ATD | Dubai Experts: Sports and other activities:

Dubai has built up a reputation as the sports capital of the Middle East. It has achieved this status partly because of its superb sporting facilities but equally important thanks for the city's enthusiasm for staging world-class international events.

Golfing:
Emirates Golf Club is the home of the prestigious Desert Classic, attracting top golfers from around the world. Other major events include the Dubai Sevens, one of the biggest international sevens tournaments in the world. The Dubai Horse Show and events at the Dubai Polo Club have attracted leading riders from Europe and the Gulf States, and horse racing has recently been introduced.

Camel Racing and Dhow Racing:
Among these international sports, tradition is not forgotten in Dubai. The popular camel races and the annual sailing dhow race draw crowds for a sight from another country.

Diving and snorkeling:
The waters of Dubai are considered among the world's best areas for scuba diving. With minimal tidal flow, the Gulf is safe for beginners, Weather is seldom a negative factor as the sea temperature drops to only 20 degrees Celsius in winter. The seas are calm, visibility is good and life underwater is of a richness to rival the best known dive centers in the world. Moreover, costs in the Gulf are relatively low and the waters are among the least explored.

Fishing:
The Gulf is rich in fish life, and fishing was once one of the mainstays of the economy. Kingfish, jack, snapper, barracuda and other species are caught commercially and for sport. Sailfish and bottom-feeding sharks are regularly landed by fisherman out for the day in fully-equipped boats with crew, which can be hired for deep sea fishing trips.

Wadi-bashing:
A popular pastime with both residents and visitors is wadi-bashing. Wadis are the dry beds of streams that flow after the winter rains from the Hajar Mountains that comprise Dubai's backbone onto the desert. Real exploration off the beaten track requires 4x4 vehicles, which are available with or without drivers. For the adventurous, an hour of rough driving will be rewarded with scenes of great and unexpected beauty: rock pools, some with water year round carved into strange shapes by the rushing seasonal torrents; greenery clinging to a precarious existence, and stone houses, evidence of man's tenacity.