Dubai’s Best Spots for Stargazing: A Guide for Astronomy Lovers

As the sun sets over Dubai the skies above it turn into a dazzling blanket of stars, a sight so spectacular it seems like you looking right into heaven. Here are some of the best stargazing locales in and around Dubai, from where you can witness this phenomenal show of glittering light after dark.

Al Thuraya Astronomy Center

Located just a half-hour drive from the city, this Astrology Centre has everything you need to get a closer look at the dazzling night sky. It features a planetarium, an observatory and an astro-cinema, allowing you to learn more about the starry world beyond your reach.

Al Qudra Lakes

This is one of the most popular spots in Dubai among stargazers located about an hour from hotels like Paramount Hotel Midtown. On a clear night, the lakes become ethereal mirrors, reflecting the celestial display above, creating a double dose of starry magic for anyone who visits.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

This reserve isn’t just known for its daytime adventures. The 87-square-mile stretch is a prime spot for stargazing, with plenty of eco-friendly tours, night safaris and other immersive experiences that elevate your viewing of the starry skies near the best hotels in downtown, Dubai.

Hatta in the Hajar Mountains

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Image by Makalu from Pixabay

The town of Hatta makes for another great stargazing locale due to its remoteness which only adds to the experience. If you’re up for an adventure you can head to the Hatta Dam and camp the night there, where you can fall asleep to the dazzling array of lights in the sky.

Dubai’s Top Roller Coasters: Thrills and Adrenaline

Dubai’s Top Roller Coasters—where excess isn’t just a way of life, it’s an art form. Beneath the towering skyline and seven-star indulgence, there’s a different kind of thrill waiting. A heartbeat-skipping, stomach-lurching, adrenaline-pumping kind of thrill. Roller coasters here aren’t just rides; they’re engineered chaos, precision-designed to make you question every decision that led you to that seat. If you have a taste for speed, heights, and moments of sheer, beautiful terror, welcome to your playground.

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Image by Luvmissile from Pixabay

Formula Rossa: The Beast Unleashed
Forget everything you think you know about roller coasters. Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is less of a ride and more of an assault on your senses. Zero to 240 km/h in under five seconds—it doesn’t build up speed, it detonates it. The G-force alone is enough to make your vision blur, and the protective goggles they hand you before launch? Not a gimmick. This is what it feels like to be a missile, only slightly less aerodynamic. What’s more, you can easily reach here (not at astronomical speeds) as Ferrari World is located close to some of the best hotels to stay in Dubai.

Madagascar Mad Pursuit: Don’t Let the Name Fool You
You hear “Madagascar” and think of dancing lemurs, right? Cute. This indoor coaster at Motiongate Dubai is anything but gentle. It lulls you into a false sense of security before launching you into a madcap, high-speed chase with abrupt drops and hairpin turns that make you question whether this was, in fact, meant to be a family-friendly ride. It’s chaos, but the kind you laugh through—if you can breathe long enough to do it. If you’re staying at a hotel like Paramount Hotel Midtown, it’s only a 30-minute drive to Motiongate, where you can enjoy a variety of gravity-defying rides like the one below.

Capitol Bullet Train: Hollywood-Level Mayhem
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a tribute in The Hunger Games, here’s your chance to find out—minus the actual life-or-death stakes. The Capitol Bullet Train at Motiongate Dubai takes its inspiration from Panem’s high-speed transit, but this version comes with inversions, vertical drops, and moments of near-weightlessness that make you forget which way is up. It’s sharp, sleek, and just the right amount of terrifying—like a well-choreographed stunt sequence you somehow ended up in.

Velociraptor: A Jolt Back in Time
There’s something primal about Velociraptor at IMG Worlds of Adventure. Maybe it’s the prehistoric setting, or maybe it’s the way this coaster hurls you from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds before dragging you through an unforgiving labyrinth of drops and turns. One second, you’re bolting into an open desert; the next, you’re deep in a jungle where the track seems to twist in ways that defy logic. Like its namesake, this one is fast, unpredictable, and just a little bit vicious.

Everything to Know About Dubai’s Water Canal

The Dubai Canal, a remarkable artificial waterway, stretches for 3.2 kilometres, transforming the city’s urban landscape and connecting the vibrant Downtown Dubai area to the Arabian Gulf. This architectural marvel not only serves as a functional waterway but also offers a scenic route adorned with pedestrian bridges, charming walkways, and leisure zones.

Reaching the Boardwalk

The Dubai Water Canal Boardwalk is easily accessible from various points along the canal. Located near Sheikh Zayed Road, it can be reached by public buses, taxis, or your own vehicle. Ferries and water taxis also operate along the canal, making it easily reachable from the best luxury hotels in Dubai no matter what mode of transport you choose.

What You Should Know

The Dubai Canal is a hub of activity, featuring cycling lanes, footpaths, running tracks and seating areas along its scenic expanse. Powered by solar energy, its eco-friendly design includes streetlights and convenient charging stations for keeping devices powered while enjoying the view. The canal boasts nine marine stations, offering ferries, water taxis, dhow cruises, and abras (a traditional boat) which are ideal if you want to get a unique perspective of the city.

The Waterfall Display

Located on the Sheikh Zayed Road Bridge at Exit 4, the Dubai Canal Waterfall is a major attraction, drawing visitors with its dazzling show of water and lights in the evenings. The design of the waterfall is such that it is set to shut off automatically when a boat gets close. Consider dropping by to see this spectacle for yourself, as it makes a great excursion especially if you happen to be staying at centrally located properties like Paramount Hotel Midtown.

The Footbridges

Image via Wikimedia Commons – Vicharam, Dubai Water Canal, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Dubai Water Canal features five striking pedestrian bridges – and a few of them connect to either side of the canal. Among them, the Tolerance Bridge, named in honour of International Tolerance Day, stands out as the first suspended bridge of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. The other bridges connect Jumeirah Road, Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.