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| Dubai
Sports |
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Sporting events are
very popular in Dubai. Since the city has few international sporting
stars or teams, it brings in overseas teams to play in high profile
and friendlies. With lucrative prize money to attract the big-name
stars, the city also hosts major sporting events.
The best way to purchase tickets for major events is through hotels.
Fitness centers
All the five star hotels offer comprehensive leisure and fitness
facilities. Some also provide personal trainers. There are also
membership leisure clubs geared towards the ex pat community.
Dubai Marine
Beach Resort & Spa on Jumeirah Beach Road (telephone: (04)
346 1111). boasts floodlit tennis courts, two outdoor pools, a children's
pool, squash courts, gymnasium. The health spa offers public access
during the evening.
Le Mirage Health & Leisure
Club at the Le Meridien Jumeirah Hotel, Jumeirah Beach (tel:
(04) 399 5555) is open non-members for a fee.
Golf
The popular PGA Dubai Desert Golf Classic is held every
February and is organised by the Dubai
World Trade Centre.
Please note that all golf courses in Dubai are spike-free.
For Green fees please call the Clubs directly.
Emirates
Golf Club at Junction 5, Sheik Zayed Road (telephone: (04) 347
3222), is the Middle East's first championship grass course. Access
is available for non-members during off-peak times.
Dubai
Creek Golf and Yacht Club at Al-Garhoud Road (telephone: (04)
295 6000), hosts the Dubai Desert PGA Classic
and welcomes guests on a pay-and-play basis.
Dubai Golf and Racing Club at Nad al-Shiba Road (telephone:
(04) 336 3666), has a Scottish-style links floodlit grass course.
The
Montgomerie at Emirates Hills off Sheik Zayed Road (telephone:
(04) 399 9955) was designed by famed Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie
Horse racing
Horse racing is very popular among Dubai's moneyed men. The
Dubai World Cup, organised by the Dubai Racing Club (telephone:
(04) 332 2277) and held in March is now the world's richest
horse racing event with over US$15,000,000 in prize money.
The annual Emirates Championship Cup is a more traditional
event. The 130km (80-mile) endurance horse race takes place through
the shifting sands of the desert.
Rugby
The Dubai
International Rugby Sevens. This annual event is held every
December.at the Dubai Exiles Rugby Club.
Swimming
The Wild
Wadi Waterpark is part of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel complex,
Al-Jumeriah Road (tel: (04) 348 4444). This total paradise for kids
of all ages, has a thrilling array of 24 interconnected water rides,
including the terrifying 'Jumeirah Sceirah', which hurtles the brave
at speeds of up to 80kph. The reduced rate 'Sundowner' admission
is available after 4 pm.
Most hotel pools are open to the public for a fee of Dh25 to50.
Tennis
The Dubai
Open Tennis Championship is held in February at the Dubai Tennis
Stadium.
There are many tennis clubs that are open to the public. The
Aviation Club, Al-Garhoud Road (telephone: (04) 282 4122),
has public courts, as does the Dubai Tennis Academy
at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Al-Jumeriah Road (telephone: (04) 406
8811).
Water sports
The Gulf offers a wide range of water sports. Jet skiing is available
at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Umm Suqeim Road (telephone: (04)
348 0000), for about Dh100 per half hour.
Water-skiing
is available at many of the Jumeirah Beach hotels.
Scuba
diving is available at Al-Boom Diving, Sand
Beach Diving Centre (tel: (04) 342 2993). |
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