Ski Dubai

Ski Dubai opened in 2005 inside Mall of the Emirates, an insulated hall holding about 22,500 square metres of real snow made overnight and kept at between minus one and two degrees, with five runs including a 400-metre run and the world's first indoor black run, a chairlift and a drag lift. Jackets, trousers and boots are included in the ticket. A separate snow park has toboggans and a zorb run, and a colony of king and gentoo penguins is kept in an enclosure with scheduled encounters.

What's there

• The main slope - about four hundred metres of real snow under a mall roof.
• The chairlift - a working quad chair inside the hall.
• The penguins - king and gentoo penguins kept in an enclosure with set encounters.
• The snow park - toboggan runs, a zorb ball and snow play areas.

When to go

Year round, and it is the obvious refuge during the summer heat. Weekends and school holidays are busiest and slots sell out. Booking online secures a time.

What to expect

It is expensive for the time on snow and the slope is short. Gloves and hats are not included and must be bought or brought. The penguin encounters are extra and heavily booked.

Nearby

Dubai Marina is southwest, and Kite Beach is northwest.

Key facts