Dubai Lifestyle

In an emirate as diverse as Dubai, it is safe to say that the city has something for everyone. Whether you love sport, nature, sightseeing, hiking, shopping, dining or relaxing, then Dubai is for you.

Golf
Golf is big business in Dubai, and you will never be far from a world-class golf course. Three of the most famous courses are:
Emirates Golf Club: the venue for the annual Dubai Desert Classic, a major stop on the Professional Golf Association tour. It is also home to the Dubai Ladies Masters, and the Club features a course designed by Nick Faldo.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: located in an idyllic Creekside position, and voted one of the world's ‘Top 100 Must-Play Golf Courses'.
The Montgomerie Dubai: developed in association with Colin Montgomerie and Desmond Muirhead, this course boasts the largest single green in the world.

Tennis
The Dubai Tennis Championships are part of the ATP tennis tournament, and feature both Men's and Women's Open. Located in the Aviation Club Tennis Centre and Dubai Tennis Stadium, the event has been held annually in late February or early March since 1993.

Horse racing
The Dubai World Cup is the world's richest horse race with a total purse of US$21.25 million. The finale of the Dubai Racing Club season, this thoroughbred horse race has been held annually, in late March, at the city's Nad Al Sheba race course since 1996.

Motorsport
The UAE Desert Challenge is the penultimate round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship. The event attracts world-famous drivers and riders such as Stephane Peterhansel and Marc Coma for a six day rally through some of the Empty Quarter's most demanding dunes.

Sailing
Dubai's association with the sea dates back hundreds of years, so it is no surprise that the city hosts many important nautical events. A variety of different types of competition occur all year round, including Traditional Rowing, Wooden Powerboating, the UAE Jetski Race, Dragonboating and Traditional Dhow Sailing amongst others. Most notably, Dubai International Marine Club has hosted the final round of the UIM Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship since 1992. Dubai is also home to the Dubai International Boat Show, an eagerly-anticipated event which attracts many thousands of people each year.

Leisure
Whether you are looking for an active day out or some much needed relaxation, Dubai offers it in abundance.

Activities
Dubai is the ideal place for an active person, with perfect temperatures for eight months of the year allowing plenty of outdoor activities.
Spending time on or under-water is a common pastime, and you will find plenty of sailing clubs in the emirate. Jetskiing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, surfboarding and waterskiing are also on offer, and a number of scuba diving clubs offer courses and trips off Dubai's west coast or the east coast's Indian Ocean.

With millions of hectares of desert, there is a large off-road fraternity in Dubai. Take your pick from quad bikes, dune buggies, dirt bikes, 4x4 or SUV and head out into the dunes for an exhilarating day of desert bashing, followed by a BBQ and camp-out under the stars. The Hajar mountain range on the outskirts of the emirate also provides a welcome change of scenery, with jagged peaks jutting up from the rust-red dunes.

Dubai also has numerous swimming, running and cycling clubs, horse riding and polo facilities, cricket, rugby and football grounds, and volleyball, basketball, squash and tennis courts.

Relaxation
With miles of pristine white beaches, there are plenty of places where you can chill out for the day. There are several public beaches in Dubai, some of which are restricted to families or women only on certain days of the week. Most of the sea side hotels have beach clubs which you can access for a reasonable fee, to enjoy facilities such as chilled pools and waiter service. Dubai also has a surplus of spas, where you can revive your senses and rejuvenate your body in five-star surroundings.

Shopping
Shopping is the national pastime of Dubai and this is reflected in the many incredible and ornate shopping malls which dot the landscape. Familiar high-street and designer brands can be found all across the city, as can numerous innovative and creative boutiques. An annual month-long Shopping Festival is held in spring each year, attracting up to 3.5 million visitors who flock to Dubai's malls for incredible offers and discounts. Dubai is also well-known for its love of fine jewellery, and the traditional Gold Souk and modern Gold & Diamond Park are both excellent sources of gold, platinum and precious stones at keen prices.

Dining
Dubai is loved by connoisseurs of fine dining, and is home to many award-winning restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs. Gordon Ramsay opened ‘Verre' in the Hilton Dubai Creek back in 2001, which has garnered Restaurant of the Year and Sommelier of the Year on numerous occasions by TimeOut and prominent food critics. Marco Pierre White recently opened a gourmet bistro in partnership with jockey Frankie Dettori, and Gary Rhodes has also put his name to a new restaurant. Independent restaurants are also excellent - often unlicenced, but offering a kaleidoscope of global cuisine to suit all budgets.