The United Arab Emirates is located in a desert zone, where the source of moisture is the Persian Gulf. Inns, hotels and amusement parks were built to attract tourists and independent travelers. The most interesting is the ski resort of Dubai, whose name is Sky Dubai.
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History of appearance
The idea of construction appeared in 2001. The objective of the project is to create a ski resort within driving distance from Dubai. At first, they wanted to build the largest hypermarket in the Middle East on this site. But Sheikh Maktoud bin Rashid of Dubai accused the authors of shortsightedness. The cost of the winter attraction project was $237 million.
The construction company Acer was engaged in the development and implementation Snowmec . The specifics of the project are as follows:
- the ski slope is adjacent to the main building and is made in the form of an airplane wing;
- the terrain of the route repeats the natural one – there are small pits, springboards, different routes for skiing, snowboarding;
- snow cannons are built into the ceiling, so Sky Dubai snows intermittently;
- The thickness of the snow cover is 1 m.
The total area of the building is 40,000 m². Sky Dubai can serve up to 1500 tourists and travelers at the same time. The homogeneity of the snow cover is maintained by 18 refrigeration units. The number of service personnel is 550 per shift. The ski resort is located near Dubai; the trip time is no more than 20 minutes. It can be reached by car or public transport.
Structure of the ski resort
The sports and entertainment complex consists of two areas – for skiing, winter entertainment and a shopping center. Made five slopes for skiing and snowboarding. The length of the tracks is up to 400 m. The slope is 15-40°, depending on the complexity of the track. There are separate slopes for snowboarding and bobsledding. There is a toboggan run at the Dubai ski resort.
For the convenience of tourists and athletes, several lifts have been made – rope tows and piecework. There is a rental of equipment, skis and snowboards, you can rent equipment. But you can’t get hats and gloves here. These accessories must be taken with you. The rental is included in the price of the entrance ticket. If the equipment is your own, the price of a visit is reduced by 5-10%.
For children, the Polar Bear Club entertainment area has been made. Here, animators work with young tourists. Contests are held, competitions and other winter entertainments are organized. To develop skiing skills, you can hire an instructor. The favorite entertainment of children is the fight with snowballs, for which snow fortresses are made.
Dubai Ski Resort has many cafes and restaurants. Visitors enjoy spending time at the St. Moritz Cafe, where a real working fireplace is made. Traditional European dishes and drinks are served here. On the outdoor terrace of Avalanche Cafe, you can watch skiing tourists while ordering breakfast or lunch. Dubai Ski Resort is a good place for recreation and sports activities.
Opening hours and prices
To study the infrastructure and cost of services, you can visit the Sky Dubai website . There is a complete list of objects, the current temperature on the slopes, humidity. On the site you can order an individual or group visit to the ski resort, choose an instructor for training. The advantage of this recreational complex is the combination of outdoor activities and shopping. There is a large Mall in Sky Dubai.
Subscription price for adults and children in USD:
- for two hours – 50/40;
- per day – 80/65;
- walk in the park – 27/22.
For beginners, group tours and instructor services are offered. Having bought a full subscription, skis, outer warm clothes, and shoes are automatically issued. Prices for group training – 70 dollars. Individual ones are more expensive – from 165 dollars. If booked in advance, the cost of visiting will be 5% cheaper.
Before the trip, you need to study the map of the sports complex. This will make it easier to plan a self-guided tour of the ski resort in Dubai. The layout of objects can be downloaded on the website. At the entrance, the consultant will answer questions, but the staff does not understand Russian, all information is provided in English.
How to get there
The complex is located in the city. A metro line leads to it, the name of the station is Sky Dubai. The resort is located at Al Barsha 1. Taking the metro is a convenient way to get to the ski resort. It works from 10:00 to 23:00 every day. The cost of the trip depends on the distance. If it does not exceed three kilometers – 1.8 AED. If you need to move in front of two zones, you will have to pay 4.1 AED.
For those living in other emirates, a trip to the ski resort of Dubai will be more expensive. You can get to the city by taxi or sightseeing bus. The average taxi fare in the city is 60 dirhams. Tariffs for intercity destinations are 5-8% higher.