• Ski Dubai
• Burj Al Arab
• Hermès
• Villa Moda

Skiing in the Dunes

Indoor skiing in the middle of the desert? It's an idea that walks the fine line between indulgence and insanity. In theory, it sounds crazy, but in reality, it's hard to argue with the prospect of palm trees and beaches outside, pine trees and snow inside. Since enough real snow to ski on won't fall on Dubai until probably around the next Ice Age, Ski Dubai was built last December to let visitors ski no matter what the time of year.

In recent years, Dubai is a place that's become synonymous with hedonism. It's home to the uber-luxurious Burj Al Arab, which has 202 duplex suites and offers guests amenities such as 24-hour butler service, complimentary Hermès toiletries, and airport pickup in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce. Dubai is also home to Villa Moda, which is basically a mall of nothing but designer boutiques.

After shopping as if you're in Paris and tanning as if you're in St. Barths, why not ski as if you're in, well, Dubai?

The indoor slopes are quite a site to behold: 30 tons of manmade snow falls each day in the 22,500-square-meter, 25-story complex. Massive air conditioners keep the place below freezing at all times. Ski lifts and mechanical flying carpets shuttle skiers and snowboarders to the top of five different runs, including the world's first indoor black diamond run, which stretches 400 meters with a fall of 60 meters. Snowboarders can practice on a quarter-pipe, and for those who are inclined to stay supine, there's even a range of toboggan models to choose from.

What to do après ski? Well, there's an indoor lodge where hot chocolate runs freely, but when you're really ready to warm up, you can do something you'd never dare to do in Vail: strip - assuming you have your bathing suit on, of course. Then you'll be ready to dive right into the Indian Ocean or dig those frozen toes into warm sand.

And when the kids have grown tired of making sand castles, just head back to the slopes and let them try their hand at building with a new medium. There's an area of the complex where nothing but building snowmen and throwing snowballs is allowed. Adults are granted admission, too.

So, make some snow angels, shop at Prada, lounge on the beach by turquoise water
. . . and then it should be roughly time for lunch.

 

Posted on March 13, 2006