Water activities on the Arabian Gulf

Dubai's water sports cluster around three areas: Dubai Marina and JBR for jet skis, parasailing and flyboarding; Palm Jumeirah for speedboat tours and yacht swims; and Fujairah on the east coast for scuba diving and snorkelling in clear Indian Ocean water. Jet ski rides run in 30, 60 and 90-minute slots with routes past the Burj Al Arab, Atlantis and Ain Dubai; no licence is required and a safety briefing plus life jacket is always included.

Parasailing flights last 10 to 15 minutes in the air with a boat ride either side, rising around 100 metres for skyline views. Flyboarding and jetpack sessions start with 10 minutes of instruction and are the steepest learning curve of the group - most first-timers are hovering within 20 minutes. Calmer options include kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding around the Palm's canals and mangroves, donut and banana boat rides for families, and glass-bottom or yellow-boat sightseeing tours that stay dry.

The Gulf sits between 22 deg C in winter and 33 deg C in summer, so the water is comfortable year round; morning slots are calmer and cooler. Minimum ages are typically 16 for solo jet ski riders, 8 for parasailing with an adult and 5 for banana boats, and weight limits apply on parasailing and flyboarding. Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a waterproof phone case; showers and lockers are available at most Marina and JBR operators. Sessions run to a fixed schedule, so arrive 15 minutes early - late arrivals lose water time rather than the whole booking.