There can be few cities in the world that offer as much choice as Dubai when it comes to deciding how to spend an evening.

With the weather warm all year round, outdoor activities of various kinds are always on the agenda, while for those keen to have an evening inside, there are restaurants, clubs and cinemas aplenty.

Simon Brind
A recent survey in London's Evening Standard newspaper found that eating out is the favourite evening pastime in the UK capital, with 26 per cent of people naming it as their number one choice.

A close second is visiting the theatre to see a play (25 per cent), while third favourite at 17 per cent was going for a drink.

Gulf News took to the streets to find out what Dubai residents like to do once work is over, the sun has gone down and there's some fun to be had.

Savio D'Mello
Evelyn Gates, 50, from Canada, a UAE Government worker, said she goes out with friends on about two evenings a week, usually to a nice restaurant.

"I like something unique and it has to be really, really good food. There are a couple of seafood restaurants that I like the most," she said.

Another eating out enthusiast is Simon Brind, a 38-year-old insurance company manager from the United Kingdom.

K.G. Balani
"Dubai is a fantastic place for eating out. I have been here for five years and I love it," he said.

British school secretary Janet Kirton, 43, also said restaurants were her first choice destination for a night out.

"A nice meal with my husband is what I like to do and Indian food is my favourite. Dubai has an excellent range of restaurants of all types there is more choice than back in the UK," she said.

Also, Kirton enjoys playing tennis or having a swim in the evenings both activities that are rarely possible outside after dark in her chilly native land.

Mohammad Hussain
Irena Volzhskaya, 42, a Russian housewife, is another tennis fan. She likes to go to a tennis club where she can play a couple of sets on court before having a meal.

The mother-of-two also enjoys visiting Safa Park so that her sons can play football or basketball. Another favourite evening out is visiting a skating rink.

Filipino shop assistant Anthony Bernas, 28, said he can only afford to pay for a night out a couple of times a month. However, he also finds many free ways to entertain himself. "We go to a mall and see the movies. Also, most Thursday nights we go to Jumeirah open beach for a swim," he said.

Janet Kirton
Like Bernas, Indian customer service worker Savio D'Mello, 24, likes to visit shopping malls in the evening.

"I go shopping nearly every day. It's what I love to do. Also, about once a week I will go to a disco, preferably one with both Indian and Western music," he said.

K.G. Balani, 61, an insurance manager from India, tends to restrict his nightlife to Thursdays and Fridays, when he will often catch a film with his wife.

Anthony Bernas
"During the week I spend evenings at home. You leave the office at six, then it is seven o'clock by the time you reach home so you are too worn out to go anywhere."

Lebanese bank teller Mohammad Hussain, 21, said he often meets with friends and does several things during the night.

"The ideal evening out is to spend about an hour in a shopping centre seeing what's new, then going to a movie for a couple of hours and then to a restaurant or café for a shisha."