next Level + Fast Track: AED 185.
The View at the Palm should be your "must go" if you love views on the city from several meters above ground. In this case, you can observe Palm Jumeirah, the artificial island, from 240 meters above ground.
It's an ideal location for the summer holiday Dubai as it guarantees 360-degree views with interactive exhibits and a premium lounge. You can also rent one of the VIP cars and park it nearby. Rent is ideal for travelers during the summer because of luxury climate control systems that make everyone feel comfortable.
You can rent one of the 80+ models at Trinity Rental. Here's what it offers:
- Vehicles with lowest possible mileage.
- Cars released in 2024.
- Vehicle delivery to chosen locations.
- Pay once for a vehicle and drive 300 km daily with full insurance. The cost also covers toll roads and VAT.
- You don't pay any deposit during the rental period.
- A full tank of fuel.
- Cash, Visa, Mastercard, or cryptocurrency as payments.
- Personal manager.
You can select a Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, BMW and cars of many other brands. That way, you don't have to limit your Dubai summer activities to public transport or taxis.
Madame Tussauds
- Where: Bluewaters Island.
- When available: Daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Standard AED 95; Fame Experience AED 195; combo tickets are available.
Madame Tussauds displays over 60 lifelike wax figures of global celebrities. The collection includes athletes, historical leaders, movie stars, and so on. All of them stand in spacious, themed areas. Each sculpture looks realistic and carefully made with precise facial details.
Museum of the Future
- Where: Sheikh Zayed Road.
- When available: Daily from 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Adults: AED 145. Children under 4 can enter for free.
Museum of the Future looks futuristic and creative, so it's another great location for a memorable Dubai summer. The building has an oval shape with Arabic calligraphy on its surface.
You can find themed floors about space missions, AI development, ecological innovations, futuristic healthcare, and so on inside the building. Each area feels surreal, colorful, with fun robotic labs, simulation rooms, and visionary exhibitions explaining what our world may look like in a few decades.
It's not your typical museum: it's a location for visionaries.
Etihad Museum
- Where: Jumeirah 1.
- When available: Daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Adults: AED 25; children under 5 are accepted for free.
Etihad Museum is a beautiful building with an elegant curved white roof. Unlike the previous location, this is a history museum where you can learn how the UAE became one country.
Exhibits include historical photographs, official documents, and personal items from the founding fathers. You can use touchscreens and interactive maps to learn about the timeline from British withdrawal to the creation of the federation in 1971.
IMG Worlds of Adventure
- Where: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
- When available: Daily from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Starting from AED 335.
IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the largest indoor theme parks worldwide. It has air-conditioned zones, so it's one of those Dubai summer activities where you won't feel the heat of the UAE's sun.
Most locations are based on universes like Marvel, Cartoon Network + there are zones with dinosaurs and haunted horror stories. So yes, everyone can find something they personally enjoy.
There's even an area with several roller coasters, which are fast and wild, while other rides suit younger children. This is one of the best locations for families and groups of friends who love to spend time actively.
Cartoon Network has zones with Gumball and Ben 10, while the Marvel area includes Spider-Man and Hulk attractions. The dinosaur zone has prehistoric-looking exhibits with authentic, life-sized models of dinosaurs. It's a good place for a summer in Dubai.
Ski Dubai
- Where: Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha.
- When available: Daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
- Entrance/ticket price: Starting from AED 190.
It's a massive indoor ski resort inside a busy mall, so it's definitely worth your attention if you've had enough of the hot sun. Ski Dubai has realistic snow, steep slopes, and icy tunnels. You can rent winter clothes and start skiing, snowboarding, or tobogganing.
FAQ
Is it too hot to visit Dubai in summer?
Summer in Dubai is definitely hot, but people can protect themselves. First, wear clothes of light colors made of natural fabrics. Second, protect your skin with sunscreen. Third, don't walk under the sun, especially during peak hours. Drink a lot of water, stay in colder places, and reapply sunscreen after 3–4 hours.
Can I go to the desert in summer?
You can visit the desert during your summer holiday Dubai, but this option isn't ideal without a guide. You can contact companies that organize tours and provide local guides. It's possible to enjoy desert activities only during mornings or evenings when the temperature drops to moderate levels.
Are Dubai beaches open in summer?
Yes, beaches are open and have locations with umbrellas and lounges. It's not recommended to visit beaches during peak hours because of high temperatures. Thus, consider early hours or evenings.
Is summer a good time for shopping in Dubai?
Any season, including summer, is good for shopping in Dubai. The Dubai Mall alone has hundreds of locations with shops, restaurants, and entertainment areas. Thus, you don't even have to leave one big building to buy necessary things and souvenirs.