Love the sensation of feeling the wind rush past while riding a roller coaster? Then you need to try the most thrilling roller coasters in the UAE.

Some of these rides will take you soaring through the air at incredible speeds, while others will drop you from great heights or make you dizzy with twists and turns.

If you enjoy the feeling of your stomach dropping and the rush of adrenaline as you’re strapped into a cart hurtling along tracks, then you need to check out these top ten roller coasters in the UAE to experience (at least once).

The scariest roller coasters in the UAE

Capitol Bullet Train, MOTIONGATE Dubai

Located in the Hunger Games zone of the park, this half-pipe coaster is a firm favourite with team Time Out. Insane speeds and drops, plus what feels like a very slow-motion upside down loop, make this one to try if you think you can handle it.
Fear factor: 3/5
Minimum height: 130cm

Dragon Gliders

One of our favourite rides not just at Motiongate, but taking into account all of the UAE’s attractions. It’s got something for everyone – great music from How to Train Your Dragon, a couple of scary moments, a fun story, height, speed and suspense. Go on a journey with Hiccup, Toothless and Astrid through the caves and on to the Forbidden Island. This is the kind of ride that as it comes to a stop you are already contemplating how quickly you can race around to join the back of the queue to ride it again. As soon as little ones are tall enough, take them on it, it’s a lovely family ride that’s so much more than a roller coaster.
Fear factor: 5/5
Minimum height: 105cm

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Flying Aces, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Board an old-school military bi-plane before scaling 63 metres at a spectacular 51-degree incline – try and keep your eyes open as the views are pretty cool. Then it’s onwards and upwards at speeds of 120 kmph towards the world’s highest roller coaster loop. You would be forgiven for closing your eyes right about now – feel the g-force.
Fear factor: 3.5/5
Minimum height: 130cm

Formula Rossa, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Thisi is properly terrifying. But that’s what makes it so incredible. Reaching dizzying heights of 52 metres and speeds of up to 240 kmph (from 0 kmph in just 4.9 seconds may we add), which is faster than Lewis Hamilton races around the F1 track, it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Fear factor: 5/5
Minimum height: 140cm
Currently undergoing maintenance.

John Wick: Open Contract, MOTIONGATE™ Dubai

For those wanting to feel their heart pumping blood through their veins can do so on the world’s first John Wick rollercoaster, which is a 4D free-flying coaster inspired by the hitman movies. Standing at ten storeys high and set over a 310-metre track it is one brain-scrambling experience as the single spinning car reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour. That’s not all as there are also non-inverted loops and an underground part of the ride that will send shivers down your spine.

with non-inverted loops and a 500-metre-long track. The first drop is almost seven stories high and there’s also an underground segment.
Dubai Parks and Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, motiongatedubai.com (04 820 0000).
Fear factor: 4.5/5
Minimum height: 125cm

Madagascar Mad Pursuit, MOTIONGATE Dubai

Don’t think this is just a kids’ ride. The carriage starts off slowly working its way around the track, alongside characters from the Madagascar movie. But a brightly lit tunnel looms in front of you, which you are hurled into at great speed before dropping and climbing among the kooky visuals. Expect a lot of screaming (and not just from the younger riders).
Fear factor: 3/5
Minimum height: 120cm

Now You See Me: High Roller, MOTIONGATE™ Dubai

Looking for some adrenaline-fuelled fun? Adrenaline junkies will feel their stomachs sink as they twist and turn while strapped into a seat on the world’s fastest spinning rollercoaster based on the Now You See Me movie franchise. Prepare to scream.
Dubai Parks and Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai, motiongatedubai.com (04 820 0000).
Fear factor: 4.5/5
Minimum height: 120cm

Spiderman Doc Ock’s Revenge at IMG Worlds of Adventure

It’s hard to to tell whether you’re coming or going on this white-knuckle, adrenalin-inducing attraction. The ride spins, it reaches crazy speeds and it’s mostly in the pitch dark – best of all, when you go on it for the first time you have zero idea what you’re letting yourself in for as the entire roller coaster is concealed bar a tiny snippet.
Fear factor: 4/5
Minimum height: 1.20m or 1.05m if accompanied

Stormcoaster, Dubai Hills Mall

Of course, the fastest indoor roller coaster in Dubai made it on the ultimate scary ride list. For those who love to get their blood pumping, it is a high-octane ride with twists and turns, inclines and massive dives that are definitely not for the faint-hearted. Expect non-stop action throughout the two-and-a-quarter-minute ride that will leave you breathless and elated all at the same time.
Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Hills Estate (04 448 5033).
Fear factor: 4.8/5
Minimum height: 130cm

Swiss Cheese Spin at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

As the queue winds its way through Tom and Jerry’s house, you’ll be lulled into a false sense of security that this is going to be an easy ride. It’s not. As the bar comes down on your Swiss cheese car, you may begin to question this idea, and as you are dragged slowly higher and higher up the track, it becomes obvious that the only way is down – and fast. Speed through a dark, UV-lit space – oh, and your cart spins round uncontrollably too. One of the roller coasters in the UAE to do before lunch.
Fear factor: 3/5
Minimum height: 105cm

The Dragon at LEGOLAND Dubai

Without doubt the fastest and most thrilling attraction at this colourful theme park, where a majority of the rides are aimed at younger children. The Dragon is the perfect option for mini rollercoaster fans who are ready for a taste of speed and a smidgen of thrill, before taking on the more hair-raising rides at the adjacent Motiongate, Dubai. Once you’ve moved slowly through the tunnel dotted with robotic LEGO wizards and dragons, you’ll be lulled into a false sense of security before the ride rollercoaster soars like a block-built dragon, with plenty of twists, turns and a marvellous view of the more than 100 LEGO built structures throughout the park.
Fear factor: 3/5.
Minimum height:130cm or 120cm

Velociraptor, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai

This roller coaster is a definite winner, though it will make you scream right from the start all the way to the finish line. The best part is when the ride transitions from indoors to outdoors – it literally feels like you’ve broken through the wall are flying towards Emirates Road.
Fear factor: 4/5
Minimum height: 130cm

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