What To Do in Dubai

Everyone can find something they really love to do in Dubai and the UAE; name your travel pleasure and you'll find it here. Whether cultural, historical, golf or shopping, spa to scuba, snow skiing or sand boarding, the UAE has it all!

Shopping: Dubai and the UAE are a shopper's paradise with attractively priced tax-free shopping opportunities ranging from traditional bazaars and souks to the most opulent and elegant stores in the world. As a small example:
• The Gold Souk - Dubai takes the business of gold very seriously, and this famous souk is the center for gold-loving buyers and sellers. You can buy from their ample and varied stock or have something designed just for you.
• The Dubai Shopping Festival - the entire Emirate celebrates shopping in their exuberant, over-the-top Dubai Style! A 30-45 day festival with numerous and diverse special events like The Dubai Balloon Festival, raffles for massive prizes, concerts...and of course, shopping!
• Karama Market - a general shopping complex for all kinds of goods, where you can really apply your bargaining skills.
• Malls, Malls and more Malls - some which rate high on the list of devoted shoppers are Mall of the Emirates, Dune Center, Deira City Center, Twin Towers...and the list goes on and on.

Sports: The people of Dubai and UAE have a reputation for "living large and playing hard" and their love of recreation and sports is evidenced by the sports arenas, golf greens, race tracks and even indoor ski domes they've built, and their history shows this love of sports and competition has always been part of their culture. Whether you want to participate or simply observe, Latitude can arrange the perfect "sporting" vacation or add-on to your tour.

Golf: The Emirates Golf Club in Dubai was the first grass golf course in the Gulf and typical of the Emirates it's a world-class golf club, hosting the Dubai Desert Classic, boasting prize money of $2.5mil. But it does not stand alone; The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is a full-service club with an attached marina and an exquisite 71 par, 6,857 yard course, or the recently renovated Nad Al Shiba with its 18-hole Scottish-style floodlit courses. For a nation dominated by the desert, they have many extraordinary courses...so many, that The International Golf Tour Operators Association declared Dubai as the number-one golf destination worldwide. (click here to see our golf packages)

Water-Sports: It's hard to imagine a water sport that can't be found in the UAE...snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, water-skiing, game fishing, jet-skiing, surfing, and then there's the exquisite world-class beaches and luxurious pools. Easy access to The Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean provide some of the most exciting scuba diving and game fishing opportunities available. In the Gulf, wreckage diving is abundant and fascinating. There are a number of prime dive spots in the Indian Ocean, teeming with coral, moray eels, dolphins, lion fish, cuttlefish and more. Through Latitude ‘s network of guides and equipment providers we can add the perfect water sports element(s) to your vacation.

Desert and Mountain Safaris: The allure of the desert cannot be resisted by most, with its barren, wind-swept beauty stretching as far as you can see, interrupted only by wind-fashioned dunes. Blessed with mountains, spectacular canyons, dry whadi's, the UAE is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. Latitude offers safaris for all tastes, interests and budgets, each with specialist guides to make your safari a trek you'll never forget.

Horse Racing: It's not surprising that the UAE and Dubai celebrate horse racing as they do when one sees the power and perfection of an Arabian thoroughbred. For centuries the people of this land have excelled at husbandry and horsemanship, so who better to host the world' richest horse race The Dubai World Cup, which is also a true world stage for the Who's Who. The annual Emirates Championship Cup, a 130km (80 mile) endurance race run through the shifting sands of the desert, is a more traditional, but no less exciting event. Horseback riding is readily available for visitors at many of the equestrian centers through the area. Latitude can plan your custom tour around these and other equestrian events.

Extreme Sports: It may surprise some that the Emirates would develop a such a penchant for the world's extreme sports like skate boarding, BMX biking, or in-line skating that they would build a full-on and innovative park like the Dubai Desert Extreme Skate Park to practice and compete in...but why? These people love to play hard. Sand boarding has challenged and entertained the Emirates since Bedoin times, and wadi-bashing has evolved from horse races through twisted dry rock-bottomed river beds to huge events using powerful 4-wheel drives.

Skiing: For water-skiing enthusiasts the azure, tranquil waters of the Arabian Gulf provide an ideal location, and there are plenty of boats and equipment available for rent, or crews to hire for excursions. While the UAE was gifted with its surrounding waters, they had to build a place to snow-ski. Ski Dubai offers skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, and has the world's only indoor black run.

Camel Riding: The Ships of the Desert were the major form of transportation for the people and their commerce, and it doesn't take much imagination to conjure visions of camel safaris and caravans; and stops at oases for precious water, savory open-fire barbecue, and evening entertainment. Whether it is camel trading or riding let Latitude include these memorable events in your tour.

Desert and Mountain Safaris: The allure of the desert cannot be resisted by most, with its barren, wind-swept beauty stretching as far as you can see, interrupted only by wind-fashioned dunes. Blessed with mountains, spectacular canyons, dry whadi's, the UAE is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. Latitude offers safaris for all tastes, interests and budgets, each with specialist guides to make your safari a trek you'll never forget.