Beyond the Ordinary: Leading athletes take on Dubai’s sky, water, desert and city in new destination stunt

In partnership with XDubai and Red Bull UAE, ‘Beyond the Ordinary’ demonstrates how Dubai turns ambitious ideas into reality, bringing together Emirati and international athletes for high-energy performances at landmarks across the city

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 17 September 2026: The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has presented ‘Beyond the Ordinary’, a new citywide destination project in partnership with XDubai and Red Bull athletes, featuring athletes from both organisations, and taking viewers on one continuous journey through the city's sky, water, desert and urban landscape. Showcasing the breadth of Dubai’s destination offering and the infrastructure, expertise and public-private collaboration required to execute such a project, the stunt-driven production is a bold expression of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and its ambition to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure.

From a wingsuit pilot sweeping above Palm Jumeirah and paramotor action along the coastline to motocross in Margham Desert and freestyle football at One Za’abeel, ‘Beyond the Ordinary’ unites leading Emirati and international athletes from Red Bull and XDubai in a citywide showcase that flows from one location to the next rather than presenting each stunt sequence in isolation, bringing Dubai’s contrasting landscapes together in a single connected story. The project reflects the world-class infrastructure and operational agility that allow Dubai to bring ambitious, large-scale ideas to life. 
Featuring Emirati athletes Mohammed Balooshi, Captain Husam Gamal and Ahmed Alshehhi alongside internationally recognised names, the project gives homegrown talent a prominent role on a global stage. Their presence underlines Dubai’s position as a platform where Emirati and global talent train, compete and succeed together. It is also an expression of a destination that continues to surprise, inspire, adapt and redefine what is possible, no matter the challenge.

‘Beyond the Ordinary’, shared through Visit Dubai’s channels and those of participating partners and athletes, and supported by wider international amplification, showcases more than a series of performances. Drawing on Dubai’s adventurous and innovative spirit, the project demonstrates a city where ambitious ideas are matched by the capabilities to realise them, from the infrastructure and locations to the specialist operators and coordinated support needed to deliver a connected citywide production. The extraordinary feat arrives as Dubai delivers a vibrant events calendar heading into the final quarter of 2026, and underlines the city's ability to keep delivering standout experiences at scale and at speed.

Aida Al Busaidy, Vice President – Social & Consumer Advocacy at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “Dubai’s ability to offer a striking coastline, open desert, globally recognised landmarks and vibrant urban experiences within one destination is central to what makes the city distinctive. However, ‘Beyond the Ordinary’ is about more than the landscapes Dubai has to offer. Dubai has always believed in a vision of continuous growth, and has acted on that vision by building the infrastructure, systems and partnerships that allow ideas, businesses and people to flourish. It creates the conditions for people to move, live, explore and express their talent, and for ambitious projects like this to come to life through collaboration, innovation and shared purpose. Bringing government, global brands, hospitality partners and specialist teams together across a number of sites within a short timeframe demonstrates the strength of Dubai’s ecosystem and the agility, creativity and collective commitment that enable imagination to move from concept to delivery here.

“Seeing Emirati athletes perform alongside international names also reflects Dubai’s role as a platform for opportunity, where all homegrown and global talent can gain visibility, push boundaries and showcase their abilities to audiences around the world.  Through the campaign and the reach of our partners, we want global audiences to discover both what Dubai offers and what the city makes possible.”

The journey begins in the sky, with Spanish Red Bull athlete Dani Román and Emirati XDubai athlete Ahmed Alshehhi performing a wingsuit sequence above Palm Jumeirah, Ain Dubai, Dubai Marina and the wider skyline. Emirati XDubai athlete Captain Husam Gamal follows with an aerobatic display over Palm Jumeirah, featuring Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal and other city landmarks below.

The action then moves towards the water as Greek Red Bull athlete and world paramotor champion Dimitris Kolliakos flies by paramotor along the Palm and Dubai coastline. Dan Van Dooren, co-founder of Surf House Dubai, performs an e-foil sequence against the backdrop of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, carrying the journey from air onto water before the setting shifts entirely.

Mohammad Javad, Executive Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment at Shamal Holding, said: “At XDubai, we have always pushed the boundaries of what is possible, bringing extraordinary experiences to life in a city known for setting new standards every day. ‘Beyond the Ordinary’ takes that ambition to another level, bringing together world-class athletes, multiple disciplines and some of the city’s most iconic locations in one continuous journey. Connecting a wingsuit flight above Palm Jumeirah with motocross in Margham Desert and a freestyle finale in the heart of the city requires precision, expertise and coordination at every stage. It is exactly the kind of challenge XDubai was built to take on, and there is no better place to make it happen than Dubai.”

In Margham Desert, Emirati Red Bull athlete Mohammed Balooshi, the first Emirati rider to compete in the Dakar Rally, introduces the motocross and desert-rally chapter, adding a distinctly Emirati dimension of ambition and endurance to the feat. The journey then returns to the city, where French Red Bull athlete and freestyle football world champion Séan Garnier brings the action to its urban finale at One Za’abeel with a Dubai Police and Porsche sequence connecting the locations.

Mohammed Balooshi, Emirati Red Bull motocross and desert-rally athlete, said: “Bringing together athletes from different disciplines across Dubai’s desert, coastline and skyline shows why this city is such a special setting for sport. Every landscape brings a different challenge and a different energy. As an Emirati athlete, I am proud to compete alongside some of the best in the world and to show this side of Dubai to a global audience.”

‘Beyond the Ordinary’ became a reality because of the dedication of teams from across Dubai’s tourism, sport and lifestyle sectors; in addition to partners XDubai and Red Bull UAE, the project involved the participation of Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, Dubai Police, Jumeirah, One Za’abeel, Platinum Heritage, Porsche Middle East and Africa, and Skydive Dubai. Indeed, this project would not have been possible without the wholehearted support of the tourism ecosystem, and without the wider community of residents and advocates who continue to champion Dubai to the world. This breadth of collaboration reflects the public-private partnership model that continues to underpin Dubai's growth story, connecting the spectacle to the people, partners and locations that helped bring the citywide journey to life.