of top-end circuit- and weight-training
equipment. Admission to gyms generally
costs about Dh100 for a one-day pass; it’s
twice that at a top-end hotel, but you’ll
gain access to the resort’s grounds, tennis
courts and swimming pool. If you’re going
to a hotel gym, get your money’s worth by
making a day of it.Golf
Dubai has become a big golfing destination
and boasts several championship courses
designed by big names – such as Greg
Norman, designer of Jumeirah Golf
estates (www.jumeirahgolfestates.com), the
first phase of which opened in November
2009 in time to stage the European Tour’s
first Dubai World Championship. Overall,
clubs don’t require memberships but green
fees can soar to Dh850 for 18 holes during
the peak winter season (roughly mid-
November to late March), although they
drop the rest of the year, especially in
summer. Proper attire is essential. If you’re
serious about golf, reserve your tee times
as soon as you book your hotel and flight.d sert e rallying & sandboarding
Off-road driving in the desert (also disturb-
ingly known as ‘dune bashing’) is hugely
popular. At weekends, the city’s traffic-tired
workers zip down the Dubai–Hatta road
and unleash their pent-up energy on the
sand dunes, such as the ruby-red heap of
sand halfway to Hatta nicknamed ‘Big Red’.
All the major car-hire companies can
provide 4WD vehicles. Expect to pay
around Dh500 for 24 hours for a Toyota
Fortuner or a Hummer H3, plus CDW (Col-
lision Damage Waiver) of Dh60 and an
extra Dh12 for personal insurance.
We strongly recommend a few hours
of training before you drive off-road
for the first time. d sert e rangers (Map
p 220 ; http://www.desertrangers.com; 4hr driving
course per car Dh1800, sandboarding adult/
child Dh250/160) provides basic and ad-
vanced courses. It also organises half-day
sandboarding safaris with a camel ride
included in the price.d sert e camping
If you’ve hired a 4WD, the possibilities
for camping are fantastic. You can head
to the windswept sand dunes of Liwa, the
wadis near Hatta, the mountains of Ras al-
Khaimah or the East Coast beaches aroundDibba. If you don’t have a 4WD, you can
still find some beautiful spots within walk-
ing distance of well-paved roads.
Make sure you are adequately equipped
and are carrying a fully charged mobile
phone (preferably a GPS), sunscreen, insect
repellent and plenty of water.
Don’t even consider camping between
May and September when the days are
scorching and the nights hot and humid.s ectator p sports
H RSEO RACING
The single biggest sport among elite Emi-
ratis is horse racing, with races held at the
superb Meydan racecourse (p 89 ; www. meydan.ae/racecourse), a futuristic stadium
with a grandstand bigger than most airport
terminals. Spanning 1.6km, it has a solar-
and titanium-panelled roof, can accommo-
date up to 60,000 spectators and integrates
a five-star hotel. For the exact racing sched-
ule and tickets, contact d bai u racing club
(www.dubairacingclub.com). Even if you don’t
like horse racing, attending a race presents
great people-watching opportunities.
C MELA RACING
Traditionally, camels were raced by child
jockeys, sometimes as young as six or
seven years and weighing less than 20kg.
They were often ‘bought’ from impover-
ished families in Pakistan or Bangladesh,
trained in miserable conditions and kept
deliberately underweight. International
human-rights groups decried the practice
and in 2005 the UAE issued a ban on the
use of children. Human jockeys have since
been replaced with robotic ones operated
remotely by their owners, who race around
the inside track in their SUVs, cheering on
their camels. Trust us, it’s a weird sight.
If you want to watch camel racing, head
to the Al Marmoom Camel Racetrack,
around 45 minutes from the city on the
Dubai–Al-Ain E66 road. Races are held
from October to March at 7am and 2pm,
mainly at weekends. Call ahead on %04-
832 6526 to confirm. Entrance is free.
M TORO RACING
Motor sports are exceedingly popular with
Emiratis. The e irates Motor m sports
federation ( SF; http://www.emsf.ae)eMeM) holds events
throughout the year, with the important
ones scheduled to take place during the
cooler months. A round of the FIA Cross-
Country Rally World Cup, the a u b dhabi
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