Top Places for Luxury Experiences in Dubai

As a city distinguished for its opulence and repute for doing everything on a grand and ostentatious scale, there is no dearth of places for luxury experiences in Dubai. Despite the glitz and glamour, the city adeptly incorporates its tradition and culture with luxuriousness, offering the best of both worlds.

With a penchant for setting records - the deepest pool, and the highest lounge in the world, to name a few - no other city does it like Dubai. From an exclusive tryst with the regal falcons in the heart of the Arabian desert to a ritzy flight atop the city in a gyrocopter, here are the top places for luxury experiences in Dubai.

Camp Sonara provides the ultimate desert gala with its offering of a one-of-a-kind restaurant and a range of entertaining activities for all ages deep in the Arabian desert. Located in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the site offers five experience packages to choose from, which include activities like a dune buggy ride, sandboarding, camel ride, and hawk show; amusements like belly dancing and fire show; movie under the stars, and dinner and drinks. You can also select a private safari in a luxurious 4WD car that treats you to dune bashing, dinner, and entertainment. You can pick between an evening experience or an overnight stay with an epicurean delight of a three-course fusion Mediterranean menu.

Price: AED 480 – AED 2,730

Water lovers ahoy! The world’s deepest swimming pool for diving welcomes visitors to Deep Dive Dubai. At 60 m deep, with 14 million liters of fresh water, and 56 underwater cameras, this is a wonderland for those seeking an aquatic adrenaline rush. Open for both amateurs as well as certified divers, this underwater attraction is themed to look like a deserted sunken city. For first-timers, there is snorkeling, shallow diving, and activities for kids as well. With its vast expanse, it will take numerous dives to explore the entire setup. Those who prefer to keep dry can watch their friends and loved ones explore the depths, through windows or screens. The facility also has a restaurant, a dive shop, and a gift shop.

Price: AED 400 – AED 3,000

Jebel Jais, or Jais Mountain, is the headquarters for seekers of adrenaline rush and if you’re looking to tick off some major bucket list items. Located in Ras al Khaimah, Jebel Jais – the UAE’s highest peak – is the playground for several diverse thrilling and adventurous activities. Dare to undertake the world’s longest zipline of 2.8 km with speeds up to 160 kmph, which will make you swoop over mountain peaks and deep ravines. Hurtle down the mountain range with Jais Sledder, taking you through dramatic hairpin swerves and waves, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph while offering fascinating views of the coastline. Get a taste of Bear Grylls’s life with The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, where you can select a survival course and learn the vital life skills and techniques needed to survive the wild mountains and desert lands. The courses are conducted by expert explorer-trainers handpicked by Grylls.

Price: AED 50 – AED 650

A visit to Dubai is incomplete without getting up close and personal with the country’s national bird – the falcon. Being the world’s leading place for falconry, experience and get to know all about the majestic bird with Platinum Heritage’s falconry shows. Under the guidance of expert falconers, you can watch, handle, and feed many species of falcons, eagles, hawks, and owls. Make it better with a hot air balloon falconry, where you can soar above the Arabian desert at dawn and watch the falcons swoop around the balloon at 4,000ft, affording breathtaking photo opportunities against the golden-blue skies.

Price: AED 450 – AED 13,300

Survey the golden sands of the Arabian desert with a lively bike ride on the Al Qudra Cycling Track. If you’re a lover of the outdoors, this 86 km path will reward you with handsome views of the desert, along with occasional sights of desert wildlife like the Oryx, gazelles, and geckos. The trail is delightful for both professional and leisure riders. Popular among cycling clubs and world-class athletes, the cycling course is best ridden during sunrise or sunset for the most magnificent views of the sands and the skies, as well as to avoid the heat. The scenic road is mostly free from cars and has rest stations with shaded benches and restrooms along the route. Rent your cycle from Trek Bicycle Store.

Price: AED 75 onwards for bike rental

For a city of skyscrapers and stunning designer islands, there’s nothing better than getting a bird’s eye view of Dubai. Hop into Skyhub’s gyrocopter for one of the best luxury experiences in Dubai with an exclusive private flight tour of the city’s best places. The two-seat unique aircraft, flown by expert in-house pilots, affords you splendid views from a height of 1,500ft. Catch fascinating sights of the Dubai Marina coastline, the world’s largest Ferris Wheel – Ain Dubai, and Palm Jumeirah among many other stately city landmarks throughout the 20-minute flight. The experience comes with pictures and an edited video of your ride.

Price: AED 1,199

As one of the top luxury dining destinations in the world, Dubai has a plethora of Michelin-starred restaurants. The city boasts branches of the world’s best Michelin-starred chefs, offering some of the top places for luxury experiences in Dubai. Ranked 11th among the 50 best restaurants in the world, Trèsind Studio is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant offering luscious Indian cuisine. STAY by Yannick Alléno is a two-Michelin-starred French restaurant. Tasca by José Avillez is a one-starred Michelin restaurant that dishes out Portuguese cuisine complemented by the largest collection of Portuguese wines in Dubai.

As one of the best chillout water hubs renowned globally, beach clubs are one of the top places for luxury experiences in Dubai. Aura Skypool is famous for having the world’s highest 360° infinity pool. SĀN Beach is a complete beachside destination for a merry day out by the water while enjoying appetising food, pleasing music, art, and wellness. Relish the best of the beach and pools at Cove Beach, which has a Mediterranean vibe and a dynamic lounge as its highlight.

Go back in time to get a taste of Bedouin life on the Arabian sands with a private desert safari on a classic Land Rover from the 1950s with Project Expedition. Available as day-long or overnight safaris, explore the wildlife where you can catch sight of the Arabian Oryx and gazelle, experience live demonstrations of Arab coffee and bread making, henna painting, learn about how the Bedouins survived the harsh desert conditions, and relish a luxury 4-course dinner under the stars.

Price: US$ 195 onwards

Savour exceptional moments at the world’s highest lounge – The Lounge – on the 154th floor of the Burj Khalifa. Perched at a height of 585m, get dazzling views of the city’s skyline as you sip on the most indulgent teas and coffees, or delight in a glass of bubbly with canapés at the outdoor terrace. The lounge spans across three levels, each with its unique theme. The lower floor is set up in an Arabic majlis style, while the top floor has only cocktail tables.