Dubai offers a wide range of activities and sports clubs - far too many to list here. Dubai Explorer is the best source for this sort of  Information. It has alphabetical listings of all the activities available in Dubai, where to do them and how much it will cost you. What's On also has information on clubs and leisure activities in Dubai.

DESERT SAFARIS :
Desert safaris are popular activities for tourists and expats alike and a great way to experience the rugged terrain of the UAE. Driving over the dunes is exhilarating and sometimes quite frightening - it's best done with an experienced driver so you encounter more of the former and less of the latter. here are dozens of off-road 4WD journeys from Dubai that take in amazing desert and mountain scenery, wadis (seasonal water-courses), ruins, archaeological sites and re­mote villages. Having said this you should keep in mind that 'bashing' around the place in a 4WD is potentially damaging to the environment.
The best way to enjoy a desert or wadi drive is to book a trip with one of the many tour operators.

GOLF :
Dubai is the best golf destination in the Gulf. There are several great grass courses of international-standard on offer as well as driving ranges, tuition and superb '19th hole' facilities. It costs a fortune to maintain the courses in this harsh climate, however, and this is reflected in the green fees.

There is a discount on some courses if you have United Arab Emirates Golfers' As­sociation (UGA) membership. Golfers are expected to wear golf attire. Jeans and beach wear are not allowed.


Horse Riding :
Club joumana:
Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Course
The Resorts has new stables and tuition is available for all levels. Note that it may be closed during the heat of summer.

ICE SKATING :
AL-NASR LEISURELAND
off Oud Metha Rd, Oud Metha; admission incl boot hire; 2hr sessions starting at 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7.30pm

It's certainly bigger than the Hyatt rink - big enough for ice hockey. The centre has a bowling alley and fast-food outlel.

RUNNING :
In the cooler months it's not as crazy as it sounds, especially when undertaken at 6am or 6pm. Groups and clubs meet regularly and there's even a marathon that takes place in January (see p9). There are also 'hashing' clubs, where the emphasis is more on the social aspects of running.

SANDBOARDING :
This sport starts with taking a snowboard-like board up the highest dune you can find. It usually ends about a month later when you've finally removed the last traces of sand from every orifice. It's best to try it on a desert safari first, before booking a specific trip.

WATER SPORTS :
Water sports are big business in Dubai, as the tourism industry increasingly promotes the city as a year-round destination. Most water-sports facilities are based either at big hotels or at private clubs, and are priced accordingly. If you intend to spend a lot of time in the water or working on that tan, stay at one of the beach hotels.

Diving :
Although the waters around Dubai are home to some coral reefs, marine life and a few modern shipwrecks, visibility is not great. Most dive companies take you up to the East Coast to dive in the waters between Khor Fakkan and Dibba, and off the east coast of the Musandam Peninsula,  Oma. For more information on diving in these areas, see pi58. Not including equipment hire, a day's diving (with two dives) costs between Dh200 and Dh500. Dives are of-fered to people at all levels. If you are un-certified you might want to take a diving course.

The Emirates Diving Association is the official diving body for the UAE and takes a strong interest in environmental matters.

Fishing :
While fishing in the Creek is not allowed (and not advisable), there's good fishing along Jumeirah Beach. For more serious angling, a deep-sea fishing trip is your best bet. If luck is on your side and the weather conditions are right, you're likely to catch flying fish, tuna, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish. The best time to fish off the coast of Dubai is from September to April when the water is cooler. You should try to book at least a week ahead as boats are often chartered well in advance.

Jet-Skiing :
There are jet skis based at the Oasis Beach Hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, the Metropolitan Resort & Beach Club and the One&Only Royal Mirage. If You're not staying at one of these hotels, you'll need to pay for the use of the hotel beach club for the day, plus around DhlOO for 20 minutes of jet-skiing, making it an expensive way to annoy the other guests.

You can go jet-skiing on Dubai Creek, just south of Al-Garhoud Bridge on the Bur Dubai side, although we don't recommend water activities in the Creek as it is not clean. No bus run close to here so if you don't have your own transport, you'll need to take a taxi. This area is undergoing devel-opment, so it's not clear how much longer the jet skis will operate from this spot.

There are jet skis for hire on the calmer waters of the Khor al-Mamzar, south of Al-Mamzar Park, which is slightly cleaner.

Kite Surfing :
This relatively new sport has gained quite a following in Dubai and kite surfers gener-ally congregate at Wollongong Beach, near the Wollongong University. Be-cause of safety concerns fen Wollongong Beach there is now a licensing system of kite surfers.

Surfing :
It's not exactly the North Shore of Oahu but rideable waves are found during winter along the Jumeirah Beach stretch. Swell size rarely gets above a couple of feet but there's a small and dedicated band of locals who frequently surf the mushy conditions. The only problem as a visitor is there's nowhere to hire a surfboard. Regardless, if you have access to equipment your best bet is to check out what's commonly known as Wollongong Beach, near the Wollongong University , where the kite surfers hang out.

Water Parks :
Wild Wadi Waterpark  is a Dubai landmark and an attraction in itself, so we've included it in the Neighbourhoods section.

Water-Skiing & Wakeboarding :
If you are staying at a five-star hotel with a   beach club. If you are not a guest you  will have to pay the daily admission fee to  the beach club. For the best conditions and equipment try the Dubai Water Sports Association.