Winter is the short window when Dubai stops being an air-conditioned city and becomes an outdoor one. From now until April, temperatures drop, skies clear, and the emirate's adventure operators pack their calendar. Here's what's worth your time.

The cheapest icon in town is still the abra. For one dirham, these wooden boats shuttle you across Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai, running daily from 6am to midnight. It's a five-minute ride past old souks and minarets, and sunset is the slot to aim for.

For a night under canvas, Al Qudra Lakes is free and barely 40 minutes from downtown. Set up beside the water inside the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, fire up a BBQ, and look out for flamingos, swans and ducks. It's open around the clock, though you'll need to bring all your own kit.

Prefer the desert handled for you? An evening safari with OceanAir Travels at Al Khayma Camp in Al Aweer starts around Dhs385. Expect roughly six or seven hours of dune bashing, sandboarding, camel rides, a buffet dinner and a guided stargazing session.

If you'd rather trade dunes for peaks, Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah is the UAE's highest mountain, and operator Arabian Wanderers runs overnight stays at Camp 1770 — pitched 1,770 metres up. Two-day trips start at Dhs600 and include tents, transport, BBQ dinners, yoga and sunrise meditation. It runs year-round but is noticeably cooler than the coast.

Hatta, 90 minutes from Dubai, crams kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and zip-lining into the Hajar Mountains, plus a honey bee garden and heritage village for slower moments. Logistics are refreshingly cheap: the Hatta Express Bus from Dubai Mall costs Dhs25, and the local hop-on hop-off bus is just Dhs2.

For the big-ticket thrills, Skydive Dubai will take you from 13,000 feet over either the Palm or the Desert Drop Zone from Dhs2,199, tandem jump, briefing and video included, daily from 8am to 2.30pm weather permitting. And if your idea of adventure involves a lazy river rather than a freefall, Aquaventure World at Atlantis The Palm claims the title of world's largest waterpark with over 100 rides, entry from Dhs299, open 10am to 6.30pm daily — with Sunset Saturdays extending to 10pm.

The common thread: most of these are best (or only sensible) between October and April, so if you've been putting off a UAE trip, this is the season to book it. Budget travellers can build a genuinely great few days around the abra, Al Qudra and Hatta for under Dhs100 in entry and transport costs, while thrill-seekers can blow the entire budget in one glorious skydive.

Via What's On Dubai