Best 10 things to do in Dubai this winter
Dubai is known for its year-round sunshine and blue skies but sometimes opting for an indoor attraction can offer a break from the heat. This feature of Life takes you on a tour of the best under-cover attractions the city has to offer. The Green Planet One indoor attraction on offer is The Green Planet - a man-made rainforest that is home to over 3000 species of plants and animals. The unique structure is designed specifically to be the ideal habitat for tropical plants and animals despite being in the middle of the Dubai desert. There are a range of attractions at the Green Planet - most notably the piranha tank where over 1,000 of the fish are on display. Once a day at 16:00 visitors can see a feeding session . Piranhas are notorious for their razor sharp teeth and carnivorous eating habits. Other attractions include the Australian Walkabout - a multi-species exhibit featuring the Australian carpet python, white tree frogs, the lace goanna lizard residing in an abandoned plane and many more. Housing plants and animals from such a contrasting climate to Dubai's requires sophisticated technology. Sara Stevens is the curator of The Green Planet: "The glass for the windows was imported from overseas to be 82% UV penetrable to allow for all those nutrients to come in. Even the misting system is digital and automatic to make sure that if the humidity drops below 80 percent in the building it sprays on every level to provide the perfect environment for all the animals." Sara Stevens said the facility is a chance for young people to learn about conservation first-hand: "It’s one thing to of course learn about conservation in the classroom but it’s another to come here, experience a bird flying by you, a sloth next to you and see where the ginger, vanilla or chocolate that you eat comes from and the plants that are there and then learn how important it is to conserve." iFly Dubai If you have always wanted to experience the feeling of skydiving without having to jump out of a plane or off of a cliff - iFly Dubai offers a vertical wind tunnel that can boost people into the air. This is the first double vertical wind tunnel in the world which can generate winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. Users get the sensation of free-falling despite being indoors when they do it. The instructor are used to dealing with first-timers and are fully qualified, they undergo regular training and are assessed by the international governing body. One user, Sarah, said this made the experience feel secure: "I was quite nervous going in but the instructor made me feel so safe, because first time, I didn't know what I was doing and she really obviously made me feel a lot more comfortable, like, going in and doing it. It was really good." If you want an experience closer to skydiving you can try iFly Dubai with a virtual reality headset on. The visor is built into your helmet and will provide all the visuals of a free-fall from nearly 4000 m...
Dubai tourism has been booming over the past few years. There's an impressive goal of attracting 20 million visitors to this desert oasis by this year. With 15.8 million people visiting in 2017, it seems like an achievable goal. While visiting in the winter might be a downside for many destinations, it's actually the best time to visit Dubai. Temperatures are mild and comfortable. Whether you're visiting for business or traveling for leisure, here are the 10 best things to do in Dubai this winter.
Photo by Shot by Cerqueira
1. Enjoy the views from atop the Burj Khalifa
Standing at an impressive 2,717 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa currently holds the record as the tallest building in the world. While this building is always a site from below, you should consider visiting the Burj Khalifa's observation platform this winter. As one of the highest observation decks in the world, you'll be looking down on the sprawling city of Dubai from the 124th floor.
2. Go skiing or snowboarding
Even though the daily temperatures shouldn't fall below 60 to 70-degrees Fahrenheit in winter, you'll still have a chance to go skiing or snowboarding in this major UAE city. Ski Dubai is a large indoor resort with over 240,000-square feet of space. There are multiple runs and ski and snowboard rentals.
3. Visit the largest manmade island in the world
This city is known for its eccentricities and feats of engineering. There is perhaps no better representation of both than the Palm Jumeirah island, which adds 50-miles of coastline to the city. Whether you're looking for a resort, a beach, or some boutiques, the largest manmade island in the world won't leave you disappointed. Don't worry about being too cold during the winter since Dubai remains relatively warm all year round.
4. Visit the old quarter
When traveling to cities with a lot of history, people expect to see vibrant and bustling old towns. While much of Dubai's attraction lies within its modernity, the Old Quarter still provides a beguiling window into the past. Visitors can enjoy a typical meal in a local tea house or shop for souvenirs at the Souk.
Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery
5. Take a stroll through the Dubai's Miracle Garden
It's no secret that Dubai likes to do things big, and the city's Miracle Garden is undoubtedly no exception. With over 250 million plants and 50 million flowers, this garden spans over 700,000-square feet. This colorful garden is located in the Dubailand portion of the city and opened in 2013 on Valentine's Day.
6. Tick skydiving off of your bucket list
Dubai attractions seem to operate under a "go big or go home" mentality, with the tallest building and the largest manmade island in the world setting the stage. Why not embrace this attitude and knock another item off your bucket list: skydiving. There's nothing prettier than free-falling above a city that meets the sea.
7. Head to one of the city's malls
This city is known for its opulence, and its world-class malls are certainly no exception. You'll see high-quality products from some of the most well-known brands in the world. Since this city can even get hot in the wintertime, you'll enjoy these climate-controlled malls even more.
Photo by Zafeerah Heesambee
8. Go driving on sand dunes
When you don't know what to do in Dubai, look to the desert for some inspiration. Countless tour companies offer tours through the mesmerizing and endless sands of the UAE desert. You can take a 4x4 over the dunes, take a camel tour, have a fantastic BBQ, and more. Feel free to look around at all of the potentials to options to see which is most interesting to you.
9. Check out the fountain shows
You might not be able to find any water in the deserts surrounding this city, but fountains are bursting with an abundance of this thirst-quencher. While some cities might have a center fountain, Dubai goes all out with a massive fountain that has choreographed spurts. You can catch this mesmerizing show on your way to the Burj Khalifa.
Photo by David Rodrigo
10. Take a day-trip to Abu Dhabi
Many people get the city's Dubai and Abu Dhabi confused. They're not two names for the same place. These two cities are located very close to each other. If you're visiting the UAE in the wintertime, Dubai isn't the only stunning city in the country. Hop in a private car or bus and head to the equally-appealing metropolis of Abu Dhabi.
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