The most popular water sports in Dubai

Published: June 8, 2019

Dubai, the most populated city of the United Arab Emirates, is a global economic centre and business hub in the Middle East. Dubai has become famous for its skyscrapers and man-made islands, as well as surfing, or the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa truly stands out. Tourism is an important part of the Dubai economic strategy. The government is eager to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the emirate. Dubai’s allure for tourists is based primarily on shopping, but also on many of its modern attractions. And water sports in Dubai are one of the gems that make visiting the UAE that much more interesting.

Dubai: the perfect place for water sports

Summers in Dubai are extremely hot and humid, with average temperature reaching up to around 41 °C during its hottest month, August. It is usually sunny throughout the whole year. Winters are warmer than in most parts of the world, with an average high of 24 °C. So, when it comes to water sports in Dubai, diving, sailing, jet-skiing – you name it, they can offer it. If you are looking for some marine thrills to replace your cardio exercises, Dubai has it all. If you want to make the most of the clear skies and moderately warm days, you can opt for a wonderful dusk sail. Or maybe a high-speed tour on a jet-ski is something more up your alley. For the ones little more daring try Flyboarding or the latest thrill, Sea breaching.  Here’s a list of aquatic thrills you can find on your next dream vacation.

Sharks and shipwrecks galore

Dubai can offer scuba divers warm waters, year-round dives and an array of five-star experiences under the water. This includes an abundance of shipwrecks to explore. The beginner and the experienced diver are both starts at The Dive Centre. This scuba diving centre has a qualified team of PADI Instructors. It is located at the Dubai International Marine Club, between the Marina and Media City. The Dive Centre provides a full diving schedule of seven dives a week. After the adventure underwater, you have the opportunity to relax in the gardens or on the beach and enjoy incredible views.

At Aquarium Diving at Atlantis, The Palm, you can see some of the 65,000 marine animals up close. Not really water sports in Dubai you imagined, or you want something more daring? Book a Shark Encounter at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. You’ll be so near the sharks, almost at a touching distance, but protected by a cage. These sharp teethed predators will be hand fed by instructors just inches from your face.

New water sports in Dubai that are exciting to try

Sit in the Seabreacher, a mini-submarine in the shape of a shark. Its powerful 260hp engine can propel you on the water with speeds reaching up to 100kmph. It can even imitate the tail movements of a real shark. The Seabreacher can jump up to 6m out of the water, which is how it got the name. This is perfect for the adrenaline-seekers who want a unique adventure. If you try it at Rixos The Palm Dubai you get a private cabana, drinks, some food, and additional one-hour of paddleboarding.

Flyboarding is the closest thing to flying. The water is able to propel the one man hoverboard up to 9m in the air. Balancing on the water is what makes Flyboarding one of the most extreme fat burning workouts of all time. Jumps and salts on the water make this sport an exhilarating experience, to say the least.

The classic aquatic marvels

Wakeboarding, tubing, paddleboarding and parasailing are also part of the water sports in Dubai experience.

• Parasailing involves you being connected to a boat on a parasail that will lift you up to 150m in the air. Sail above the city and get an even better view of the Gulf.
• Tubing is similar in terms that it also means you are moving along the waves behind a boat, but an inflatable tube. Bumpy but fun!
• Wakeboarding is a combo of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. While learning any new sport is going to be difficult in the beginning, our affordable personal trainer Dubai can teach you in no time! It is said that wakeboarding can be picked up more quickly than any other sport. It is so much fun!
• Paddleboarding, also called Stand Up Paddle Surfing or SUP is good training for balance and core muscles. You will need just a board and a paddle and some steady sea. 

Sailing

The best place to rent, try, or get sailing lessons, is the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) at Jumeirah Beach. Water sports in Dubai offer many sailing activities over the sunny winter months. These include sailing courses for all levels, sailing for youngsters and racing. You can hire a boat at Jebel Ali or Jumeirah. They have a great offer of Quba, Feva, Vision, RS500 and Hobie catamarans for hire. You can hire qualified instructors with the rental. If you prefer luxury yachts, then try Royal Blue Coast. They have a nice range – from a Majesty 44 (takes up to ten people) to a Majesty 50 (up to 19 people).

Your water sports in Dubai tour couldn’t be complete without jet-ski sightseeing

This way you can have fun on the water while enjoying the views over some of Dubai’s famous landmarks at the same time. Each tour has a qualified instructor who will accompany you, but you can go as fast or slow as you like. This means you can take your time or really hit the waves because the tour can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. The deluxe two-hour version includes all that the shorter ones do, while you additionally ski around the famous Palm Jumeirah and stop off at Atlantis.