Have you ever thought that it was possible to ski in Dubai?
It’s not a joke! I mean in Dubai! When I first heard about Ski Dubai, I immediately thought it was a joke. Surfing the web and got information, I realized it was a real thing.
Dubai is the ultimate destination where you can find any extravagance and experience the biggest-tallest-widest attractions in the world: temperature-controlled beaches, seven-star hotels and a manmade archipelago, futuristic buildings, water parks, zoo safari, aquarium, malls and so on. And of course also the third largest indoor slope in the world, where visitors can have a quick slalom even though outside the weather is hot and the temperature can easily reach 40 degrees during the summer season.
The Ski Dubai Park maintains the temperature between -1 to 2 degrees Celsius throughout the year, and the snow is always fresh and crunchy. So, what am I waiting for?
After having breakfast, even you can buy your entrance at the Mall, I decide to buy my ticket for Ski Dubai through the web platform Viator by Tripadvisor avoiding any hassle.
Viator is an excellent and useful tool where you can find many activities and tours available in the place you are visiting. I really like this company because they have a wide choice of activities/tours and it is also effortless to book them through their website or app for devices: just enter the city you need, and you’ll see in a while all their offers. After booking you’ll immediately get the e-voucher to show at the desk before starting your activity.
So once got the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world I go straight to Ski Dubai, ready to start this exciting experience. Among the different options that Viator offers (if you are not interested skiing or snowboarding, you should try the Snow Park, the Penguin Interaction or Combo Packages), I choose the Ski Dubai Ski Slope Session Pass: it allows you to enjoy snowboarding and skiing in this incredible indoor ski area for 2 hours.
After showing the e-voucher at the desk, I get the pass to pick up my equipment and enter inside the structure (they provide you with the jacket, pants, boots, helmet, skis/snowboard. The only thing not included in the package is the rental locker (20 AED) and the gloves (from AED 10).
The clothing and fitting process takes me just a few minutes because it is all very efficient and quick. Moreover, the ski area is tranquil since it is early morning and people have to come yet. So once ready, I move to the resort’s entrance very excited! Here we go!
The Ski Resort occupies 22,500 square meters inside the Mall of the Emirates and boasts five slopes with a difficulty from beginner to black diamond, plus 3000 square meter of Snow Park at the base of the slopes that features sledge and toboggan runs, a body slide, climbing towers, an ice cave and a penguin exhibition.
Skiers and snowboarders can choose between a chair lift or a tow line to be taken to the top of the “Mountain”, but you can also get off at the half-way where “Small Ski Lodge” called the Avalanche Cafe is located.
Even though the tow line is faster between the two, I decide to catch the chair lift most of the time. Doing so, I can rest in between ski runs and enjoy the view from above. On the top, there is a Snowboard park that features a Freestyle Zone with jumps and rails. It’s my time to ski now, let’s go! The longest of the five runs is around 400 m, and at halfway, the slopes make a 90-degree turn. One of the most important things is that the trails have a good layer of groomed packed powder and they are not icy.
I make all my run from top to bottom for almost 20 times in 2 hours, and I really enjoy every second of my experience at Ski Dubai. Fortunately, I chose the best time to ski because after my 2 hour ride people start coming to the slopes (and I hate crowded slopes!).
Unfortunately the time flies, I have to hand back my equipment and leave this fantastic attraction heading to the restaurants’ area next to the Ski Dubai entrance. If you are just curious, there is a big window beside the restaurants from which you can spot the Ski area and the many visitors that are enjoying the slopes.
If you are visiting Dubai and you like skiing or snowboarding, you must try Ski Dubai. It is a unique experience that should not be passed up! It doesn’t happen every day to ski in the desert and I m still enthusiastic about it!
