Out and about

During a long, hot summer spent indoors, UAE residents eagerly anticipate the cooler, winter months when they can finally embracethe great outdoors again.

Once the temperature and humidity drop, the country becomes a hot bed of outdoor activity, with everything from desert safaris to rock climbing and sailing being on offer for alfresco hungry inhabitants.

We've compiled a list of some of the best of activities that are on offer to get you started.

Into the blue

Water sports are a great way to relax and are something you can learn now and keep up in the hotter months.

Learn to sail: The weather is perfect now for sailing, so why not consider taking a course to become your very own captain? The Dubai Offshore Sailing Club offers a range of sailing courses, including day sailing, start sailing level 1 and seamanship skills. It can be the perfect way to switch off and unwind at the weekend.

Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (04 394 1669) offers classes, starting Dh200.

Diving and snorkelling: If you've ever fancied exploring the underwater world, now is the time to do it. There are many qualified and fully equipped centres around the UAE that can help you to achieve the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) award, which is what you need in order to become a qualified scuba diver. You'll develop a fresh appreciation of life under the waves.

Several schools offer classes to get you started, such as Al Boom Diving (04 342 2993), Scubatec (04 334 8988), Pavilion Dive Centre (04 406 8827).

Swim with dolphins: This features on many people's ‘must experience' lists, and we have the luxury of being able to swim with dolphins in Dubai, at the Atlantis Dolphin Bay and at the Dubai Dolphinarium. At Dolphin Bay you can choose between a shallow water experience, where you will interact with dolphins in waist-high water, or the deep water experience, where you will swim with them for up to 90 minutes. You will even get to enjoy a ride on one of the dolphins back to the shore.

At the Dolphinarium you can choosebetween mixed and private sessions, with different interactions with the dolphin; hugging, touching the skin, or being pulled aroundthe pool by the dolphin's dorsal fin.

Contact Atlantis Dolphin Bay (04 426 1030) or Dubai Dolphinarium (04 336 9773).

Park life

Located in Al Matar area in Abu Dhabi,Shaikh Khalifa Park offers a beautiful landscape to relax and simply enjoy being outdoors. >The park has gardens that reflect Arabic and Islamic architecture. The capital also has a number of parks with swings, slides and play areas for children, such as Al Nahyan Garden, Capital Garden and Urban and Lake Park. Al Khalidiya and Al Mushrif Gardens are larger and are popular choices with residents.

Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium has one of the largest animal collections, comprising both local and exotic species. The Arabian Oryx and Gazelles are found in huge numbers along with giant tortoises. It has a beautiful setting, located at the foot of Jebel Hafeet.

In Sharjah, the biggest park is Sharjah National Park. All parks in the emirate have green spaces, sports pitches, as well as purpose-built play and seating areas.

Now is the perfect time of year to enjoy a picnic or barbecue in the great outdoors. In Dubai, Al Safa Park has more than 20 barbecue areas, complete with wooden shades and seats (Dh5 per person entrance fee).

Over the Creek, Dubai Creek Park, which sprawls over 500 hectares, has a number of barbecuing areas for visitors to enjoy, in addition to cable cars, the park train and an ice rink(Dh5 per person entrance fee).

If you fancy combining a day at the beach with your barbecue, Jumeirah Beach Park offers both (Dh5 per person, Dh20 per car entrance fee). Zabeel Park, which incorporates a boating lake, lakeside restaurants, a sports centre and an exhibition area offers plenty of barbecuing areas, alongside mini golf, shaded seating, play areas and refreshment kiosks(Dh5 per person entrance fee).

For some culinary inspiration, read our barbecue feature on page 26.

Get physical

In the cooler months you can work up a sweat with outdoor sports, rather than thanks tothe sun and humidity. Golf is always popular(see our feature on page 16) but here areanother couple of ideas.

Tennis: If you fancy yourself as the nextRoger Federer or Venus Williams, why not take some tennis lessons? There are a number of health benefits from playing tennis, including the prospect of burning up 600 calories during one hour's play and an improvement in eye-hand coordination. Try Clark Francis Tennis (04 282 4540), E-Sports (050 975 7316), Excel Sports Services (050 22 39235).

Rock climbing: If you're looking for an all over work-out, but hate the constraints of the > gym, look no further than rock climbing. Rock climbers develop arm, back, finger and core strength as a result of the type of movements they need to make to climb. It can help you increase muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility. If you're a beginner, there are a number of outdoor rock climbing courses for beginners, which will equip you with the right skills. A good starting point is Climbing Dubai (04 306 5061).

Down in the desert

A trip into the desert is a must for all city dwellers, and if you haven't had the opportunity to experience this before, what are you waiting for? There is a wide range of desert activities on offer, all organised by reputable tour operators who will pick you up from specified locations within the city and drop you back once the fun is over. These activities are usually incorporated under the desert safari package, where a typical trip will see you dune bashing in a special 4x4 vehicle in the hands of an experienced driver, after which you will be taken to a special camp to enjoy an evening of Arabic food, belly dancing, shisha and henna painting.

A large number of operators offer desert safaris, such as Arabian Adventures (04 303 4888), Alpha Tours (04 294 9888) and Gulf Ventures (04 404 5880).

If you'd like to try camping rather than have just a day trip, see our feature on page 21.

Be a tourist

No matter how long you've lived in the UAE, due to how rapidly it's expanding and changing there's always something new to see and experience. To get to grips with the latest developments in Dubai, take a Big Bus tour around the city. The tour revolves around two routes — the blue and the red route. The Blue Route Beach Tour will take you along Dubai's sandy beaches. You will enjoy views of the Burj Dubai and will visit the Jumeirah Mosque. The tour also takes you past the Burj Al Arab. Following this, you will have the chance to either enjoy a run on the slopes at Ski Dubai, or to ice skate at the Olympic sized ice rink at Dubai Mall.

On the Red Route, you will take a visit to the Dubai Museum and Spice Souk. You will also have the opportunity to take a tour through Shaikh Saaed Al Maktoum's House and enjoya Dhow River Cruise. For more details callBig Bus Tours (04 340 770).