Dubai is also home to two new enormous theme parks - Dubai Parks & Resorts and the IMG Worlds of Adventure, the latter claimed as the largest indoor theme park in the world. Beachside resorts have a vast choice of water sports, while many other hotels, even if not beside a beach, have superb leisure and recreational facilities. As well as shopping opportunities galore, including the gold and spice souks in 'old' Dubai, the city has numerous other attractions such as various golf courses, Skydive Dubai, the heritage around Dubai Creek, plus many desert activities outside the main city.

Talk to the specialist team at Mahlatini and let us use our first-hand knowledge to tailor your Dubai holiday or stopover to include your preferred experiences. This starts by helping you select a hotel in the right area of Dubai; being a vast city it's preferable to have a base near where you want to be! Here's just a few of the many Dubai experiences - all of which we can tailor into your Dubai itinerary, including all transfers.

City Tours

If it's your first visit to this amazing city, a city tour is by far the best way of taking in some of its iconic sights. Several different tours are available, including some with timed entry to the Burj Khalifa and thereby avoid any queuing. Private tours can also be arranged and tailored to your specific requirements.

Seawings Seaplane flights

Perhaps the most unique and memorable of all Dubai experiences is a flight of discovery over and around the iconic Dubai skyline in a 9-seater seaplane. Experience the thrill of take-off and landings on water at either Dubai Creek or Jebel Ali Resort, then take in the amazing birds-eye view of all the famous Dubai sights. Choose from either a 40-minute flight or a 20-minute 'snapshot' tour. Read more about Seawings flights, which can also be taken to Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah and then combined with other experiences and activities.

Desert Safari with Barbecue dinner

This memorable experience takes place in the Al Maha nature reserve where you'll witness a desert sunset and marvel at the awe-inspiring desert landscapes. The experience includes 45 minutes dune bashing in a 4x4 vehicle, welcome drink, camel riding, sand boarding, henna painting and shisha smoking (optional!), barbecue buffet dinner and traditional dancing.

Desert experiences

As well as exhilarating 4x4 dune safaris, we can also arrange horse riding, camel treks, sand-surfing and go-karting. Game drives can also be arranged for the chance to spot rare wildlife including the Arabian Oryx. Guests can also experience a night under a star-filled sky and see spectacular constellations.

Dubai Parks & Resorts

The brand new Dubai Parks & Resorts theme park opened its doors in November 2016. With over 100 rides and attractions, it is in fact really four parks in one. Motiongate Dubai is Hollywood-inspired and brings together Sony Pictures and DreamWorks Animation; Bollywood Parks Dubai - a celebration of Mumbai's legendary film industry; Legoland Dubai with 40 themed rides; and Legoland water park specifically designed for the family market with children from 2 to 12 years.

Burj Khalifa & Dubai Fountain

A Dubai holiday would not be complete without a visit to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and unforgettable 360° views of Dubai and the surrounding desert. 'At The Top', on the 124th floor is the main observation platform, but ironically is not the top! For that, you have to choose the Sky Experience which gets you to floor 148 and the highest outdoor observatory in the world. Around the base of the Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest 'performing' fountain display; dazzling displays take place each evening every half hour from 6pm, a captivating water, music and light spectacle. A new floating platform within the fountain pool opened in early 2018 and gives the public a whole new perspective of the performances. Guests can start their journey from Burj Park or Fountain Promenade and stroll down the 272-metre boardwalk. At the closest point, you are only 9metres away from the fountains.

Dubai Marina Zip Line

The world's longest 'urban' zip line, the XLine Dubai Marina, is now open. Extending a kilometre, from a height of 170 metres down to ground level, it reaches an average top speed of 80km/hr. Guests can also try the 'superman-style' harness, suspending horizontally as they zip down to ground level.

Dubai Frame

A major new attraction for 2018, the Dubai Frame rises 150 metres high and acts as an architectural landmark to unite the city's past, present and future. Two vertical towers are connected by a bridge that acts as an observation deck and features a 25-square-metre glass panel in the centre. There are magnificent 360-degree views of the city, especially of old Dubai to the north and new Dubai to the south. Visitors start their journey with the history of Dubai, then move to reality-activated screens showcasing present-day Dubai on the sky deck, before walking through a 'vortex tunnel' to a virtual metropolis representing the future.

Ski Dubai

Visit the world's biggest indoor snow park in a shopping mall - Ski Dubai - and whizz down one of its five slopes! You can also say hello to resident king penguins.

Dubai Water Parks

There are several water parks in and around Dubai, with the most popular being Aquaventure on the Palm Jumeirah and the Wild Wadi water park, in the shadow of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. At the recently opened Dubai Parks & Resorts theme park, there's also a Legoland water park which includes a few less challenging rides - perfect for younger children.

Aquariums

The 'Atlantis-themed' Lost Chambers Aquarium features underwater halls filled with marine life from sharks to rays; you can even dive or snorkel with them! The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at Dubai Mall has one of the biggest suspended aquariums in the world!

Further Children's activities

Kidzania is a unique attraction where children can pretend to be adults for the day with fun educational role play. Green Planet at City Walk, a bio-dome rainforest that's home to over 3,000 plants, animals and birds and explains how ecosystems work.

SkyDive Dubai and I-Fly

For the ultimate daredevils, skydive from 13,000feet over Palm Jumeirah, one of the top 'drop zones' in the world. Alternatively, take to the 'sky' (4 metres high) at the UAE's first indoor sky diving centre.

Culture & Heritage

Dubai was a major Arabian trading port, centred around Dubai Creek and the Bur Dubai and Deira districts. Get a glimpse of Dubai's heritage, visit the Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort and also experience the sights, sounds and bustling atmosphere of the gold and spice souks. Half cay or full-day tours are available.

Dubai Creek and Dhow cruises

Discover this natural seawater inlet by taking a seat on a traditional Arabic wooden dhow and see a fascinating mix of old and new. For an unforgettable Arabian night, take a dhow dinner cruise and see some of the amazing city lights as you pass by.

Dubai Opera

If you are into musicals, ballets, the theatre, or indeed any form of live show, be sure to check out the new Dubai Opera. Located in downtown Dubai, it's a stunning, beautifully designed building; resembling an Arabian dhow, it is in fact highly contemporary with glass and dark wood extensively used. This is a highly intimate and state of the art venue, with a wide variety of performances and shows to appeal to all tastes.

Dubai culinary flavours

Dubai has a diverse culinary scene with a huge choice of global flavours. From local dishes in Deira beside Dubai Creek, to Michelin-rated plates from celebrity chef's, you can find it in Dubai.

Golf courses

Several golf courses are available for guests to challenge their golfing skills.

Major Dubai Sports Events

There are many major sporting events that take place annually in Dubai. Key ones include: Dubai World Cup (horse racing - March), Dubai Sevens (rugby - December), Dubai Desert Classic (golf - February), Dubai ATP (tennis - February)