Dubai has a range of indoor and outdoor activities to entice first-time and repeat visitors. Traditionally, the staple event has been the desert drive ‘dune bashing’ and barbecue under the stars, but now the market is much more diverse, offering everything from champagne bars in the desert to banquets, fireworks, discos, overnight camps and wadi tours.


MODERN CAMPS
Traditional desert camps were quite spartan, but their modern counterparts combine old and new with air-conditioned VIP lounges and majlis, some with multimedia facilities, as well as washrooms and showers.

The city has grown to offer everything from skiing (Mall of the Emirates) and golf, to top-end dining and spa experiences. Dubai is the only city in the world where you can ski on water, sand and snow on the same day. Other sporting activities include hot-air ballooning, or in winter, water activities like a day’s fishing from Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

For the less active sports-lover, Dubai has plenty of hospitality-oriented events in the winter season such as the Race to Dubai (new this November), Dubai Rugby 7s (December), Dubai Desert Classic golf championship (January), ATP tennis tournament (February-March), Dubai World Cup horse racing (March) and powerboat racing. Dubai Sports City (part of the Dubailand leisure development) is taking shape and the Ernie Els golf course is operational.

Dubailand’s 6,500-room hotel development was launched in a blaze of publicity a few years ago, but announcements during downtime have gone quiet in the recession and some projected openings have been pushed back.

TRADING HUB
Dubai built its name as a trading hub for gold, so a visit to the Gold Souk is a must, particularly for sales executives looking to hone their haggling techniques. New bars include the chic Warehouse at Le Meridien, close to the airport, and another popular winter hang-out is the 360 Degrees Bar, which boasts a circular design above the Marina Seafood restaurant with views of Burj Al Arab and the Gulf.

The region’s cruising industry is starting to make waves and Dubai is offering two and three-day cruises to Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain this season. Some operators are looking to pitch them as conference centres when they’re at the quayside. Those looking for a new perspective should consider boarding one of the helicopter tours, which skirt over the city and Palm Jumeirah.