Dubai Outdoor Activities
Aerial Tours
Dubai by air is a spectacular sight that will be unforgettable. Helicopters and plane tours and even hot air balloon rides over the city will give u a birds-eye perspective to the wonder that is called ‘Dubai’. Some trips take tourists across the city, and over the desert and the Hajar Mountains. Experienced pilots with a valid license can hire aircrafts from Dubai Flying Club on an hourly rental basis. Contact Details: Amigos Balloons
Camel Racing
This traditional sport has been renewed with much enthusiasm in recent years. Informal desert tracks, and now quite a few official ones have been assigned for this purpose – a large ten kilometer track on the Al Ain road, about forty-five kilometers from Abu Dhabi city; at Al Ain itself, at Dubai and Umm Al Quwain.
Certain slender, finely formed breeds such as the white or golden ‘Anafi’ and the brown or black ‘Boushari’ are more suitable for racing. Camel training commences at about six months and entrance for official races beginning at about three years.
Camel races are usually held every Thursday, Friday, Sunday and occasionally on Monday mornings, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to observe local Emiratis in harmony with their surroundings. Camel racing season begins in October until April.
Creek Tours
The Dubai Creek can be explored with the help of an organised creek tour. It is a great way to see new and old Dubai side by side whilst enjoying a peaceful and relaxed journey. Many of the tours are carried out by traditional wooden dhows or Abras (the traditional water taxi) which takes you on a short journey across the waterway from the glass-and-steel office blocks of Bur Dubai to the old-world Souks of Deira, providing a fascinating glimpse of Dubai’s trading heritage.
Desert Safaris
Trips to the desert in groups can be a great way to explore the outdoors and meet other people, as well as finding out a little bit more about the Arabic culture. Safaris generally last for half a day and can include an overnight stay in one of the Bedouin tents.
Activities available include:
1. Wadi-Driving – This is a popular pastime with both residents and visitors. This involves discovering the wadis or dry beds of streams that flow after winter rains from the Hajar mountains.
2. Dune driving – Driving in sand can be a thrilling experience by itself and this combines the excitement of a roller coaster ride with the challenge of remaining mobile on the shifting surface. Courses in sand driving are available, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided, along with expert instruction.
3. Sand-Skiing – Those with a desire for speed, a head for heights and enthusiasm will enjoy an unusual sport, sand-skiing down the dunes of the Dubai desert.
4. Desert Feasts – Safaris are made more pleasurable by culminating into an evening with spectacular sunset views followed by a traditional Arab barbecue under the stars. You can even tailor your evening to your need and round it off with some great Arabic music and belly dancing, the smoking of hubble-bubble pipes and often a display of falconry.
Fishing
The Gulf is rich in marine life, and fishing was once a mainstay of the local economy. Kingfish, jackfish, red snapper, rock cod (the popular Hamour on most Dubai menus), barracuda and other species are caught commercially and not for sport. Sailfish and bottom-feeding sharks are regularly caught by visiting fishermen who can hire fully-equipped boats, with crew, for deep-sea fishing trips.
Golf Courses
Dubai is a golfer’s paradise. The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the famous Emirates Golf Club are the venues of the European PGA tour. The Nad Al Sheeba Golf and Racing Club even offers night golf at night for the enthusiasts who want to beat the summer heat of Dubai!
Horse Racing
The sport of kings has rapidly become Dubai’s most popular spectator event, attracting crowds of more than 15,000. Race meetings are held weekly during the cooler months at one of the UAE’s four race courses. Dubai Racing Club situated at the Naad Al Sheba is the city’s largest and most spectacular track and home to the Dubai World Cup – the sport’s richest horse race.
Horse riding is part of the local tradition and is upheld today by several centres including the Dubai Equestrian Centre and Jebel Ali Hotel Riding Stables. Horse rides through the desert are organized regularly and Dubai also has a riding association for the disabled.
The Double Decker Bus
Straight from the streets of London to the highways and roads of Dubai, these highly visual, vintage double-decker buses provide fun for everyone whatever the occasion. With lots of unique activities for all ages, Dubai’s only red double-decker buses provide an exclusive party venue, eye-catching promotional media, or just a fun way to add interest to a corporate or public event.
(Source : Dubai.com)
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