•  Unique Desert Safaris: No visit to Dubai would be complete without a trip into the desert. Such excursions, which are best organized as part of a group tour, offer a taste of the true heartland of Arabia. The majesty and tranquility of the desert can be experienced in a choice of exciting half-day, full-day and overnight safaris. These action-packed trips cover varied terrain ranging from desert to mountain and take in remote camel and goat farms and isolated villages.

•  Come face to face with animals at Dubai Zoo: Located in Jumeirah, the Dubai Zoo is a popular attraction, especially for families. The zoo's modern facilities though small, house many indigenous Arabian species, including the Arabian Wolf, which is no longer found in the wild, Gordon's Wildcat and the world's only captive breeding colony of Socotra Cormorants.

•  Visit the Encounter Zone: Situated in the Wafi Shopping Mall, this is an entertainment center with a difference, with areas for both children and results. The popular Crystal Maze is featured along with a horror chamber and fascinating 3 D films.

•  Visit Dubai Souks: The souks on both sides of the Creek are attractive not just for their shopping bargains but also as places for the sightseer and photographer. A huddle of narrow alleyways has survived on the Deira side despite intensive building in recent years. In the tiny lanes of the spice souk, the atmosphere and the scents of the past can be savored.

•  Enjoy at Dubai Golf Courses: Dubai is a golfers paradise. The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the famous Emirates Golf Club are the venues of the European PGA tour. The Nad al Sheeba Golf and Racing Club even offers night golf for the enthusiasts who want to beat the summer heat of Dubai

•  Enjoy Go-Karting: Dubai has the Middle East's first fully equipped 40,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor go-kart facility at Formula One. Outdoors, an active go-karting fraternity races regularly at the track beside the Jebel Ali Hotel. Visitors can enjoy this sport during the months of October-May.

•  Enjoy at Thunder Bowl: Thunder Bowl is the first of its kind in the Middle East, and its concept is based on similar centers in America and Europe, which have proved very popular. Thunder Bowl has successfully incorporated the traditional game of bowling, with state of the art technology from the Brunswick Corporations, US.

•  Participate in Horse Riding: The sport of kings has rapidly become Dubai's most popular spectator event, attracting crowds of more than 15,000. Race meetings are held weekly during the cooler months at one of the racecourses in UAE. Dubai Racing Club, at Naad Al Sheba, the country's largest and most spectacular track and home to the Dubai World Cup the sport's richest race also holds meetings at right under floodlights. The winter months (November - April) are more favored for Horse Racing.

•  Have fun at the Magic Planet: Housed in the giant Deira City Center shopping mall, this children's entertainment center is a unique indoor site with 10 pin bowling, a crawling bungie jungle, variety of electronic games and a mini pitch and putt.

•  Enjoy rides at Wild Wadi: An exciting state-of-the-art water park located adjacent to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers exciting water rides for the whole family.

•  Go fishing: The Gulf is rich in marine life, and fishing was once a mainstay of the local economy. Kingfish, jackfish, red snapper, rock cod, barracuda and other species are caught commercially and not for sport. Sailfish and bottom-feeding sharks are regularly landed by visiting fishermen who can hire fully equipped boats, with crew, for deep-sea fishing trips.

•  Don't Miss a Visit to WonderLand: The 18 hectare Wonderland family fun park features a wide range of water attractions including speed slides, surf hills, wave runners and a Caribbean cruise. It is closed on Sundays and Wednesdays are for Ladies Only. Thursdays are for Families Only. It is open from 10am-11pm.