Canoeing or kayaking through the dense mangroves that are literally a stone’s throw from one of the main thoroughfares into Abu Dhabi City is a rare experience that I would list as one of the most engaging things to do in the UAE. An environmentally-aware adventure company called Noukhada (02 650 3600) provides kayaks and guides. No experience is necessary and Noukhada also organize sailing and trail biking.
Car Rallying
Although Formula One is a relative newcomer to the UAE motorsports scene, rally-driving has been an extremely popular sport here for many years, spearheaded by UAE citizen Mohammed bin Sulayem who has made the transition from competitor to administrator in recent years. President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and Vice President of the FIA, Mohammed bin Sulayem has 14 Middle East Championship titles to his credit.
The UAE Desert Challenge, one of the world's most prestigious international cross-country rallies, entered a new era in 2009 when it was renamed the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with the five-day motor sport spectacular being staged in its entirety across Abu Dhabi emirate under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). ATCUAE retained its role as event organiser. Originally the last round of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship, the Desert Challenge is now the season-opening round.
The Dubai International Rally, the final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, and a round that decides the champion for the year, has been staged in Dubai in December since the mid 1980s.
In the international motorsport arena, the highly successful ADTA-sponsored Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team features UAE national Khalid Al Qassimi.
Cricket
Cricket has a growing following in the UAE and UAE cricket administration is focusing on establishing cricket at the grassroots, promoting women’s cricket and unifying governance across all regional cricket councils.
Top world teams regularly compete in purpose-built cricket stadiums in the Emirates. Check out Zayed Stadium, one of the world’s finest cricket grounds; Dubai Sports City and Sharjah cricket grounds.
Al Ain Cricket Association (050 6231590) grounds are located between the Hilton and Intercontinental hotels.
Darjeeling Cricket Club, Dubai (04 3331746) runs regular matches against visiting sides.
Football
Football fans need not be deprived of their favourite sport since soccer is also the most popular national sport in the UAE. There are stadiums galore, including Zayed Sports City Stadium, the biggest sports complex in the Middle East. Check in local newspapers for fixtures. www.uae-football.org.ae
Abu Dhabi Strollers Football Club (050 6127957) provides expatriates in the UAE with the opportunity to play competitive football. Gaelic football enthusiasts can also assuage their withdrawal symptoms at the Emirates 7evens grounds on the Al Ain Road where the Dubai Celts hold their training sessions.
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Golf
The UAE is home to some incredible golf courses and this list is growing with the inauguration in 2009 of the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course in Dubai and the completion of the Saadiyat course, designed by Gary Player, in Abu Dhabi. Other popular golfing venues include Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the Emirates Golf Club and the Jebel Ali Golf Resort. Many of these world-class golf courses host major golfing events featuring all of the top players.
The European Tour kicks off with the Abu Dhabi Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January, continuing with the Dubai Desert Classic in February and ending the Dubai World Championship held at the spectacular Earth Course in Jumeirah in December. The Championship is the final round in the season-long ‘Race to Dubai’ in which the top 60 tour players compete for a staggering US$10 million prize fund to be shared among the first 15 players. The event replaced the European Tour Order of Merit.
A relatively new event on the golfing calendar is the Saadiyat Beach Classic, a celebrity Pro-Am, held shortly after the Abu Dhabi Championship.
All the major golf courses have state-of-the-art clubhouses and a range of additional facilities, including quality pro-shops and dedicated coaching facilities with PGA qualified professionals. All players on the main courses are required to hold an official handicap of 28 or less for men and 36 or less for women. Only soft spikes or rubber-soled shoes are permitted and conventional golfing apparel is mandatory (t-shirts with collars and tailored shorts/trousers).
For more information log on to Emirates Golf Federation
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Horse Riding
As you might expect from a country enamoured with all things equine, recreational riding is well catered for in the UAE. Lessons suitable for all abilities are available and desert rides are popular for the more experienced. Most enthusiasts have their own equipment but you can usually purchase or hire a hat if necessary. Rates vary depending on your requirements.
The Emirates Equestrian Centre (EEC) is the only fully approved British Horse Society riding and training centre in the Middle East. A variety of lessons are available for children and adults and includes group, semi-private and private sessions. There is also a 90-minutue desert hack for experienced riders on prepared trails for 200 dhms. Open Saturday-Thursday, lessons 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Contact: +971 50 5587656 or +971 50 5537986, Emirates Equestrian Centre
The riding club at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (02 455500) has horses suitable for a wide range of abilities. Facilities include extensive stables and an air-conditioned show jumping and riding arena. Show jumping events are staged on a regular basis.
Horse Racing
A love of horses runs in the blood of most Emiratis, especially a fondness for the classical Purebred Arabian horses that were stalwart companions for centuries. This passion is expressed in many forms, including horse-racing, endurance racing, showjumping, and polo. All equestrian and racing activities are supervised by the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), which was established in 1996.
The racing season begins in November with meetings taking place at the Jebel Ali racetrack, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and the new Meydan Racecourse, The latter is home to Dubai International Racing Carnival fixtures including the lucrative the Dubai World Cup, which is held at the end of March.
The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation has also built up a very strong infrastructure to support endurance racing, in which the courage and stamina of Purebred Arabians ensure that they are particularly successful. There are three self-sufficient modern endurance centres or villages in the country, including Al Wathba Endurance Village in Abu Dhabi, at which the carefully monitored and controlled races are run. Among the sport’s strongest supporters are many members from the royal families of the Emirates, several of whom regularly take part in endurance competitions alongside large numbers of UAE nationals and resident foreign riders and visiting riders from abroad.
Showjumping also features strongly in equestrian activities in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Tourist Club (02 4455500 adclub@emirates.net.ae)
Abu Dhabi Hunting & Equestrian Club (02 447545).
Ajman Equestrian Club, near city centre Ajman (06 7433123) gives lessons in show jumping and dressage. Desert trips for riders are also available.
Hotel Intercontinental, Al Ain has stables, horses for lessons and desert hacks.
Club Joumana, Jebel Ali Hotel, Dubai (04 8836000) . can provide lessons and hacks as well as desert rides.
Jebel Ali Equestrian Club, Jebel Ali Village (04 8845566) is an approved branch of the British Pony Club and offers lessons for children and adults. Hacking, dressage and jumping are also available.
Facilities at Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Al Dhaid Rd (06 5311155), situated about 17km from the centre of Sharjah on the Sharjah-Dhaid road, include a floodlit sand arena, a floodlit paddock, grass show jumping arena and hacking trails.
Umm al-Qaiwain Marine Club and Riding Centre (06 7666644), near Palm Beach Resort, Umm al-Qaiwain offers lessons for beginners and the more advanced in basic riding skills, jumping and dressage as well as hacks on the beach and in the desert.
Ice-Skating
In a country where the sun always shines you can enjoy an activity that is more typical of colder climates but bring a sweater! The Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink is located in The Dubai Mall.
Abu Dhabi Tourist Club (026723400 adclub@emirates.net.ae) has a large ice-skating rink with TV screens and floodlights.
Abu Dhabi Ice Rink (02 4448458) at Zayed Sport City can also provide hours of fun. Located off Airport Road. Ice hockey training and matches are on Saturday and Sunday. Great fun, but remember to take a sweater. In Al Ain you can skate at Hili Fun City & Ice Rink (03 784 5542 funcity@emirates.net.ae)
Dubai has two ice-rinks, Al Nasr Leisureland (04 3371234) and Hyatt Regency Galleria (04 2096550). Opening hours can vary according to season and activities so check before you go.
Polo
Polo (and hacking) can be experienced at Dubai Polo Club (04 3331188). Riding equipment is available for hire.
Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club, Sheikh Zayed Rd, about an hour’s drive from Abu Dhabi (02 5629050) has four floodlit polo fields, a racing grandstand, polo school, tennis courts, swimming pool and fitness centre. The polo season featuring regular chukka tournaments and major international events runs from Mid-October to April. Spectators are welcome.
Watersports
Emiratis are at home on the water, sailing, and boating in general, having sustained the country in one form or another for millennia. Not surprisingly, the warm and usually calm blue waters of the Gulf provide great scope for a range of watersports and clubs throughout the Emirates provide superb facilities. Numerous hotels and beachclubs also offer sailing facilities for short-term visitors.
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club organizes open regattas for sailing boats (catamarans, lasers, etc.) and windsurfers.
Abu Dhabi Sailing Club (ADSC) is part of The Club, Madinat Zayed. Temporary membership is available.
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club is a non-profit club, run by a committee of volunteers, where sailors of all abilities are welcome. It provides moorings, launching facilities, sail training as well as full catering and an active yachting and social calendar.
UAQ Marine Club offers great sailing in all types of boats. Waterskiing, windsurfing and jetskiing are also catered for.
The traditional dhow-racing season begins in October with the first heat for the 22-foot class at the DIMC. Races are held throughout the season for all classes culminating, in May, in the Sir Bu Nu’air dhow race. Keeping the age-old tradition of seamanship alive, a younger generation of sailors call upon their knowledge of local winds and tides as they set off from near the island of Sir Bu Nu’air in a modern-day re-run of the pearling fleet’s race home.
Organisations such as Emirates Sailing School in Abu Dhabi bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary sailing, imparting maritime skills and providing competitive experience for local youngsters. The clubs also run races for all classes of dinghies and yachts, with the Dubai Muscat Offshore Sailing Race taking place in November. International teams, including America’s Cup challengers, frequently train in the ideal local conditions and international competitions are often held in the UAE Dubai hosted the prestigious Louis Vuitton Trophy series in 2010 and the Volvo Ocean Race will include a stopover in Abu Dhabi as the new year dawns in 2012.
Local knowledge has also been put to good use in powerboat racing, a watersports event that is far from traditional. Here Emiratis have excelled on the world stage, the Dubai-based Victory team being the most successful in the history of the UIM and WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championships.
Rock Climbing
If you are a beginner or wish to improve your skills try the indoor climbing wall at Pharaohs Club, Pyramids, Oud al-Mehta, Dubai (04 3240000 www.waficity.com). If you are a competent climber and the excellent rock climbing routes in the UAE mountains beckon to you, staff at the Pharaohs Club may have information about informal groups who tackle the mountains on a regular basis.
Rugby
The expatriate community brought their love of rugby with them to the UAE and the sport is now played in a number of clubs throughout the Emirates. Major tournaments such as the Dubai Rugby Sevens, which has become a significant international event over the years, have also increased its popularity. The local clubs have become more professional in their approach to the game and Abu Dhabi's Club, a founding member of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, is partnered with London's Harlequins, playing under the name Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
Dubai Exiles RFC is involved in the promotion of the three-day Dubai Rugby Sevens is a family affair held at the Club’s purpose-built facility ‘The Sevens’ and attended by over 40,000 people, with a further 750 million watching on television around the world. This was a far cry from the first tournament, in 1969, which was played on a sand pitch in Al Awir, and watched by no more than 250 spectators.
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Shooting/Archery
Hatta Fort Hotel ( www.hattaforthotel.com) has supervised clay pigeon ranges and archery facilities.
Jebel Ali Shooting Club ( www.jebelalihotel.com) offers pistol, skeet and trap shooting, as well as simulated laser shooting. Ra’s al-Khaimah Shooting Club (07 2363622) will teach you to shoot with a variety of guns. It also has facilities for archery. Facilities at Umm al-Qaiwain Shooting Club (06 7681900) include air conditioned and soundproofed indoor ranges, outdoor ranges and a ‘big gun’ range.
Dubai Archery Group www.uaearch@egroups.com) is an informal association whose meetings take place in front of Dubai College.
Snow Skiing
Ski Dubai in Dubai's Emirates Mall is the third largest indoor ski slope, measuring 400 metres and using 6000 tons of snow. Skiing, snowboarding and other snow-based activities provide fun for all the family.
Tennis
Tennis is another sport in the Emirates where the enthusiast can watch world-class tennis players compete. The Capitala World Tennis Championship is staged in Abu Dhabi in January at Zayed Sports City Stadium, whilst the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships takes place at in February at Dubai Aviation Club.
If you are more eager to play than to watch, tennis courts are widely available at hotels and private clubs throughout the UAE. Many are floodlit to facilitate playing in the cool of the evening.
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