Adventure Sports in Abu Dhabi

Enjoy Dune Bashing, Scuba Diving and Skydiving!

You will be amazed at the adventure sports in Abu Dhabi- there are a lot! Abu Dhabi is the perfect location for adventure sports due to the natural surroundings, there is the desert, the sea and the incredible landscape all within easy reach.

Here are some of the most popular and thrilling adventure sports Abu Dhabi has to offer.

Desert driving (Desert Safari)

Hire a 4X4 or take out your own in to the sandy desert, a Hummer for example can navigate the desert's unique terrain and go up steep dunes to the point where you think it is just about to turn over, but it doesn't!

Other 4X4 adventures will take you into the mountains over rocks and unchartered land then perhaps across streams and pools of water which the 4X4 can handle with your help. Prices start at about 300AED.

Wadi Bashing

Wadi Bashing is one of the traditional Abu Dhabi adventure sports. It is actually the act of riding a four wheel drive vehicle through a Wadi and there are many wadis around Abu Dhabi.

A wadi is a dry river bed like a small valley and the rocks and rough terrain make it perfect for this sport. Feel the thrill of scaling large boulders and almost tipping over then bumping down into the rugged stones.

Other exhilarating adventure sports in Abu Dhabi are in the sand-they include Sand Boarding and quad bike riding. If you want to try rock climbing in Abu Dhabi you'll have to go to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet.

Dune Buggying

A dune buggy (quad bike) is a cute looking little vehicle like an open jeep but low on the ground with widely placed wheels which move over the desert sands.

The buggies are 1500cc and operated by manual gears to give you the thrill of a natural roller-coaster up and down the dunes.

Scuba Diving

The marine life in the Gulf makes diving here a true adventure sport; you never know what large fish you will come across, a sailfish, marlin or barracuda.

Just off the coast there are many sunken vessels ready to be discovered even in water that is not that deep, this kind of adventure sport is called wreck diving. There are other active sports you can do on the water in Abu Dhabi, they're not necessarily classed as adventure sports but they definitely get the adrenaline pumping.

These sports include water-skiing; wake-boarding; banana boating; para sailing and kite surfing.

Blokarting (Sand Yachting/Land Sailing)

If you want to blow off some steam without polluting the environment with fuel fumes then try blokarting, a blokart is a low open three wheeled buggy frame with a sail and it is propelled forward by the wind.

It can reach speeds of up to 90km/h. The proximity to the ground makes this an exciting experience. Prices start at about 300AED.

For other eco-friendly adventure sports try trail biking through the mangroves.

Skydiving

How about jumping out of an airplane now that's what I call an adventure sport! Many people have this on their "bucket list" and in Abu Dhabi you can accomplish this dream.

You get the speed of free falling, the sensation of flying like a bird and if you dare open your eyes you get the incredible view of Abu Dhabi beneath you. If you've never jumped out of a plane at 13,000 feet before you can start with a tandem jump where you jump attached to a professional instructor.

A professional jump starts at about 1500AED. If you're not up to the actual thing then try indoor skydiving at SkyVenture where you jump into a wind tunnel to simulate the jumping experience. For other adventure sports in the air try a microlight flight or paramotoring/gliding.This is an adventure sport in Abu Dhabi you don't want to miss!

Formula 1 Car Racing

At the Yas Marina Circuit attend the racing school and get a chance to roar around the grand Prix track like a real racing driver. Prices start at about 650AED.

If you're not up to any of these challenges (yet) then try being a spectator at a camel race, horse race or Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi. You can run out of ideas when it comes to Abu Dhabi adventure sports!

Fishing

Fishing in Abu Dhabi can be a great adventure! We give you all the detail you need to know from getting a fishing licence to booking an all inclusive fishing day out!

FREE things to do in Abu Dhabi

Visit the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village
Located on the Breakwater near the Corniche and Marina Mall, The Abu Dhabi Heritage Village is set in gorgeous gardens and boasts a mock souk, traditional mosque, a recreated Bedouin encampment and a barasti house. Workshops are held where you can watch craftsmen making pots, blowing glass, beating brass and weaving on traditional looms.

Visit the UAE University Natural History Museum
Operated by the UAE University in Al Ain, this incredibly educational museum and information centre is also known as the Museum of Living Resources. Exhibits you must take in on a trip include a herbarium (plant specimens) and collections of various species of animals and birds. Collections of rocks, minerals and fossils are also on display. Fee AED50.
Sun-Thu 8am-2pm. Al Ain University (03 713 3381).

Admire the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The awe inspiring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a lesson in the superlative. Sitting on a site the size of five football fields it can accommodate 40,960 worshippers. Its columns are clad with more than 20,000 marble panels inlaid with semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli, red agate, amethyst, abalone shell and mother of pearl. There are four 107 metre minarets, reflective pools, coloured floral marble and mosaics and the world’s largest chandelier. It’s an awe inspiring building and a must see for all those visiting Abu Dhabi.

Sat - Thurs 9am-10pm | Note: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is closed for tourism activities (and open for worship) on Friday morning and opens again after 4:30pm.

The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Visit the Women's Handicraft Centre
If you have an interest in traditional crafts, the government-run Women's Handicraft Centre, in the Women's Union building, is definitely worth an hour of your time. Start with the displays of traditional weaving, costumes, textiles, camel bags and crafts in the Exhibition Hall; there are some products for sale in a small shop here. Then head to the eight workshops out the back where covered old local ladies sit on the floor, gossiping and laughing (and totally oblivious to the German and French tour groups), as they demonstrate their crafts of saddu, talli, textile weaving, embroidering, tailoring, basket-weaving, palm-tree frond weaving, and henna. Take off your shoes before entering the rooms and leave them outside.

Male travellers should keep in mind that while you're welcome, in the local culture only male relatives would get this close to women; you should keep some distance out of respect, don't take photos without asking first, and then focus on photographing the crafts rather than the women.

Sun-Thu 7am-3pm. Karama St, Al Mushrif near the Immigration Office and the Royal Stables (02 447 6645).

Traditional weaving

See some unique cars

The Emirates National Auto Museum is an amazing private collection of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. The collection houses a vast array of cars and other vehicles; some seemingly bought from owners there and then, such as a customised camper van, others received as presents from all around the world. While some have been kept as originally intended, others have been modified to suit the Sheikh's preference.

Open daily 8am-1am, 2pm-6pm. The Emirates National Auto Museum near Hafeen (02 667 6999).

Soak in the history at Liwa Forts
If you’re heading out to the desert oasis of Liwa in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, you should make a concerted effort to visit the nine ancient forts in the area. The dusty ramparts make for perfect picture opportunities to impress your friends back home, though finding them can be difficult.
Near Mezaira, Western Region, Abu Dhabi.

Read some books
Head to the National Library and choose from 18,000 books, DVDs and CDs that you can hire for free.
Airport Rd (02 657 6034).

Enjoy the Corniche Seaside

Enjoy This Seaside

A leisurely stroll along the Abu Dhabi Corniche is one of the best things to do when you travel to Abu Dhabi. This seaside boardwalk is 4 miles long. The walkways are paved and dotted with benches, gardens and amazing views of the Arabian Gulf.

It is a great spot for an evening walk (when its a bit cooler). The corniche is well lit and quite safe. You can easily walk from many of the Corniche hotels to Marina Mall and Heritage Village by following the Corniche pathways.

Don't miss out on a visit to the beaches along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The free beach is open to anyone. - See more at: http://www.yourabudhabiguide.com/corniche.html#sthash.c5WNJ3D6.dpuf

A leisurely stroll along the Abu Dhabi Corniche is one of the best things to do when you travel to Abu Dhabi. This seaside boardwalk is 4 miles long. The walkways are paved and dotted with benches, gardens and amazing views of the Arabian Gulf.

It is a great spot for an evening walk (when its a bit cooler). The corniche is well lit and quite safe. You can easily walk from many of the Corniche hotels to Marina Mall and Heritage Village by following the Corniche pathways.

Don't miss out on a visit to the beaches along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The free beach is open to anyone.