In a metropolis that is constantly upgrading for the better, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia looks at all the new experiences that Dubai has to offer.
There’s a lot to love about Dubai — be it the soaring skyscrapers housing abundant luxury, the delicious foods that make you feel like royalty or the diverse people who come together under the perennial sun to fill your heart with warmth. But Dubai just got better, courtesy of the countless new experiences that now throng its spaces. Travel+Leisure India & South Asia has picked seven such hotspots to get the ball rolling for your next Emirate escapade.
Must-try New Experiences in Dubai
Dubai Crocodile Park
Spread across a massive 20,000 square metre area, the Dubai Crocodile Park is a great space to get insight into the semiaquatic reptiles’ lifestyles. With more than 250 Nile crocodiles happily living across three temperature-controlled basins, this park easily qualifies as a fun and enriching family outing. The park includes a Natural History Museum, an African lake-themed aquarium, a Savanna-inspired landscaped area, a curio shop, placid waterfalls, sandbanks, and multiple dining outlets. What’s more–guests visiting the park between Thursday and Sunday can even watch a live feeding.
The Dubai Balloon
The only thing better than driving through Dubai is flying over it! With The Dubai Balloon, experience the thrill of seeing the city from a whole new perspective. As you soar almost 100 storeys above ground, marvel at the iconic Palm Jumeirah; fly above the dazzling Atlantis, The Palm; or simply watch the sun set against the city’s glittering skyline. Keep an eye out for other city signatures like Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Ain Dubai, and many more. PS: if you’re looking to commemorate a special occasion, The Dubai Balloon also offers a 10-minute exclusive flight!
Glass Slide
A first for the Middle East, this new experience in Dubai is not for the faint-hearted! The Glass Slide by Sky Views Observatory is a transparent tube–specially manufactured in Germany–that wraps around the tower’s exteriors, linking level 53 with level 52. So sit back, buckle up, and slide from one floor to another completely uninterrupted all while watching the city whizz past below — should you dare open your eyes!
AYA Universe
Stepping into the realm of new-age immersive entertainment, AYA Universe cranks it up a notch by offering a 40,000-square-foot space of pure technological genius! Each of the 12 distinct zones here boasts of high-tech sound, lights, and graphics that tell a different tale. Think touch-reactive dome and projections that pulsate with music, a waterfall that runs upside down, or even an infinite mirror room that puts on a light show that dances in a robotic symphony.
Deep Dive Dubai
Widely credited as the world’s deepest pool, this underwater world plunges to a depth of 60 metres. Designed to resemble an abandoned sunken city inspired by the UAE’s pearl-diving heritage, this new attraction allows novices to explore in the safety of a controlled diving environment. When here, one can immerse in a host of experiences like discovery dives for first-timers, scuba dives, and freedives as well as diving courses and workshops for all levels.
Cirque Du Liban’s Pluma
After a successful stint with Fontana, a travelling aquatic circus, the high-quality artistic entertainment production house Cirque Du Liban is set to enthral audiences with Pluma. Despite not making any announcements regarding the performance dates or tickets, the hyped experience is already turning eyeballs. Some have already touted this upcoming circus experience — translating to ‘feather’ in Latin — as the ‘next evolution of circus entertainment.’
Terra Solis
A magical oasis away from all the city noise, Terra Solis promises a glamping retreat unlike any other. Spread across 3,71,000 square metres amid a desert, this oriental-chic retreat has 48 luxury tents, 20 lodges and six poolside cabins – all named after constellations. Add to this great pool and fine food, too, and you’ve got a magical retreat waiting to be explored.
Related: 48 Hours In Dubai: The Perfect Two-Day Itinerary For A Quick And Fun Layover
Written By
Bayar Jain
Senior Content ManagerEquipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing ..Read More
