Dubai Sports & Outdoors

Part two of my One Big Auto Show Tips with more pictures

If you are an auto show afficionado and love to go to international auto show in you country, you would be surprised that Dubai like is one huge auto show and you can see lots of auto eye candy for the auto enthusiasts as dubai has the combination of cheap fuel, low international taxes and lots of rich foreign expatriates and these translates to various car eye candy in the streets, the highways, the parking lots, the valet services at hotels and big shopping malls.

you would see lots of cool and expensive cars like ferraris, porches, bugattis, lamborghinis, rolls royce, alpha romeos, BMW's, Mercedes Benzes, Bentley's, Hummers and a lot more.

you can take tons of pictures of these cool cars as you want.

Equipment: lots of luxe and sports cars as eye candy

Wild Wadi offers 30 rides and attractions for both family and adults and its theme is based on the tale of Juha from Arabian folklore.

Breakers Bay is the largest wave pool of the Middle East where swimmers can enjoy crossing and parallel waves, which are almost 5 feet high and splash in all directions.

The Jumeirah Sceirah is the tallest free fall water slide and there are pool surfing simulator rides also that allow riders get to feel the effects of knee board surfing, body board surfing or other types of surfing.

There are many traditional downhill slides in Wild Wadi Water Park and include – the Falcon Fury, Tunnel of Doom, Rushing Rapids, Tumble Falls, and the Thunder Rapids and a family ride that involves Rushdown Ravine in which riders are taken on a 560 ft downhill slide.

Wild Wadi Dubai also has two gift shops within the theme park, three restaurants, several snack stands and can host family events too.

Equipment: Wear comfortable water-friendly clothes and since Wild Wadi is a family-oriented environment dress in appropriate attire at all times (Including locker rooms).

Frequently asked questionsJuha has prepared a list of questions that are frequently asked by our guests! If your question is not in the list, please contact us and let us know!

Admission to Wild Wadi includes unlimited use of all the water rides, as well as the use of rubber rings, lifejackets and body boards

“If you are still alive, you can challenge yourself to do the next yoga pose”.. that’s how our über flexible yoga instructor tries to lighten things up when he sees our faces disgruntle with confusion. But after surprising ourselves with being able to execute those human pretzel poses, we come out of the class rejuvenated – ready to take on yet another physical challenge – which could either be in the form of body jam, body combat, salsa or maybe marathon eating, hehe.

In not so many words, Fitness First is a must for a Dubai resident (Read: Going to the gym is really an effective stress-buster). But for tourists who have an international Fitness First passport, you can just pop in anytime, make yourselves at home and enjoy all the facilities (unlimited coffee, wifi, sauna among other things) and classes that you don't wanna miss even if you're away from home.

The Classic Golf Destination

Dubai is the pioneer of golf in the Middle East with championship standard grass courses to challenge the skills of even the most experienced players.

Nad Al Sheba Club

Dubai’s third grass course, with its links course straddling the Nad Al Shiba horse racing circuit and venue for the annual Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race in the world. The club offers the only fully floodlit 18-hole course along with a floodlit driving range in the Middle East and night-time golf has proved very popular.

The Course

The only fully floodlit 18 hole course in the Middle East.

18 holes, par 71-6428 yard course.
Built around eight lakes, three of which are for irrigation.
The golf course layout has all the characteristics of a Scottish links, with rolling fairways and deep pot bunkers. The course is generally flat with the new front 9 holes featuring elevated tees
Facilities

Equipment: The three-storey blue-tiled clubhouse offers panoramic views across the race track and golf course.

Built in the traditional style found at British golf courses, the interior features panelled walls and leather sofas.

Facilities at the superbly equipped clubhouse include a Pro Shop, bars and a 100-seater Steakhouse restaurant.

Ten first-floor hospitality suites offer corporate entertainment facilities on golf and race days.
Golf instruction available from five qualified members of the PGA.

Rules of Play

Visitors are welcome on a “pay-as-you-play” basis, as well as to use the public driving range.

The dress code requires collared shirts and golfing shorts and proper golfing attire.

All players must have a handicap of 28 or less for men and 45 or less for women.
Profession of a playing certificate from any of the Dubai golf courses also qualifies.
All golf courses in Dubai are apikeless.

Contact

Nad Al Sheba Club,
PO Box 52872, Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel: +971-4-3363666 . Fax: (9714) 3363717
Visit them at www.nadalshebaclub.com

Ski Dubai offers skiing for all levels. Enter through the Mall of the Emirates, west side. It is open 7 days a week from 10.00 to midnight. Group lessons [max. 8 persons] for 90 mins., are available but you need to book in advance. Private lessons and a package of 5 lessons can also be arranged.
It is special because there is real snow, and this is a desert country.
Beginners and experts alike find it great fun.

Cost is 155 AED for adults at peak times [Thursday, Friday and public holidays], and 140AED off peak [Sunday to Wednesday]

Equipment: Have your own hat and gloves , and wear a warm top, but everything else is provided from skis to jacket, trousers, disposable socks and boots.

Head for Ski Dubai for some snow sports anytime of the year. It feels particularly funky if you did this in summer, as generally one needs a resort at very high altitude to maintain enough snow-cover to facilitate skiing, or one needs to go to a glacier.

However, in Dubai you could ski/board/tobaggon even when it is 50 degrees Celsius outside (as it often is in summer).

At the lower edge you will find a snow park with various themes and rides for kids 7 nursery slopes to learn skiing/boarding.

The higher runs offer some challenging sections for more experienced skiiers.

Packages on offer are very economical: 2 hours skiing (including jacket/salopette hire, equipment, and ski pass) only costs 180 AED. you get a 10% discount if you wear your own gear. Gloves must be owned/purchased for hygiene reasons though. It's better value if you opt for a whole day of skiing/boarding, costing 320 AED. Season passes are also available!

Opening hours are long, right upto 2300 hours on certain days. And for the first Monday of every month there are freestyle nights, offering 3 hour sessions for the 2 hour price.

Equipment: Bring your own equipment or hire without fear! The ski sessions pricing includes equipment hire & a pass for the number of hours required.

10% discount available if your wear your own kit.

Gloves must be bought or bring your own.

Dubai kitesurfing is the most active kitesurf spot in the Midle east. Located at 100 meter from the only 7 star hotel in the world.
Most of the kiter ride from that spot to ride to the world island or the palm island.

Equipment: From Jumierah road turn right from Saga world, the spot is easy to recognized.

What to do when summer arrives, with the mercury topping 50 degrees celsius (122 F), the roads are sizzling, and your wallet won't survive another trip around a shopping mall? It ain't romantic, it ain't exotic, but bowling is fun and gets you off the sofa and you know it :-)

Dubai's first & oldest bowling alley closed its doors in 2006 ("Thunderbowl") and has been sorely missed by many expatriates & locals; the old alley had always been more popular I guess for "nostalgic" reasons. The new centre operates Brunswick lanes in a plush & modern facility.

Some info from their website:

> "8-Ball" Billiards & Snooker Hall.
> Bowling Corner Pro-Shop.
> Video Games Arcade.
> Fast Food Counter.
> The Mugg & Bean Coffee Shop.

We now make a point of going bowling twice to thrice a month, and I'm actually starting to achieve the occasional strike! Whilst I hopped on the spot like a little girl, I heard a Fred Flintstone wanna-be from the neighbouring lane: "All 10 pins! Yabba-dabba-doooo!". There are also families with children enjoying themselves, stuffing their mouths with greasy snack foods & spending more time sliding around in their shoes & falling on their backsides than actually hitting any pins.

Unfortunately, you won't quite find the "authentic bowling-alley-feeling" here: there's no flat beer in plastic cups, as this venue is unlicensed and no alcohol is served. The hall is very clean, and staff are pretty friendly, and there is a small smoking section in the corner.

We had a great time, and this is definitely a good way to waste a few hours in the unbearable summer heat.

Equipment: PRICES (including shoe hire):
15 Dirhams per person per game,
or 95 Dirhams per 1 hour per game (on a weekday), Dhs 110 in the evenings & on the weekends.
(1 US Dollar = 3.67 Dirhams)

Opening Hours: 7 days a week from 10:00am - 11:00pm.

I guess one could argue whether Bowling truly is a "sport"... is Darts a sport? What about Golf? To me that's taking a walk with a purpose... haha! However, "One advantage of bowling over golf is that you never lose a bowling ball." (Quote by anonymous)

Here is finally one of Dubai's newest crazy project-ideas, that may actually serve a purpose and won't just look good.

Dubai Sports City (DSC) is the world's first integrated purpose-built sports city.

The development costs are pegged at Dhs7 billion, and will include major sporting facilities and a large residential zone. This was all due for completion by 2007/2008 but has been majorly delayed but the global econimic crisis and the "bubble burst" of the Dubai property sector.
The city will be part of the 5 billion US Dollar "Dubailand" mega project and will cover 4.6 million square metres of desert... I wish they would just STOP with all of these massive projects! But whereever there's money to be made, the UAE will do it...

On the residential side, up to 1,200 family villas are to be built around an 18-hole championship golf course and plots of land will be sold to third party investors for the construction of medium rise buildings... well, that's the plan anyway...

Maybe this will help all the obese Arab youngsters to get off the sofa and on the field! Check this link for the increasing numbers of obese children in the UAE: http://www.writefix.com/writing/cause/obesity.htm

Equipment: On the sporting side, they are planning 4 stadiums: 1 for cricket, an outdoor multi-purpose site for rugby, football and track & field, an indoor multi-purpose stadium and a dedicated hockey centre.

There will also be training facilities and sports schools, including a Manchester United football academy, an ICC Global Cricket Academy and David Lloyd tennis school.

--> UPDATE April 2009: The Dubai Cricket Stadium is now open and operational. In May it has hosted matches between New Zealand and Pakistan. Click here for info: http://www.dubaisportscity.ae/articledisplay.asp?id=18

A very well run diving centre. Do your pool training in Dubai, then experience the real deal over in Fujeirah, on the East coast, where the diving is fantastic, or up in Musandam, Oman, where it is equally great.
OK so the early 06.45 start for Fujeirah and Musandam is hard but the diving IS WORTH IT.
I only got to dive in the Al Aqah dive centre at the Le Meridien, Al Aqah Beach Resort, on the East coast. We got lucky and saw a whale shark, several mantas, turtles and reef sharks, as well as the normal lots of fish. Visibility was from 10 to 15 m.

Equipment: All equipment can be supplied, there is also a large shop to tempt you to purchase some personal gear, books and accessories.

Sailing in dubai is good but one club to avoid is Jebel Ali Sailing Club ! The sailing manager lady does not like arabs . being of arab origion i recommend Dubai international sailing club for arab tourists .

This is a FUN-TASTIC weekend not to be missed! Even if you're not a rugby fan (like myself) the annual Dubai Rugby Sevens are a fun-filled weekend with a great atmosphere and superb crowds! Come and witness Dubai's expatriate society at its most uninhibited and its best!

"Featuring 16 of the best Sevens nations in the world, the Dubai Rugby Sevens has grown into a magical sporting event that attracts fans from around the globe."

>> Dates: Thursday, 29th Nov. - Saturday, 1st Dec. 2007.

>> Venue: Dubai Rugby Exiles Ground.

>> Entertainment on & off the pitch:
Cheerleaders (yes guys, there will be short skirts) and "ZU2" (U2 tribute band)

>> Tickets: Tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens usually go on sale 6 – 8 weeks before the event.
TICKETLINE: 800 4669.
INTERNATIONAL TICKETLINE: +971-4-210 8567.

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE & UPDATES!

Equipment: What to bring along: Comfortable shoes, a light jacket (the 2006 tournament was drenched in non-stop rain!) your country's flag and a fun attitude for the day!

The DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC (Golf) is an annual event that always draws huge crowds of tourists and expatriates alike.

Dubai is slowly establishing itself as a new premier golfing destination. The Dubai Desert Classic will once again see some of the great players battle it out on the green between the sand dunes. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, etc.
Defending Champion of the next tournament is Henrik Stenson.

>> Dates: January 28th - February 3rd 2008.

>> Tee Timings:
31. January: Players practice throughout the day.
1st February: 06:50am - 12:50pm.
2nd February: 08:30am - 12:10pm.
3rd February: 08:30am - 12:10pm (all approximate times).

>> Ticket Prices: to be announced.

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR UPCOMING DETAILS:
http://www.dubaidesertclassic.com/

Equipment: Comfortable shoes, a hat or parisole as sun protection, and lots of *Shhhhhhhhh!* patience...

>> Spectator's Requirements:

Strict "No Autograph" policy in effect throughout the championship week.
Camera & Camcorders are allowed on-site during Practice Rounds only.
Free Golf Lessons from PGA professionals will be available during the Official Tournament days at the driving range.
Children 12 & younger will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
Stay gehind gallery rops, and wear appropriate footwear.

Dubai's latest and wackiest project opened in November 2005: Ski Dubai at the massive Mall of the Emirates.
Dubai is obviously striving to become the "one-stop-shop" tourist destination of the world: Be it shopping, beaches, luxury items, adventure sports, culture, or even snow... You name it, they've got it.

The gigantic structure is visible from the nearby highway, poking out of the sand like a big white tunnel; strange to think that inside 22,500 square metres are covered with real snow all year round.

Ski Dubai has 5 slopes that vary in difficulty, height & steepness, the longest run being 400 metres with a fall of over 60 metres. (Don't worry about climing up the slope... they didn't forget to install the ski lifts - haha!)

In true Swiss & Austrian style, they've even built a "St Moritz Cottage Cafe" where you can warm up your frozen bones with steaming beverages & snacks. It's a wee bit expensive, but that is to be expected next to such a propaganda-rich project.

Honestly: I believe this is completely unnecessary, ridiculous & a huge burden on the environment, but if you want to experience the "chill of excitement" during your holiday in Dubai this is the place for you.


Equipment: Ski Dubai offers guests the use of winter clothing, ski & snowboard equipment. You do, however, need to bring your own gloves.

Opening Hours: Saturday - Tuesday: 10.00am - 11.00pm.
Last tickets sold at 09.30pm.

Wednesday to Friday: 10.00am - midnight.
Last tickets sold at 10.30pm.

For the price lists on entrance fees, Click Here: http://www.skidxb.com/English/pricing_eng.aspx?mid=1&sid=8

My office decided to organise a go-karting evening for all of us as a "team building exercise". I don't know if we got closer or more competitive as a team, but it sure was a lot of fun!

The Dubai Autodrome is the region's first motorsports facility of this kind.
The complex not only includes an FIA sanctioned 5.39km circuit, but also incorporates a Race & Driving school and a CIK approved Karting track.
It was officially inaugurated in October 2004 when it hosted the final round of the FIA GT Championship

The 1.2km CIK-approved circuit at the Kartdrome features 17 corners plus a small tunnel and bridge. It can be divided into two smaller circuits of 720 metres & 525 metres each. It's equipped with a complete set of floodlight, so it wasn't a problem for us to go in the evening, we finished work.

The karts have a single Honda 4-stroke engine, with 390cc capacity and 13.5 bhp (break horse power) and hydraulic brakes... and a deafening noise to match!

For maintaining the karts and track there are multiple pit areas, and above the pit garage are a timing room and a race control room equipped with CCTV cameras, keeping an eye us whilst we where speeding with shrieking tyres around every corner ;-)

The karts are also equipped with computer chips to time each driver's best laps. To give you an idea: the fastest lap ever recorded on this track is 1 minute 12 seconds.
Considering the fact that this was my first ever karting experience, I'm quite proud of my fastest lap of 1 minute 22 seconds (a few of my colleagues only managed 1 minute 35 seconds and slower...) Maybe all Germans indeed have the "Schuhmacher-gene"? hahaha!

Equipment: You are provided with a racing suit, face mask, gloves and helmet (all available in different sizes). Just make sure to wear soft, comfortable sports/tennis shoes. Otherwise you will not be allowed to drive.

It's great fun, finally something a bit different to do in Dubai, and it really tests your skills, risk tolerance & reflexes. All in all: highly recommendable!

The Kartdrome also have smaller karts for children (ages 7 - 12)

Price per person: AED 100.- for a 15-minute session.
This may sound expensive, but believe me: 15 minutes in one of these karts seems like a iloooong time! But a long and really fun time!

For corporate events, it's also possible to reserve the track privately for your group only. Check with the kartdrome on booking schedules and prices.