Wild Wadi Waterpark

While Aquaventure on the Palm Jumeirah may have stolen its watery thunder, you can't forget Wild Wadi, the city's first centre for splash-tastic rides, sat just next to the famed Burj Al Arab. Packed full of tunnels, wave pools, ridiculous surfing simulators and rapids that fire rubber-ringed guests up and down narrow tubes, this is still among Dubai's favourite attractions, despite being among the oldest. An afternoon can easily be spent cruising around the lazy river or - if you're brave enough - hurtling down the sharp incline of the bizarrelly-spelled Jumeirah Sceirah. Alternatively, ditch the kids there for a day and you're unlikely to hear a complaint.