There is no adventure that comes close to travelling with friends and that is perhaps the reason that films pick up this theme all the time. Travelling in groups is fun, affordable and exploratory.

The glitch though is that planning holidays with friends is a tiresome and complicated process with each one having a different taste and preferences.

One friend wants to lazily relax on the beach. Another prefers engaging in adventure activities. One has a preference for food and nightlife. Traditions and culture might be of keen interest to the others. This is where Dubai has an edge.

Dubai offers a variety of activities as you explore the facilities-filled city-state.  The dynamic, vibrant and future-oriented city takes the stress out of planning a vacation and having an incredible experience.

Something for Everyone

Start your day by visiting Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building measuring 828 metres tall on the road that is riddled with about two dozen of the world’s tallest buildings, including the world’s tallest hotel, Gevora.

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building measuring 828 metres tall

Go to the 1,548 room ocean-themed luxury resort Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah for loads of fun at the waterpark whose key attraction is Aquaventure, a 2.3-kilometres river ride with cascades, tidal waves, and rapids. Two Mesopotamian-styled ziggurat temples reach over 30 metres into the sky over a shark-filled lagoon. The Lost Chambers Aquarium exhibits 65,000 fish and sea creatures.

Another place for having mind-blowing volumes of fun is Ski Dubai @The Mall of Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road- a ski resort with a shopping mall – the largest indoor facility in the world. Here enjoy skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and play with Snow Penguins in the indoor ski area of 22,500 square meters.

At The Green Planet at City Walk, over 3,000 species of animals, birds and plants will broaden your knowledge about tropical rainforests. Brave hearts, ready to see snakes, spiders and sloths!  Head to Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo @Dubai Mall to see the world’s largest suspended aquarium filled with 10 million litres of water and loads of aquatic animals including the largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks. Opt for a glass-bottom ride over the tank and perform fine cage snorkelling and shark.

Dubai Miracle Garden will win your hearts as you will see the world’s biggest flower garden with over 45 million flowers, the planet’s largest butterfly garden and the longest wall of flowers on the planet.

Another fun galore will be a Hot Air Balloon Ride from Al Rashidiya for a sheer 360-degree view of the amazing modernity in the desert city. Have a whale of a time at Bollywood Parks, the first theme park of its kind in the world, and watch spectacular stunt shows and performances.

Shopper’s Delight

Indulge in shopping and tasting the foods of the world at the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest at 12 million square feet – equivalent in size to 200 soccer pitches. It will certainly zap the group with its variety to please the varied tastes in everything- 1,200 retail stores and more than 200 F&B outlets and the world’s largest footwear and accessories shop spanning over 96,000 square feet.

Indulge in shopping and tasting the foods of the world at the Dubai Mall

The group can go on a yachting adventure in the city, sailing stylishly through the smooth waves aboard a chartered yacht with a trained crew. You’ll capture enviable pictures of Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah from a whole new perspective – an off-the-beaten-path experience with a tailor-made itinerary based on what your friends want to see.

The opportunity to have a fun group comes in another form: outdoor skydiving. At iFly Dubai in City Centre Mirdif, try your best to oppose gravity and fly and experience the thrill. The vertical wind tunnel.

At Brass Monkey in Bluewaters Island, go and challenge your friends to a round of retro Pac-Man, shooting hoops and air hockey. The two-storey entertainment venue houses a 12-lane bowling alley, VR racing simulators and more than 60 arcade games. Lucky Voice in Barsha Heights is one of the best karaoke spots in the city, boasting private rooms for up to 25 people, along with top-of-the-line gear.

Head out for an action-packed adventure at The Smash Room, a blood-pumping, thrilling concept, spelling equal parts fun and crazy. Armed with a mallet and cloaked in protective gear, visitors can go wild and smash apart the provided plates, vases, electronics, white goods and other household appliances.

Part escape-room, part teamwork, TEPfactor @The Walk, JBR, is an adventure experience that puts one’s critical thinking skills into overdrive. The mysterious cave-like venue hosts 21 different challenge rooms, where guests have to decipher instructions, locate clues and put snippets of information together to solve puzzles and ‘escape’.

Dubai Autodrome is another energetically perfect place for a competitive group of friends. Indulge in a host of high-speed activities, including Audi TT driving sessions, drifting courses, and indoor and outdoor go-karting options.

Mesmerising Evenings

Make your trip memorable with a desert safari, an experience that includes camping, sumptuous Middle East cuisines with delightful belly dancing under the stars

The Dubai Fountain, near Dubai Mall, the world’s biggest – is one of the world’s two tallest performing fountains the city has. Watching the light-and-sound show is pure delight. The fountain shoots up 22,000 gallons of water in choreographically perfect fashion about 150 metres in the air.

Dubai Garden Glow, in the 40-acres Al Zabeel Park, gets most spectacular when darkness descends. See here a wide variety of glow-in-the-dark art pieces made from recycled material and millions of energy-saving LED light bulbs.  Don’t miss Dinosaur Park featuring 120 animatronic dinosaurs and an Ice Park with stunning beautiful ice sculptures!

Who doesn’t want to go to Burj Al Arab, among the world’s expensive hotels, on an artificial island off Dubai’s coast? Take your choicest pictures of the landmark that resembles the graceful sail of an Arabian dhow. Dash off to La Mer Beach, Dubai’s newest and increasingly popular waterfront to have a gala time and fun over food and drinks. Equally thrilling will be a visit to Dubai Marina, a skyscrapers-filled neighbourhood that extends 4.5 square kilometres with upscale yachts cruising through the world’s largest man-made marina.

Celebrate the trip with a memorable party at the world’s highest lounge. The Lounge Burj Khalifa is spread over the 152^nd to 154^th floors of the world’s tallest building. There are about 11 bars in Dubai that are at least 40 floors high, including the world’s tallest restaurant at 122 floors at At.mosphere in Burj Khalifa. Perched on the 71^st and 72^nd floor of the world’s tallest hotel the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai before Gevora Hotel Dubai took the title from it, The Vault is arguably the highest hotel bar in the world, with the cocktails continue being the opulent theme of the décor.

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