10 Unusual activities in Dubai you may not have heard of
Dubai, in the view of many travelers, is a city of tall skyscrapers and huge malls. Few people know that there are also incredible cultural locations and unusual activities to do. Have you ever thought of visiting a camel polo match, worlds largest natural flower garden or an underground art scene in Dubai? In this article, I introduce you to 10 unusual activities to do in Dubai. Enjoy!
How to get around in Dubai
First, it’s good to know that practically all of the locations mentioned below are situated some distance from the city centre, so you need to take public transportation or rent a car to get there. I can recommend renting a car via Sunnycars. I’ve used this platform often when traveling abroad. If anything happens with your car along the way in Dubai, I recommend visiting a service center like Ecareauto to proceed with car repair or car scanning and diagnostics. To avoid car issues do not neglect the visiting of this highly technological car workshop.
Watch a camel polo match
One of the most rare and unusual activities in Dubai is to watch a camel polo match. Instead of the classic individual horse polo game, they play with the traditional Bedouin animal. The rules are similar to the standard game, but with a few different pitfalls as well as elements of additional surprises. The camel polo matches are often held at either the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club or at the Desert Palm.
Visit the worlds largest natural flower garden
Visiting the the worlds largest natural flower garden at Dubai Miracle Garden is a must do for anyone who loves flowers. This flower garden features giant buildings covered in flowers as well as fields of mesmerizing flower patterns. It’s a great place to escape the busy city centre of Dubai.
Watch horses race and take a dip in a horse pool
The Meydan Stables is a great place for horse-lovers! The club regularly organizes around 12 events per year between April and November. Each race comes with fantastic entertainment, dining and packages. You can also go behind the scenes and greet the horses at Meydan’s stables before the race or watch them take a dip in the dedicated horse pool.
Explore the Green Planet
The ‘Green Planet‘ is another artificial ecosystem, which is located in the center of Dubai. It’s one of my favorite places to visit. It’s a beautiful glass building with 4 floors that is built around an artificial tree with a height of 25 meters. Each tier is inhabited by representatives of different climatic and geographical zones. This is a greenhouse for rare plants, many (about 3 thousand) animals, and birds.
Go romantic! Visti the Lakes of Love
Love Lake is a artificial lake in the middle of the desert, which was invented by the Crown Prince of Dubai in 2019. They look like two hearts. On the territory of the Lakes of Love, you can have a picnic, ride bicycles, and even do yoga. This incredible location is a half-hour drive from the center of Dubai. You can get here by taxi, in your rental car or via an organized tour.
Walk the narrow cobbled lanes at historic Bastakiya
Bastakia, or Al-Fahidi, is a recovered cultural quarter with an old fort and various museums and galleries of art. I can recommend visiting Bastakiya to view the Arabic-style structures in action. Getting to the rooftops allows you to explore the genuine location and meet the sunset drinking Arabic tea. You’ll enjoy walking the narrow cobbled lanes and admiring the old houses made out of black coral.
Visit the Arab Sikh Temple
Dubai is home to the first Sikh temple in the Arab countries. The territory of the temple is huge: more than 100 thousand square meters with a large prayer hall for 900 people. In the Sikh temple, you can enjoy harmony, silence, and treats at the langar, a traditional Sikh feast where vegetarian food is served. Entrance to the temple is free and open daily from four in the morning to nine in the evening.
Explore art at the Hipster Alserkal
Alserkal is a cultural center that opened in 2008 and symbolizes Dubai’s underground art scene. Conceptual art shows, musical carnivals, as well as countless training sessions, are frequently held here. You’ll find over 35 galleries at the Alserkal Avenue and you can make purchases in local designer stores and visit some amazing galleries.
Learn about the past at the historical and ethnographic villages
You can find many historical and ethnographic villages around Dubai that show how people lived before finding oil deposits. For example, in the Village of Heritage and Pearl Fishermen, old houses, places of handicrafts, and traditions have been preserved or restored. The museum is located off the coast of Dubai Creek Bay, the place where the villages of fishermen and pearl seekers first appeared.
Travel to the future
This museum is dedicated to the future and the development of technology in the next several decades. The exhibits of the museum are futuristic ideas to solve economic and social problems, for example to defeat the climate catastrophe in 2050. It’s very interesting to see and definitely an eyeopener.
More Dubai inspiration
Looking for more Dubai inspiration? You might like one of the activities below.
If you visit Dubai for the first time, then, of course, it is best to visit the most popular places like the Burj Khalifa with its observation deck and Dubai Mall. If you have visited the city more often or if you would like to do some unusual activities in Dubai, then you should try one of the above mentioned things. There are a lot of unusual places to visit in Dubai other than pay homage to the glamorous architecture.
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