The capital of the United Arab Emirates has become a popular tourist destination in the last decade or so. Abu Dhabi is home to some of the best cultural and entertainment avenues, ensuring that there are plenty of fun and exciting things to do here. However, apart from sightseeing and visiting the theme parks, Abu Dhabi also offers lots of outdoor activities. Right from relaxed recreational activities to thrilling adventures, there is much to experience here. With this note, take a look at the best outdoor activities in Abu Dhabi.
Desert Adventures
A favorite outdoor activity in Abu Dhabi is the desert safari. Different versions of the desert safari are available, including morning, evening, and overnight desert safari. Whichever Abu Dhabi desert safari you choose, you will be able to enjoy the different desert adventures. The most sought-after is dune bashing, which is akin to a rollercoaster ride in the desert. Camel riding comes next, followed by sandboarding and quad biking. Desert safari also has several other leisure and entertainment activities but the desert adventures are definitely the highlight.
Water Sports
Abu Dhabi being a coastal city is home to numerous beaches, which are not just beautiful but also give you the chance to enjoy water adventures. Those who love thrilling water adventures can try flyboarding, kite surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, surfing etc., in the waters of Abu Dhabi. A fun banana boat ride is also available here. Apart from the beaches like Corniche Beach and Saadiyat Beach, these water sports in Abu Dhabi are also available at water sports centers and clubs like Al Farsan Sports Resort, Sea Hero Watersports, etc.
Hiking
If you love exercise and outdoors, hiking is one of the things you must do in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi has several hiking trails, some in remote areas and some in the urban areas, and you can choose either one as per your interests. One of the best places for hiking in Abu Dhabi is Jebel Hafit, the biggest mountain peak in the emirate. Stretching 8.4 km, the hike on Jebel Hafit will give you the chance to admire the beauty of Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain Oasis. A few other great hiking trails in Abu Dhabi are Yas Island Loop, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Trail, Eastern Mangroves to a Climate-Controlled Walkway, etc.
Kayaking
If you love tranquil outdoor adventures, kayaking would be one of the best things to do in Abu Dhabi. A kayak is a small boat that you use to row on the water with double-bladed paddles. There are several places in Abu Dhabi where you can indulge in kayaking but kayaking tour at Louvre Abu Dhabi is simply the best. Louvre Abu Dhabi is located on Saadiyat Island, the impressive structure surrounded by gleaming waters. You can join the 60-minute guided tour where you will kayak around the museum while enjoying the serene atmosphere. To make your experience extra special, you can opt for full moon kayak tour too.
Standup Paddleboarding
Another outdoor water adventure you can try in Abu Dhabi is standup paddleboarding. While it may look easy, it takes a lot of skill, practice, and balance to do this activity. However, if you are an expert or are keen to learn, Abu Dhabi offers you a lot of opportunities to enjoy paddleboarding. One of the best places is Jubail Mangrove Park Abu Dhabi. While it is possible to explore the place by foot, there is something fascinating as well as calming to paddle around the place. You can join a standup paddling group tour to not only checkout the mangroves but also to see the wildlife in the area. Kayaking is also available here.
Camping
A laidback outdoor activity that almost everyone will enjoy in Abu Dhabi is camping. The capital emirate has plenty of places where you can spend a cozy night, sleeping under the stars. The Liwa Oasis, a part of the vast Empty Quarter and Al Khaznah are two of the places where you can camp on the desert dunes. Then there is Al Wathba Lake Camp, Mirfa Beach, and Al Dharfa Beach, which are also great for camping. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy glamping (luxury camping), Jebel Hafit Desert Park, Camp Nujum, Arabian Nights Village, etc., are some of the best spots in Abu Dhabi.
Boat Tour
If you want to combine adventure with sightseeing, the Yellow Boats tour is the one for you. The tour happens on a high-octane inflatable boat that zips on the Abu Dhabi waters at high speed. But the Yellow Boats Abu Dhabi ticket price is not just about the adrenaline rush. On the other hand, during the 60-minute tour, you will get to see some of the most iconic attractions of Abu Dhabi like Emirates Palace, Lulu Island, Heritage Village, etc. The attractions you get to see will depend on the tour you have booked. You can choose among Yas Tour, Corniche Tour, and Yellow Boats Yas Experience.
Yas Waterworld
Yas Waterworld is a water park filled with adrenaline-pumping rides and slides. One of the largest water parks in the world, Yas Waterworld is where adults and kids can enjoy thrilling attractions. The water park is home to the region’s tallest speed slide, which is the Jebel Drop. A few other electrifying rides, slides, and attractions here include Bandit Bomber, Dawwama, Bubble’s Barrel, Falcon’s Falaj, Liwa Loop, Rush Rider, Slither’s Slide, etc. Some of these rides are to be enjoyed with a group, while some are solo rides. If you want to spend a day outdoors in a safe, yet pulse-rising spot, there is no better place than Yas Waterworld for the same.
Race Car Driving or Karting
Formula One fans can experience their dream of driving a racing car in Abu Dhabi. At Yas Marina Circuit, you can get behind some of the most legendary super cars, drifters, and track cars and zoom over the challenging circuits here. Motorsports and speed lovers would love driving cars like Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, etc. If you are a newbie or a beginner, you can also learn to drive a racing car by choosing a Private Tuition experience. Alternatively, you can also choose to enjoy go karting at the Yas Kartzone here. You can compete with your friends while racing on the 1-km long track.
Snorkeling
If you want to try extreme water activities in Abu Dhabi, you can go for snorkeling. If you want to enjoy the marine life of Abu Dhabi with snorkeling, you will find plenty of spots here. Sir Bani Yas Island is where you will get to see beautiful coral gardens and interesting sea turtles. The shores of Snoopy Island are known for its marine life, where you will get to see a variety of fishes like parrotfish, triggerfish, stingrays, etc. Saadiyat Beach, Yas Beach, Corniche Beach, etc., are also some of the best spots in the emirate for snorkeling. If you have never tried snorkeling before, Saadiyat Beach would be perfect for you.
Scuba Diving
If you want to go one step ahead from snorkeling to explore the colorful underwater life, you can try scuba diving in Abu Dhabi. Although the capital emirate has limited diving sites, it is ideal for those who are trying it for the first time. If you are a beginner, you can first learn diving at Al Mahara Diving Center. Apart from the training, you will also get to have some diving experiences here. Another place that is apt for beginners is the National Aquarium. Amidst the myriads of special experiences that the aquarium offers, you will also get to try pool-based diving here.
Conclusion
A few other outdoor adventures in Abu Dhabi include wildlife safari at Al Ain Zoo, kite surfing on Yas Island, cycling on Hudayriyat Island, etc. With so many options, you can definitely satisfy the adventurer in you while visiting Abu Dhabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
