With year-round sunshine and warm sea temperatures, it’s hard to beat the Dubai coastline when it comes to watersport activities. Tourists and residents alike flock to the city’s beaches every weekend to try out activities ranging from surfing to paddleboarding. To give you some inspiration for your next visit to the seaside, we’ve come up with a list of some of the most exciting watersport activities the city has to offer.
1. Flyboarding
The world has been obsessed with the idea of hoverboarding ever since the release of Universal Picture’s Back to the Future II in 1989. While technology hasn’t yet allowed us to “hover” our way to the local convenience store, it has brought about the next best thing: flyboarding.
This relatively new watersport sees you stand vertically on top of a water-propelled board that can propel up to nine meters into the air. Most packages include a videographer, who will be on hand to record your tricks and flips during your twenty-minute flying session.
2. Jet Skiing
Nothing quite matches the adrenaline rush you get from zooming across the ocean at 70kmph. Jet skiing has long been a world-favored watersport, but in Dubai, it just feels all the more special thanks to the towering backdrop of the city’s skyscrapers.
Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, and Dubai Marina are just three of the locations that allow you to hire out jet skis for 30 minutes at a time. It’s worth noting that you’re required under law to stay a minimum of 300 meters out from the coastline to avoid contact with swimmers.
3. Kayaking
If you prefer to live life in the slow lane, you can’t go wrong with kayaking. This gentle pastime allows you to unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life, making it one of the most relaxing options on our list.
You can find kayaks for sale in many places across the city. They’re well worth the modest outlay, as they allow you to see secluded parts of the city that are difficult to reach on foot or via vehicle.
4. Paddleboarding
Despite being around since the 1930s, it’s only in the last decade that the popularity of paddleboarding has begun to boom. The sport involves standing up vertically on top of a large board and using a paddle to move through the ocean.
The usually calm and turquoize waters of the Persian Gulf make the perfect backdrop in which to try out the activity for yourself. When the weather is clear, you might be lucky enough to see turtles, fish, and dolphins in their natural habitat.
5. Wakeboarding
What happens when you combine snowboarding with surfing? You get wakeboarding, the sport that sees you literally having to surf through the “wake” of a motorboat.
First timers will see hanging on for more than 30 seconds a success, while the more experienced pros can use the curve of a wave to fly into the air. Be warned, this isn’t for the faint-hearted.
View News Headlines
