The United Arab Emirates have a long history of being fiercely competitive sports lovers, so this country makes the perfect place for a sports getaway. Whether you want to kick back and watch a match, or want to get up close and personal with some totally new sports, we’ve got you covered. This guide will give you ideas of the best places to watch, bet on and take part in sport that are all within easy reach of Dubai. Plus, we’ve also got tips on great places to grab a snack and stay, each with their own attributes that will suit sports fans perfectly. Check out Big Horn Golfer a website for golf and hunting lovers.
Stay at The Park Hyatt Dubai
Those holidaymakers who are looking to push the boat out and stay somewhere that’s as boujie as it is brilliant for sports lovers couldn’t do much better than the Park Hyatt. This five-star hotel is super close to the airport, making it perfect for those having short breaks. Not only that though, it has an enormous lagoon that meanders down to a private beach, perfect for morning swimming. As well as this, you’ll be able to make use of the 18-hole championship golf course, which also features a driving range for practising your swing. The final feather in the sporting hat of the Park Hyatt is that you can charter yachts from their very own marina. So, if swimming, golfing or boating or sports that you can get excited about then this hotel should be perfect for you. The rooms are beautiful too, with floor to ceiling windows, stunning wrap around balconies and enormous beds. If you fancy staying in to eat then there are several top class restaurants, including Noepe restaurant which serves seafood that’s super fresh and absolutely delicious.
A Day At The Races
Once you’ve settled into your hotel, you’re ready for your first big day out, a day at the races. Meydan Racecourse is without a doubt one of the most stunning racecourses in the world. It was the brainchild of Dubai’s ruler and Vice President of the UAE. He wanted a whole city built around a racecourse and so created one. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City District One is an enormous development with lagoons, housing, retail, lots of shoreline and Meydan racecourse right at the centre of it. There are plenty of other sporting facilities too, but a trip to this racecourse, particularly on one of the major racedays is an experience you certainly won’t forget.
For those familiar with horse racing in other countries, there are some differences to note. Across the Arabic world there are differing laws on online gambling, but Arabian Betting has demystified them in a way that any holiday maker could understand. This guide to gambling in the UAE covers all kinds of useful topics including sites that you can use, that are star rated so that you can find the one for you easily, as well as the sorts of games that you can play at online casinos and the rules around betting on horse racing and other sports. If you do decide that you’d like to bet on the racing whilst you’re at the track then you’ll need to do so online, as it’s generally not the thing to be done in person at the course in Dubai.
Desert Safari and Falconry
The UAE has a long history of falconry. This sport isn’t as widely practiced as perhaps football might be, but watching highly trained birds in flight is a magical way to spend an afternoon. There are also plenty of tours that offer falconry as an add on to something like a desert safari. A combination like this really gives you an insight into the wilder nature of the landscape and is the perfect way for adventurers to spend an afternoon. Some of the desert safaris take place in a jeep which will usually pick you up from your hotel and take you on a tour of the wild desert. After that, guests are invited to enjoy a falconry display, where hawks catch food and return to their handlers. If you’re feeling brave then you’ll even be offered the opportunity to handle the birds yourself, don’t worry, you’ll be provided with super thick gloves to protect you from those sharp talons.
