Must do's in Dubai
Must do - Golf
Dubai was voted the world’s leading golf destination by the International Golf Tour Operators Association as it hosts first-class championship standard grass courses. All golf courses in Dubai are spike-free.
Dubai Golf (DG), a government organisation promoting golf, manages three of Dubai’s most internationally renowned golf courses: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club which hosts The Majlis and The Faldo courses. To book your tee time online visit Dubai Golf.
Some of the best courses include:
The Montgomerie features a 7,266-yard championship golf course designed by eight-time European Order of Merit winner and Ryder Cup star Colin Montgomerie, in association with Desmond Muirhead. The course covers 265 acres which consist of 123 acres of turf, 14 man-made lakes, 93 acres of landscaped gardens and is scattered with 81 large bunkers and is suitable for all levels of players.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club has been voted one of the world’s Top 100 Must-Play Golf Courses. The 80-hectare sports and leisure complex incorporates a 115-berth marina. Its 18- hole championship golf course is popular with tourists looking to enjoy the beautifully greenery of the fairways and tropical palm trees.
Al Badia Golf Course (www.fourseasons.com/dubaigolf) was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and its 18-hole championship course features a desert oasis theme with 11 lakes, stream and rivers. The facility comprises a world-class golf academy and has become the centre point of Dubai Festival City, a prestigious mixed-use development.
Night Golf is one of the most pleasant ways of escaping the heat. Aficionados will enjoy golfing under the stars at The Montgomerie or Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
Dubai sports city
Dubai Sports City is set to become the largest sporting area in the world, stretching 50 million square feet. Sports City will comprise a world class 60,000-seat multi-purpose stadium for athletics, cricket, football and rugby union, a 25,000-seat cricket ground, a 10,000-seat indoor arena and a 5,000-seat hockey ground. The stadium will provide a base for the the first purpose-built Manchester United Soccer school and a Butch Harmon School of Golf. The complex will also include an 18-hole golf course designed by Ernie Els. The entire development is due to be completed 2010.
Modern attractions in Dubai
Dubai offers a wide range of watersports options including deep-sea fishing, sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving and water skiing. Surfing is one of the most popular watersports as the calm sea and small waves make it perfect for beginners, but surfing professionals may find the experience disappointing. Most hotels will be able to arrange these activities for their guests.
Dubai’s white sand beaches surrounded by shallow turquoise waters or the Arabian Sea are ideal for relaxing and sunbathing. Visitors won’t find any beach bars as alcohol is prohibited in all public areas. Beaches can get crowded and parking become difficult on Thursdays and Friday because of Dubai’s weekend. Visiting the beach in the summer can be uncomfortable when the temperatures reach a scorching 45-50 degree mark with equally high humidity.
The most spectacular beaches include Palm Beach, a beautiful beach with a wide range of water sports and picnic areas along the coast of Dubai and the famous Jumeirah Beach home to five-star hotels, club beaches and private clubs.
Desert
Visiting the desert is a must while in Dubai. Visitors are bound to enjoy the sharp contrast between the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, the vast shopping malls and hundreds of miles of open desert.
A perfect way to experience the desert and explore Arabic culture is to go on a desert safari. Safaris generally last for half a day and can include an overnight stay in one of the Bedouin tents. Prices start from DHS400 and DHS500 (£72.00- £90.00) per person.
The action-packed desert safaris go from desert to mountain using four-wheel drive, a motorbike, a quad bike or even on the back of a camel. These trips tend to include refreshments, belly dancing, henna painting and food. There are so many tours available that it’s worth looking around, asking the hotels for recommendations and remembering to haggle a price, especially if going with a group.
Horse racing
The world’s richest race meeting, the Dubai World Cup, is one of the key events taking place in the emirate. A new racing city called Meydan is under construction and will open in 2010.
The 70 million square feet facility will comprise a 60,000 capacity grandstand, 10 restaurants, a hotel and a racing museum. The Dubai World Cup, Dubai Racing Club and the Godolphin Gallery will relocate there from their present home at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
Ballooning
The warm air combined with the year-round sunshine offer Dubai the perfect climate for hot air ballooning. It’s a unique experience which can take you float high above the desert and the city’s magnificent hotels. Booking in advance is recommended as tours can get booked up.
It’s an expensive but worthwhile experience, with prices costing around AED 950 per person (£170). Be prepared for an early start as the best and calmest time to fly is around 5.30am. Ballooning in Dubai is available eight months of the year with no flights from June to September.
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