Snow Skiing
The largest indoor snow park in the world has opened in Dubai. Built on what was previously desert sand, the slopes will be covered with manufactured snow all year round.
The area under snow is the equivalent of three football pitches, with runs built inside a giant, slanting metal tube around 25 floors high.

A snow park next to the Skiing area has tobogganing, icy bobsleigh runs and a ski school. Anyone wanting to ski on the main slopes will have to prove their competence before being allowed to do so. All clothing and equipment is provided in the entrance price including black, knee-length padded coats .
www.skidxb.com

Burj Al Arab
Rising spectacularly out of the Azure blue water of the Arabian Gulf, Hotel Burj Al Arab presides majestically over the Jumeirah Beach Resort and the Coastline of Dubai.
Exquisite furnishings, luxurious fittings and standards of personal service exceeding the expectations of the most discerning guests.
www.burj-al-arab.com

Wild Wadi
Wild Wadi is the ultimate in water parks and is located at the Jumeirah Beach Resort. It has 24 interconnected rides and slides including the tallest and fastest freefall slide outside the U.S. This waterpark is most suited to bigger kids and young adults. Put Wild Wadi on the 'must do' list.
www.wildwadi.com

Dune Bashing
Often called the 'White water rafting of the desert', an increasingly popular activity in the UAE and OMAN is dune bashing. It isn't some bizarre violent activity, but an excuse for the rich and elite to take their flashy machines into the desert for some serious fun.

Travellers are driven into the desert and taken on an exhilirating ride up and down sand dunes in 4X4 vehicles. The desert proliferates in all the Gulf States, so adventure sports related to sand are widely popular. Almost all Arabic states have provisions for a dune bashing ride as their main tourist attraction. The ride is a real adrenaline trigger as the vehicle careers between the cuts and curls of the sand dunes. You pulverise rippling dunes with a Pajero-type sand-sailing vehicle.

Dune Buggies
This is really great fun. Dune buggies are for hire on Fridays at Nazwa dunes by the roadside about 40km along the Dubai to Hatta road.
Some local tour companies also include dune buggy rides on their desert trips.

Exploring The Wadis
A wadi is a dry river bed, often the location of rock pools and unexpected vegetation, especially higher in the mountains. Wadi bashing trips run by local tour operators involve driving helter skelter over rocks and streams, marvellous fun.
Exploring the wadis at a gentler pace is a great way to discover plant and animal life. In any event be extremely careful, wadis can be subject to flash floods in heavy rainfall.

Go-Karting
Speed fanatics should try the UAE's fully equipped, air conditioned indoor go-kart facilities at Formula One, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai (04 3388828). Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Outdoor tracks are located at Wonderland in the centre of Dubai (Chevrolet Grand Prix 04 3241222 open 12 midday to 8 p.m.) and beside the Jebel Ali Hotel, where Dubai Kart Club (04 3497393 organizes the UAE championships from January to April and September to December. Opening hours are from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ten minutes on a karting track will cost you approximately $7.

Horse Racing
Horses have always played a central role in traditional life in Arabia.
Races take place at Nad al-Sheba (04 3322277) twice a week throughout the November-April season. General admission is free, but the reserved area is accessible only to badge holders and members.

The Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, is held at the end of March each year at the well-appointed Nad al-Sheba racecourse, 15 minutes from Dubai city centre. Going to the races in the UAE is as exciting and glamorous as anywhere in the world, nevertheless there is one significant difference, gambling is prohibited at all racetracks.

Endurance racing over long distances using purebred Arabian horses that are renowned for their stamina is also a sport in which UAE nationals excel at home and abroad. International races are held at frequent intervals in the UAE throughout the winter months.

Horse Riding
As you might expect from a country enamoured with all things equine, recreational riding is well catered for in the UAE. Lessons suitable for all abilities are available and desert rides are popular for the more experienced. Most enthusiasts have their own equipment but you can usually purchase or hire a hat if necessary. Rates vary depending on your requirements. Club Joumana, Jebel Ali Hotel, Dubai (04 8836000 has six horses and can provide lessons and hacks as well as desert rides.

Dubai Equestrian Centre (04 3361394) is located near the camel race track Nad al-Sheba The centre has 147 horses and extensive facilities, including floodlit arena, riding school arenas and dressage arenas.

Jebel Ali Equestrian Club, Jebel Ali Village (04 8845485) is an approved branch of the British Pony Club and offers lessons for children and adults. Hacking, dressage and jumping are also available.

Sand Skiing
A novel and exciting experience, sand skiing has been attracting a keen band of followers both in the Emirates and abroad. The only equipment you will need is a snowboard! Popular venues are the large dunes on the road between Dubai and Hatta and the gigantic dunes near the Liwa oasis on the edge of the legendary Empty Quarter. Trips to the latter must be organized by one of the local tour operators who will also provide instruction.

Green Parks & Play Areas
Dubai has many parks throughout the city, all of which are very popular with local residents for evening and weekend recreation. Opening hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Waterparks
Wild Wadi Waterpark, at Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers 24 interconnected gigantic water rides on a spectacular 12-acre site. It boasts the longest (32.6 metres!) and fastest (up to 80 km/hr) water ride of the Middle East. The park is diligently patrolled by lifeguards and has several food outlets.
Adults $22, children $17, family tickets are available. Opening hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday.

Splashland Theme & Waterpark, in the centre of Dubai near Garhoud Bridge, is divided into three areas: Main Street, an air conditioned indoor family entertainment centre with lots of activities; a Theme Park; and Splashland which features nine water rides, and has three restaurants and a swimming pool.
Opening hours are weekdays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday is Ladies day, closed on Sundays. Opening hours can vary according to the season so check before you go.

Entertainment Centers
Children's City Creekside Park, Dubai (04 3340808). Education through specially designed amusement activities.

City 2000, Hamrain Centre, Deira, Dubai (04 2667855) has video games and rides in an air conditioned atmosphere. Admission is free.

At Encounter Zone, Wafi Mall, Wafi City. Dubai (04 3247747) Activities in the Galactica section are suitable for teenagers and adults, whereas the Lunarland area is specially designed for younger children.

Fantasy Kingdom, Al Bustan Centre, Dubai (04 2632774) This is an adventure with a difference. Designed like a medieval castle, activities and games are provided for children of all age groups.

Magic Planet, City Centre Mall, Deira, Dubai (04 2954333) is a very popular entertainment centre where you can find games and activities for all the family.

Bird-Watching
The United Arab Emirates has been acknowledged as one of the top four destinations in the whole of the Middle East for bird-watching tours. The fact that it is a meeting point for migration routes means that it is visited by several million birds every year. But even if you are not a Twitcher, with a good pair of binoculars you should be able to identify some of the more common bird species. Green areas such as Al Wathba camel track and the cities parks are particularly good for bird-watching, so too are the numerous lagoons and offshore islands which are host to important seabird colonies.

Hobby Holidays of Dubai, (Colin Richardson 04 3472277) organizes day (and half-day) birding tours, offering a choice of three tours, which take in a variety of places and habitats, enabling the visitor to see up to 90 bird species in one day.

Camel Racing
This may be your only opportunity to view a unique sport which is an integral part of the heritage of the UAE. Camel racing takes place during the winter season (Thursdays and Friday mornings, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., from October to March) at special tracks around the country.

The atmosphere is electric, especially during public holidays when major races for considerable prize money are held. There is no admission fee. Nad al-Sheba camel track, which has an impressive grandstand in the shape of a billowing bedouin tent, is located on the outskirts of Dubai city behind the Metropolitan Hotel.

Car Rallying
Emirates Motor Sports Federation (04 2827111 emsf@emirates.net.ae) organizes a wide range of car rallying events in the UAE, including the Drakkar Noir 1000 Dunes Rally for 4WD (March) and the Champions Rally for saloons (February). The Desert Challenge, part of the World Cup, is held in the first week in December.

Powerboat Races
World championship powerboat races are staged each year in the UAE. The final round of the inshore Formula One is staged off Abu Dhabi in November complementing offshore Class One races held off Dubai and Fujairah.

The UAE's own powerboat teams (Victory Teams) have had remarkable success on the world circuit over the years. Dubai International Marine Sports Club at Mina Seyahi (DIMC 04 3994111) also organizes powerboat races throughout the year.

Rock Climbing
If you are a beginner or wish to improve your skills try the indoor climbing wall at Pharaohs Club, Pyramids, Oud al-Mehta, Dubai 04 3240000 . Opening hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. If you are a competent climber and the excellent rock climbing routes in the UAE mountains beckon to you, staff at the Pharaohs Club may have information about informal groups who tackle the mountains on a regular basis.

Shooting/Archery
Hatta Fort Hotel (04 8523211) has supervised clay pigeon ranges and archery facilities.

Jebel Ali Shooting Club (04 8836555) offers pistol, skeet and trap shooting, as well as simulated laser shooting. Dubai Archery Group (04 3401019) is an informal association whose meetings take place in front of Dubai College.

Tennis
Tennis courts are widely available at Hotels and private clubs throughout the UAE. Many are floodlit to facilitate playing in the cool of the evening. Hire of courts for non-residents and non-members is possible.

The Dubai Tennis Open, the Dubai Duty Free sponsored ATP and WTA event which attracts top-seeded players, is usually held at the Aviation Club (04 2824122) in February each year.