Top 10 Golf Clubs in the Gulf

Play on a golf course that combines a magnificent 18 hole course with a Marina. Or play twilight golf on the undulating fairways while you enjoy the cool evening breeze off the Dubai creek. Or just take time off to study your action in a hi-tech video swing analysis room.

It is no exaggeration to say that Dubai is the Golf capital of the Middle East. The city boasts of three completely grassed championship-standard courses and one brown (sand) course.

Each winter, Dubai plays host to the Dubai Desert Classic, which is part of the PGA tour. A golfing pass is available for visitors on all these courses. With professional coaching facilities readily available, amateur adults and children can try their hand at this growing sport. [ Click here for more ]

Back to top

You can't get calmer and warmer waters than what we have around Dubai. With a steady, predictable wind all-year-round, neglieable current or tide and warm weather, Dubai is ideal for water-sports.Scuba divers will find plenty of excitement underwater and training is available for novices. Click here for more details.

Sailing is very much a part of Dubai's rich maritime tradition. Sailing clubs are well established and offer a full yachting and social calender for sailing afficionados.[ Click here for a list of sailing clubs ]

The rich marine life will keep the anglers busy. Fishing has as avid following among the local population. The fish that abound here are the Kingfish, Jack, red snapper, rock cod (the popular "hammour" in the Arabic cuisine), and barracuda. You can hire fully equipped boats with crew for regular deep-sea fishing trips and probably catch a sailfish or even a shark! Most of the sailing clubs and hotels by the sea offer such facilities.

Back to top

The desert may appear to be just an endless stretch of sand and bush to the uninitiated. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The desert in fact spells endless adventure. While sand dunes make excellent photographs, their slopes are ideal for a fast-growing sport called sand skiing. For the lover of 4-wheel driving, the open spaces around Dubai offers exciting trails for desert driving. A note of caution - like water, sand demands respect. Venture into the desert only with experts who are familiar with the trail. The prospect of getting stuck in soft sand with no one to help you is far from pleasant, to say the least. In the waters at Khor Kalba, you can go canoeing (Tel : 00 9714 460 808).

Cycling tours around mountainous Hatta, just an hour's drive from Dubai, offer the cyclist, a series of routes through dry stream beds, or "wadis", out-of-the-way villages and small farms. Cyclists may also choose their own routes. The picturesque Hatta Fort Hotel provides the cyclist with a backpack filled with maps, water and other essentials for a day's outing.

There's one place, in Dubai, that encourages you to drive as fast as you can. Ideal for speed-crazies, Formula One on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi road has the Middle East's first fully equipped indoor go-kart facility.

Facilities for water-skiing, paragliding and wind surfing are easily available in Dubai, and most hotels work with professional local operators to offer a wide range of adventure sports at very reasonable rates. Jet skiing is a hugely popular sport and can be hired (Dhs. 100/hour) off Mamzar beach or the Al Garhoud bridge. (Check Dubai city-map) However if the air above suits you better, try jumping from a plane. Experience the thrill of Sky-diving just an hour's drive from Dubai.

Back to top

Ice in the desert! Dubai has two ice rinks, which are open all the year round. Located at Al Nasr Leisureland (Tel : +9714 371 234) and the Hyatt Regency Galleria (Tel: 00 9714 206 4880), skates may be hired and instruction is available.

The Arab and the horse are inextricably linked. The Dubai Equestrian Centre (Tel : 00 9714 361 394) and the Jebel Ali Riding Stables (Tel : 00 9714 845 566) offer world-class facilities for horse-riding.

The Jebel Ali Shooting Club (Tel : 00 9714 836 555) approx. 35 mins drive from city centre, is one of the best in town. Try clay shooting on one of five floodlit shooting ranges or simulated laser gun shooting, for a change. The Hatta Fort Hotel (00 9718 523 211) has supervised clay-pigeon shooting and archery ranges, open to visitors and non-residents.

Dubai is made-to-order for jogging. Its flat landscape, spacious parks and uncrowded beaches and pavements are ideal for running. A band of diehard runners meet on Saturday at 18:30 hrs at Safa Park (Tel : 00 9714 445 428), outside Gate No. 1 and run a standard 7km distance. Visitors are always welcome.

Tennis courts, swimming pools, squash courts and martial arts are widely available and membership rates are reasonably priced.

Back to top

The Dubai Tennis Open held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, UAE, takes place at the Aviation Club from 8th to 14th February. [ More]

The Dubai Desert Classic with a total prize fund of $1.36 million takes places in February at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. This European Tour event sponsored by DUBAL, Dubai Aluminium, has enjoyed the presence of some of the world's best players including Mark O'Meara, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and 1998 winner Jose Maria Olazabal. [ More]

The Dubai World Cup - the world's richest race at Dhs. 5 million is held annually during the Dubai Shopping Festival in the month of March. A showcase for the champion of champions, click here to know more.

Powerboat Racing has found a major venue off the waters of Dubai with the city's homegrown 'Victory Team' winning laurels in the international arena.

The Dubai Rugby Sevens - rugby lovers can watch this exciting version of the game with all the leading teams in attendance. Click here for more

And lastly the The Dubai Marathon and The Dubai School Boys Rugby Festival are some of the other sporting events in a annual calendar packed with sporting excitement.

Back to top