Living in Dubai I've learned so much about so many different cultures, from languages to foods to cultural practices.
Despite a few things I wish I knew before I moved here, I've truly found Dubai to be a once in a lifetime experience. comprised of so many incredible mini-experiences. Living there gave me a chance to connect with locals which opened up a whole new world aside from the standard desert safari and Dubai Mall to-dos.
To keep all of my amazing deeds in the order I've made my own stereotypical, excessive, awesome Dubai Bucket List fulfill.
In-text form:
[one_half]▢ “Top of the Burj Khalifa”
▢ Have brunch/ a drink at sunset at the Burj Al Arab
▢ Attend a yacht party
Visit at least 4/20 of the Malls
▢ Dubai Mall
– ▢ Dubai Mall Aquarium
– ▢ Dubai Mall Ice Rink
– ▢ Dubai Mall Fountain Show
▢ Mall of the Emirates
– ▢ Ski Dubai/ Penguin Encounter
▢ Visit Global Village
▢ Zipline at the Burj Khalifa
▢ A Day at Atlantis Waterpark
▢ Day trip to Abu Dhabi
– ▢ Sheikh Zayed Mosque
– ▢ Ferrari World
▢ Hot Air Balloon ride in Dubai Desert
▢ Desert Safari
▢ Flyboard Dubai
▢ Ride in a Ferrari/Lambo/
– ▢ Bugatti on Sheikh Zayed Rd.
▢ Helicopter ride/sea plane ride
▢ Abra ride at Dubai Creek
▢ Visit the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Old Dubai
▢ Visit Kite Beach[/one_half][one_half_last]Drink a Bull Frog at Rock Bottoms Cafe in Burjuman
▢ Smoke shisha at a rooftop bar
▢ Attend one of the many Dubai festivals
▢ Try kebab, hummus, shwarma, and camel meat
▢ Go to a concert at Nasimi Beach
▢ Night swimming at the beach
▢Buy gold at the Gold Souk
▢ Do something crazy for free (accept an invite to a random party in the Burj Khalifa or on a yacht)
▢ Indoor skydive at iFly Dubai
▢ Swim with sand tiger sharks in Dubai Aquarium
▢ Visit all 7 Emirates
▢ Ride a camel
▢ Get a henna tattoo
▢ Go desert camping
▢ Get a spa treatment at the Zabeel Saray on the Palm
▢ Try on a hijab + abaya or a kandura + thawb
▢ See the fireworks on New Year's Eve!
▢ Take a picture with a license plate in the single digits
▢ Go to ladies night every night[/one_half_last]
[bctt tweet=”83+ things to do on your next trip to Dubai, UAE!” username=”packslight”]
What an amazing list, right? Some things are free, like trying on a hijab & abaya and walking around Dubai Mall. Others like helicopter ride above the Palm Jumeirah and swimming with tiger sharks in the Dubai Mall Aquarium could cost an arm and a leg.
One piece of good news though is that Groupon is available in Dubai, and you can go onto their UAE site Groupon.ae and buy tickets to excursions, attractions, and even vacations (like my Groupon trip to Sri Lanka!) on it.
Want even more Dubai suggestions?
I also have my Top 10 recommendations for restaurants to dine at, clubs to party at, and the Top 10 things in Dubai you simply cannot miss.
You can print out both pages and bring them with you on your Dubai adventure, whether you're there for a long weekend or a year like I am, and knock off as much as you possibly can.
If you subscribe below, you'll get a link to download your own free, downloadable Stereotypical, Excessive, Awesome Dubai Bucket List.
If you print and fill out this bucket list, email me and let me know. Make sure to pin this article to save it for your trip.
[one_third][/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]
13 comments
I have been meaning to go to Dubai for ages now! I guess bumping into this blog post just made me make up my mind . But all these must cost an arm and a leg!
Dubai has never really been top of my travel list, despite so many people I know going and having a great time. Having read your list though I dont think I appreciated just how much I could do and would actualyl LOVE to do. Yacht party and hot air balloon ride would be top of my list!
I totally relate! When I came to Dubai, I came with NO expectations because I’d heard such mixed reviews haha. But there really is something out here for everyone! 🙂
I never realised that there were so many things to do in Dubai!!! I really want to go this year! ☺️
Awesome list, made me smile. I’ve only done 6 but will defintely aim to do a few more on my next visit!!
My bucketlist is to do the desert safari and visit the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Lucky you!!!
I love the idea of making an extensive checklist for going to a place! I usually just look at ideas for things to do but if I know I’ll be somewhere a long time I think I need to do this!!!
That’s such a neat idea, to have a printable bucket list on you! But what on earth is a Bull Frog?
Love this bucket list!! How much longer are you in Dubai for? I hope you accomplish everything before you go!!
I’m here for 3 more months! 🙂 Me too haha gotta hurry up now!
What a great list! It’s a few years since we visited Dubai, but the opulence is just staggering! We loved the spice and gold souk – I managed to talk my husband into buying me a beautiful pink sapphire ring there! I look forward to reading about your spin in a Bugatti!
What an awesome bucket list! You’re right, most of these are expensive! I’ve been eyeing for skydiving in Dubai too. We tried the one in Australia, it’s expensive but worth the fun and the thrill! Go girl, make your ways work! 😉
I keep reading more and more about Dubai and this just makes me want to go there more! This looks like a super fun list!