Head off-road with top tour operators like Dune Buggy Dubai to discover the thrills of the desert. You can find activities to suit whatever level of adventure you crave. The Morning Dune Buggy Safari features an early bird hour-long ride in your own open buggy. If you're looking for more, try the Evening Desert Safari. Here, you'll go dune driving in a brand new Land Rover. After the drive, you'll sit down for live entertainment consisting of a traditional dance show. Food, beverages and henna painting enhance the experience with sand boarding and camel riding available to keep the excitement going until late at night.

The city offers plenty of alternative thrills. Freefall from 13,000 feet through the skies of Dubai and take in views of the iconic Palm Jumeirah or Arabian desert with Skydive Dubai. For more extreme fun combined with unique perspectives, book XLine – the world's longest urban zipline that's in the heart of Dubai Marina. The brave can also try the fastest human slingshot in the region at Kite Beach, where you'll be propelled at speeds of up to 100 km/hr.

Thrill-seekers can get their kicks at sea at Jumeirah Beach, where Dubai’s latest toys are getting hearts racing. Flyboarding, also known as water jet-packing, sees adventure lovers fitted into a small board and strapped to a specially-made backpack that sucks up seawater, before spitting it back out, propelling the rider into the air. If you have never tried it before, no worries. Even beginners will be able to manoeuvre themselves around the marina – just be prepared to make a splash crash-landing the first few attempts.

Have fun on the water and at the same time take in some of Dubai’s famous landmarks with a jet-ski session. With its pristine coastline and azure blue waters, it's the perfect place to master new moves. Most watersports tour operators offer a range of options, accompanied by a qualified instructor.

Direct your taxi driver to Dubai's most famous sand dune, Big Red, where you can hop on a quad bike and navigate the sandy landscape yourself. Available to hire by the half hour, the quad bikes are speedy with a helmet provided for safety. Follow the natural trail of the dunes, kicking sand in the face of your fellow riders as you hurtle and bounce over Dubai’s most iconic patch of sand. Big Red is easy to spot along the Dubai-Hatta (E44) highway. Ask your driver to wait, or hire one for the day.

This is one for true adrenaline-seekers. Strap this snowboard-like contraption to your feet and glide down the dunes, just like you would at the slopes of Ski Dubai. While it's possible to rent a sandboard at Big Red, there are a number of tour companies that offer the full experience including Dream Explorer Dubai, Desert Rangers and Lama Dubai. It may look tricky but you'll soon learn all the tips and tricks to make it down the dunes smoothly.

Take in the rugged landscape of Hatta, nestled in the rocky Hajar Mountains. Explore the centuries-old attractions or simply take in views of the striking scenes from your own camping tent. Hatta has been enjoying a renaissance of late thanks to an array of new hotspots including a dedicated adventure centre, luxe lodges and a trailer-park themed resort. For more overnight thrills, try glamping in the serene sands of the Arabian desert. Leading operators including Platinum Heritage and Arabian Adventures offer their own unique take on glamping in Dubai, complete with astronomy sessions, private majlis areas and after-dark wildlife spotting.

Featuring the largest and most diverse number of wildlife species in the UAE, Al Warqa’s Dubai Safari is home to 2,500 animals. Adventurers can encounter monkeys, lions, giraffes, crocodiles and a whole lot more as they explore the park's four themed sections: the Arabian, Asian, African and Safari Village. The eco-friendly park, which is primarily powered by solar energy, now aims to be one of the top 10 zoos in the world, thanks to its commitment to animal conservation, protection and education.