Places to visit during Eid Al Adha holiday

By Dana Bou Fakhereddine

Eid Al Adha holiday is approaching! Most American University of Sharjah students will be flying back to their home countries to celebrate Eid with their family and friends. Some may be visiting other countries during the Eid holiday. While the rest will remain right here in the United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Eid.

Now, if you are in the group that will be staying in the UAE and if you are wondering what are you going to do during the holiday, here are some select ideas of places to visit and activities to do with your friends during the long weekend:-

1. IMG Worlds of Adventure

If you are a fan of theme parks then IMG Worlds of Adventure is the right place to visit. It is not any theme park, but the largest indoor theme park in the world! The park consists of four zones: The Marvel Zone, Cartoon Network, The Lost Valley and IMG Boulevard. Each zone has its own attractions. For example, in the IMG Boulevard there is the Haunted Hotel, which is quite scary, especially when you feel someone is following you and your friends! But that is part of the exciting experience. If you are an adrenaline junkie, then you should definitely check out The Velociraptor roller-coaster at The Lost Valley. It is the tallest and fastest roller-coaster in Dubai; therefore, be ready for a thrilling ride! Not only that but the park provides other facilities, such as shopping, dining, movies and many more.

Photo credit: IMG Worlds website

Location: Dubai

IMG Worlds of Adventure ticket price: AED 245

TripXTours offer: AED 208. If the student enters the coupon code: IMG25D, she or he will get 15% discount. The offer is valid until the end of August only. 

Operation hours during Eid Al Adha: 11:00 am -12:00 am from August 31 to September 4.

2. Dreamland Aqua park

In this scorching heat heading to a waterpark is a great way to cool down and have amazing time with your friends. Even though it takes one hour to reach the waterpark, the trip is worthwhile. Dreamland Aqua park is one of the largest water parks in the region featuring over 15 rides. Depending on your personal preference, you can choose from an aggressive thrill ride to a basic one. The Twister is an aggressive thrill ride where you slide inside a tunnel, spin on the bowl’s inner walls then dive into the pool. On your first try, you will be frightened, as you do not know what to expect, but on your next try it is going to be fun. The park also has a Jacuzzi, cabana rentals and overnight camping facilities, restaurants and food outlets, and many more.

Location: Umm Al Quwain

Dreamland Aqua park ticket price: AED 160

Online booking offer: AED 100

Operation hours: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm during weekdays and 10:00 am – 7:00 pm on Fridays

3. Musandam Dibba Trip

This trip is recommended for students who want to have a memorable time while discovering the beautiful landscape around Fujairah and the coastal environment of Oman. The trip starts from 7:00 am, which is very early but believe me it is worth it! A van will pick you up from Dubai to go to Dibba port where you will board a traditional Omani wooden dhow. As you sail along the coastline, appreciate the breathtaking scenery – mountains with whitish hues due to salt, rugged cliffs, hollow caves, crystal clear water and many more.  Luckily, in this trip, you will experience everything closely. When you reach a specific point in the Indian Ocean, a small boat will take groups of people to see the wonderful caves…be ready, it is a bumpy ride! After that you have the freedom to fish, snorkel, swim with dolphins, and try the banana boat ride in the clear water. If you do not want to do anything, you can lay back, relax and soak up the sun’s rays in this tranquil setting.

Photo credit: Musandam Tourism UAE & Dhow Tours Oman

Location: Dibba and Musandam

Musandam Dibba trip Eid ticket price: AED 159

Trip duration: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

For more information about the trip and Visa, click here

4. Desert Safari Trip

If you want to have some quality time with your friends in the desert heat of UAE then here is a safari trip that you should consider. You will get the opportunity to try various kinds of activities, like sand boarding, dune bashing, camel rides and many more.  The sand boarding for example is intimidating, but when you get the hang of it, it is extremely enjoyable. Plus, if you want the whole safari experience then you better try it! Besides these activities, there are henna designs, live shows, and a barbecue dinner with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices.

Location: Dubai

Safari Ticket Price: AED 119

Groupon Offer Price: AED 75

For more information, click here

5. Other Nearby Places

If you just want to take it slow in this Eid holiday then visit these places. Al Majaz Water Front has a roaming parade ready with its exciting acts, dancing fountain, and delicious restaurants for you to try, such as TGI Fridays, Zahr El-Laymoun and many more. Dubai Festival City Mall is also providing a roaming parade and Magical Eid fireworks to enjoy with the IMAGINE show. Likewise, you can watch the night sky light up with hues of red, gold, green and blue at Al Qasba, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Yas Marina.

Al Qasba. Photo credit: Pooneh Zarnegar, Interior Design student

These are just few of the places that you may consider visiting while celebrating your Eid break if you will be staying around. Therefore, be ready to celebrate Eid with your friends and enjoy the Fireworks!

Dana Bou Fakhereddine is a student at American University of Sharjah.

Visit www.aus.edu for more information about American University of Sharjah.