Sports in Dubai...Without Wilting in the Heat

The weather in Dubai is often scorching - if you know anyone who has just come back from there, you'll no doubt be envious of their sudden tan! But despite the weather being ideal for bronzing on the beach, there's actually another option: sports in Dubai. Okay, running around in the incredibly hot weather may not be everyone's idea of a good time but for those that would miss their exercise while taking a Dubai holiday there are plenty of things to do that won't leave you melting in the sun. Here are the best of them...

Working out

For many, the last thing people want to think about when on holiday in Dubai is pumping iron and working the rowing machine, but with air conditioned fitness centres in all the luxury hotels this needn't be as gruelling as you'd think. So far, so normal, but in some lodgings, a unique Dubai sports twist is taken on hotel fitness by the coaching by ex-Soviet Union Olympiads, attracted by the wealth of the country.

Elsewhere there are a number of privately owned leisure clubs aimed at the English speaking ex-patriot community, and these have the usual range of swimming pools, tennis courts, squash courts and health spas...

A leisurely round of golf

It's surprising to see a number of well maintained grass golf courses in a desert city like Dubai, but there they are nonetheless. There are a number of good options for golf players of all abilities, from the 'beginners need not apply' courses at the Emirates Majils to the more forgiving Montgomerie. Al Badia is also worth a look, somewhere between the two on difficulty, but with a clubhouse that's up there with the best in the world making it perfect for some leisurely sports in Dubai.

A refreshing swim

Nothing beats the Dubai sunshine like a refreshing swim, and most hotels will have their own pool to cool off in. If you want something a little more fun, there's also the Wild Wadi Waterpark at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel complex, which is ideally suited both to kids and the young at heart. With a massive selection of 24 water slides (including the memorable "Jumeirh Sceirah" with speeds of up to 50mph) this is definitely the most fun way to get some exercise on a holiday in Dubai.

Take to the water

Of course you don't need to just settle for a swimming pool or a water park - Dubai has a natural expanse of water at the Arabian Gulf, and with it a vast range of water sports to enjoy. Jet skiing, water-skiing and that old favourite Scuba Diving are all great ways of staying in shape and having a great time on your holiday in Dubai.

Skiing (!)

If the weather really gets too much for you and you want the opposite extreme, then why not go skiing? No, I'm not about to suggest heading off to another country - you can actually enjoy an amazing indoor ski slope made from real snow! It sounds like an urban legend, but Ski Dubai has made this possible by making 'real snow' and then blasting it out into the building which acts as a giant refrigerator - a massive 30 tones of fresh snow are added daily to ensure that the resort's 5 slopes (covering 22,500m ²) are always fresh and Dubai's sports enthusiasts are kept happy.

So if you were hoping for an excuse to relax your exercise programme for your trip to Dubai, I'm afraid this isn't it! There's plenty to do on holiday in Dubai that won't leave you massively dehydrated, and it's well worth checking out!