What to do once the sun has set in the city
Dubai suits an early riser. Just look at all the dawn boot camps, brilliant breakfast spots and morning activities available in the city.
That’s fine. But sometimes, let’s be honest here, you don’t want to get up and out early on. You want to stay in bed, watch TV, hide under a duvet and not emerge until offices are closing and the sun is setting.
That is fine, too. Especially as Dubai has so many late-night experiences to enjoy.
Check out our pick of some of the best things to do in Dubai at night.
In April, there are also plenty of Ramadan celebrations to join in post sunset.
The best things to do in Dubai at night
Stargazing in the desert
For Dubai’s best after dark experience, you have to head into the desert. Tour company Platinum Heritage will take you deep into the dunes in a private 1950s Land Rover to an open-air Bedouin camp.
From here you will be led on a nocturnal eco walk to see the animals and birds who call the desert their home. Stargazing sessions will teach you about the constellations, which can be seen in all their dazzling beauty when out of the city.
platinum-heritage.com, (04 440 9827).
Smash balls into the night at TopGolf
Like golf, but way more fun. Ninety-six hitting bays facing the Dubai Marina put some swing into regular golf as microchipped balls bring a degree of hi-tech simulation to a normal driving range experience. Different targets, accuracy and power challenges make this as much like playing a video game as engaging in sport.
One of the quirkiest nightlife venues in Dubai, it is open until after midnight every day of the week and is a day-to-night attraction like no other.
Topgolf, Emirates Golf Club, Emirates Hills, topgolfdubai.ae, (04 371 9999).
Brighten up at Dubai Garden Glow
Not the easiest concept to explain to a first-time visitor, this glow-in-the-dark theme park is one of the UAE’s more surreal attractions.
Part collection of optical illusions, part immersive art instillation and part illuminated fantasy land of brightly coloured scenes.
It is only open during the evenings as so many of the sights depend on the ten million energy saving bulbs to provide colour and excitement against the dark of night.
Dubai Garden Glow, Zabeel Park, dubaigardenglow.com, (055 918 8126).
Ooooh and aaaah At The Top (and bottom)
Get the timing right and the world’s tallest building and the fountain at its base can give you a day-to-night experience like no other. It is all about picking your moment.
At The Top is the observation deck attraction high up in the Burj Khalifa. Set off just before sunset and you will see the light change over the coast and Sheikh Zayed Road from a vantage point on the 125th floor.
As night takes over and the lights start to come on in neighbouring skyscrapers and cars hundreds of metres below you see a different side to Dubai. After you descend be sure to catch one of the night-time only performances of the Dubai Fountain.
Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, burjkhalifa.ae, (800 28 843 867).
Play sport in the dark at The Alley
All sports at all levels and all times should be glow-in-the-dark, dayglo and luminous. At least that’s what we think after seeing Dubai’s first and only dark padel courts.
Padel – think a cross between tennis and squash – is the fastest growing sport in the city and this night-time venue gives it a funky twist with special ultraviolet nights illuminating courts until after midnight. We honestly don’t know why more sports aren’t played on purple courts with glowing rackets and balls.
The Alley, Al Quoz, thealleydxb.com, (050 600 0767).
Get the zoomies at Dubai Kartdrome
There are indoor and outdoor kart tracks open until midnight at the Dubai Autodrome circuit. Arrive and drive facilities mean you can pull up and get a speed fix late into the night any day of the week.
Helmets, overalls and, most importantly, karts are all provided so all you need for a night drive fix is some extra adrenalin and a few fist bumps for when you are on top of the race podium.
Dubai Kartdrome, Motor City, dubaiautodrome.ae, (800 KARTING).
Full Moon Yoga at Talise Spa
Even just typing out the words “moonlit yoga on the private sandy beach of the Jumeirah Al Qasr hotel” makes us feel more sedate and relaxed. Every punctuation mark leaves the sweet chime of a little bell.
It is one of Dubai’s finest wellness experiences and, literally, only comes around once every full moon. Qualified instructors lead the sessions and are welcoming to newcomers as well as helping to teach advanced techniques.
Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, jumeirah.com, (04 366 6818).
Starry starry night with Vincent Van Gogh
A multimedia experience that immerses the viewer into the starry night of a Vincent Van Gogh painting. Feel the masterpiece as movement, music and soundscapes pulse through custom-made environments.
Book a double ticket and you can also walk through the very cosmos itself as projections of the stars fill entire halls and you’re bathed in sound and light.
One of the true ‘has to be seen to be believed Dubai’ experiences that inspires awe and wonder.
Infinity des Lumières, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, infinitylumieres.com, (050 358 3001).
Browse stalls at a night market
Time Outers have loved everything about the Ripe Market series since it first launched and has spent many a morning browsing handicrafts and guzzling grub in the sunshine at various locations. The waterfront night market next to Festival City Mall takes that enjoyment late into the night. Dozens of small businesses and creators flog their wares and you might even be lucky enough to see light shows and more.
Ripe By The Bay, Festival City Mall, Festival City, ripeme.com, (04 315 7000).
Cruise the Marina at night
See the twinkling lights of the Marina at night from the top deck of a luxury dinner cruise. It is an opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest skylines from a unique perspective while also stocking up on dinner.
Between starters and dessert you will see the Ain Dubai wheel, the beachfront of JBR and the Marina itself on this tourist-friendly excursion. Floor to ceiling windows guarantee good views and there is a buffet, too.
Marina Plaza, Dubai Marina, xclusivecruise.com, (04 457 3185).
Movies under the stars
We’ve always been partial to premium-class cinema experiences, with the reclining seats and extra leg room, but nothing beats al fresco movies. Step on to the rooftop cinema at the Galleria Mall to catch the latest blockbuster and pick up a bag of popcorn, a drink and a box of Monkey cookies. Regardless of the quality of the film it already has an extra star rating when viewed from a squishy bean bag or private cabana.
Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, voxcinemas.com, (055 122 5544).
Challenge reality at VR Park
It doesn’t matter what time it is if you’re living in a virtual reality. The world’s largest VR park offers up experiences that fall beyond the scope of mere sunrises and sunsets. Take a drone flight through futuristic Dubai, go dune bashing in the UAE desert, battle zombies, have a virtual snowball fight at any time of day thanks to the wonders of modern technology. There are also rides to amuse young and old, plus the rest of The Dubai Mall to explore.
VR Park, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, vrparkdubai.com, (800 38224 6255).
