It’s the fastest-growing city on earth, a futuristic fantasyland where fun is always high on the agenda. Here’s what to do when you get to Dubai.

Ski
A ski resort with real snow, just a walk and a wish away from the blazing desert sun? It’s not a mirage. It’s Ski Dubai in the Mall of Emirates, where you can snowboard, toboggan and tackle the slopes, or chill out in an ice cavern while your kids stage a snowball fight. Suitably attired for the sub-zero weather, you can zig-zag your way down the nursery slope, or brave the 400m “black run” if you’re expert enough.

Splash
If the radiant waters of the Arabian Gulf are a bit too mild for your liking, you’ll find all the raging adventure you crave at the Wild Wadi Water Park. Freefall at screaming speed down the Jumeirah Sceirah slide, Hang Ten for as long as you can on the Flowrider surfing simulator, and then float along a lazy river beneath hanging bridges and quenching waterfalls until you get your breath back.

Bash
Beyond the strip of outlandish artifice that defines modern-day Dubai, the ever-shifting, never-changing desert lies waiting. The best way to explore it is not by loping, leisurely camel, but by a 4X4 Ship of the Desert, roaring over the dunes and side-winding across the stinging sands.

With an expert guide and driver at the wheel, it’s a rollercoaster thrill-ride for anyone who has ever been seduced by the mysteries of the Arabian wasteland. As the sun sinks, a feast awaits at a traditional Bedouin camp, where you can enjoy the belly dancing and bubbly pipes as the moon bathes the dunes.

Cruise
Splitting the city in two, the Creek of Dubai is a natural seawater inlet that serves as a vital artery for the groaning wooden dhows that ply the ancient trade routes to Africa and the East.

By day, the Creek is a brash and busy thoroughfare, criss-crossed by motorised water taxis that ferry workers between old stone markets and towers of glass and steel. By night, the city lights cast a more romantic lustre on the waters, setting the scene for a soothing dinnertime cruise on a luxury vessel like the Bateaux Dubai.

When you tire of the city life, venture to the lagoon at the inland end of the Creek, where thousands of flamingos and other birds have made their home.

Shop
Faced with a staggering selection of malls, stalls, markets, bazaars, boutiques, fairs and duty-free emporiums, it’s hard to resist the impulse to buy in Dubai.

But even if you’re just browsing, there’s one mega-mall you shouldn’t miss: the sumptuously designed Ibn Battuta Mall, named after an Islamic scholar who travelled the known world centuries ago. The mall is divided into six courts, each themed around the culture and architecture of a region Battuta visited. Take a guided tour, and be sure to leave time for a little retail therapy.

Courtesy of...
Discovery magazine
Gasp
Raising the stakes in the skyscraper race, the dizzying edifices of Dubai are the city’s most eye-catching attractions. Drawing their inspiration from desert flowers, jewels, ocean waves and sails, these buildings take urban architecture to lyrical new heights. The Burj Dubai, scheduled for completion next year, is already the world’s tallest tower, soaring more than half a kilometre into the sky.

Gallop
The Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, takes place each year on the Nad Al Sheba racecourse, with less-moneyed but equally thrilling gallops taking place on Thursdays during the cooler months.

Even if you’re not the betting type, try rising early one morning to join a behind-the-scenes tour of the racecourse and adjoining stables. You can watch the magnificent steeds in training and visit the Godolphin Gallery, a lavish celebration of the bloodline and victories of the original Arabian thoroughbreds.

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While Dubai may strike visitors as a place more rooted in the future than the past, the time-honoured traditions of Islamic culture and hospitality still hold sway beneath the burnished surface.

But don’t just visit a museum or mosque to learn about the people of the sheikdom; spend an evening with a local family, and experience the customs, lifestyle, cuisine and culture for yourself.

Family visits can be arranged through Sahary Gate House, a centre for the encouragement of cross-cultural dialogue, and a clearer understanding of the Emirati way of life. For further information, please visit www.saharaygate.com

Article courtesy of 'Discovery', Discovery Health's customer magazine published by Touchline Media.