Desert, sea and skyline, booked in a minute

Red dunes at sunset with a licensed driver, sandboarding, a camel ride and a BBQ dinner at our own camp, with hotel pickup and no extras at the gate.

Four hours in the red dunes while the light is soft and the sand is cool: a proper dune drive, sandboarding and a camel ride, back in Dubai by lunchtime.

Sunset dune drive, dinner by the fire, a tent with a real bed and a sky full of stars, then sunrise over the dunes and breakfast before the drive home.

Two hours on a traditional wooden dhow through Dubai Marina at night, with an international buffet, live tanoura show and views of JBR and Ain Dubai.

Two hours on a 50-foot yacht from Dubai Marina past JBR, Ain Dubai and Palm Jumeirah, with a swim stop and soft drinks. Book a seat or charter the whole boat.

Five hours with a licensed guide from Jumeirah Mosque and Burj Al Arab to the Creek, an abra ride and the spice and gold souks, with hotel pickup.

Three hours on foot with a heritage guide through Al Fahidi, across the Creek by abra and into the spice and gold souks, ending at Al Seef as the lights come on.

A full day in the capital with a licensed guide: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and a Louvre Abu Dhabi stop, with pickup from Dubai.

A small-group day in the Hajar Mountains: kayaking on the turquoise Hatta Dam, the heritage village, a honey bee garden and the mountain roads, with lunch.

Cross into Oman at Dibba and spend the day on a wooden dhow in the fjords of Musandam, with two swim stops, snorkelling, dolphin chances and lunch on board.

Timed entry to the observation decks on levels 124 and 125 of the world's tallest building, with our host at The Dubai Mall entrance. Sunset slots sell out first.

Timed entry to the silver torus on Sheikh Zayed Road: a space station, a living rainforest library, a wellness sanctuary and a floor built for children.

An hour on the water from a marina near Jumeirah, following an instructor along the coast to a photo stop in front of Burj Al Arab. Licensed and fully insured.

Lift off at first light over the dunes near Margham for about an hour in the air, then a falcon show and breakfast at a desert camp. Pickup before dawn.

Take off from the water and fly low along the coast over Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and the Marina towers, a scenic flight of 25 to 40 minutes with a window for everyone.

Freefall from 13,000 feet strapped to an experienced instructor, with Palm Jumeirah below you and a video of the whole jump included. Transfers both ways.