1. Swim in the world’s highest pool

Who could resist a dip in Aura SkyPool, the world’s highest 360° swimming pool? It’s 200m (50 floors!) up at the top of The Palm Tower and you can see the shiny city below which spreads all the way to the sparkling Gulf. 

2. Dive in the world’s deepest pool 

Only in Dubai could you visit the planet’s highest and deepest swimming pools in the same day. Deep Dive Dubai holds 14 million litres of water and has a depth of 60m. If you’re a certified diver, you can dive right in. If you’re a novice, book a lesson and try scuba-diving down to 12m (providing you’re aged 10+). What’s more, there’s a sunken city to explore and even an underwater film studio.

3. Float above the desert in a hot air balloon

For the best aerial views of the desert and beyond, book a private flight with Hot Air Balloon Dubai. You’ll be picked from your hotel in the small hours and driven out to the sandy landscape before floating into the morning sky at sunrise – if you’re thinking of proposing, do it now. 

4. Ride the world’s largest big wheel 

Ain Dubai soars 250m into the air (75m higher than the London Eye) and offers views of, well, pretty much everything: city, coast and desert. 

5. See the world’s tallest fountains

Another world record-beater, The Dubai Fountain is the world’s highest ‘performing fountain’ available to see daily for free on the Burj Khalifa Lake. A staggering 22,000 gallons of water shoot 152m into the air which you can watch from a viewing platform – it makes the Bellagio fountains in Vegas look tame. 

6. Step onto a glass sky walk

Adrenalin junkies will love Sky Views Dubai, which includes a 25m glass podium walk connecting two 50-storey towers. Gulp. There’s also an outside glass slide to ride and the Edge Walk. Not for the faint-hearted. 

7. Get wet in the world’s largest waterpark 

Forget your usual aqua fun (a big pool with a couple of slides), Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis Resort is, you’ve guessed it, the biggest on the planet, including the largest kid-only zone in the Middle East. There are more than 105 slides, an exceptionally long lazy river and the chance to meet stingrays and dolphins. 

8. Skydive above the city 

See the Palm, Burj Al Arab and skyscrapers from above on a trip with Skydive Dubai. Scared? A reasonable reaction, in which case book tandem jump, meaning you’ll be strapped to an experienced guide and don’t have to worry about little things like when to pull a cord to open your parachute. 

9. Ski in a mall

Yes, you really can ski in a desert. If you can cast aside any nagging doubts about whether this is actually a good thing for the planet, buy a Snow Daycation pass at Ski Dubai and fill your (snow) boots. There are even penguin encounters and a snow cinema if you don’t fancy taking to the slopes. 

10. Eat dinner in the sky 

Book Dinner in the Sky Dubai and you’ll need to strap on a seatbelt before tucking into your Middle Eastern mezze, because you’ll be sat at a rotating table set 50m in the air. Definitely a great place for a surprise proposal/ birthday/ anniversary, unless anyone suffers from vertigo, in which case keep your feet firmly on the ground.