Indoor Skiing in Dubai

Skiing in the desert - who would have thought? Nevertheless, thanks to modern technology, a huge chunk of oil-dollars and a team of experts, it is possible to go indoor skiing in Dubai.



Dubai is one of the seven emirates within the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates are generally known for the vast production of oil. For the last 20 years, the emirate of Dubai has executed a new economic strategy for growth - tourism.

As a means to attract tourist - and thereby capital - Dubai has invested many billions in infrastructure, housing and not least, sights. These include events, arts, exhibitions along with many impressive pieces of modern architecture and engineering.

Some of the better know structures include Burj Al Arab - the only 7-star hotel in the world, Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world as well as Palm islands - a peninsula shaped as a Palmtree inhabited by a very posh clientele.

Where to Ski in Dubai?

Visiting Ski Dubai, one of a kind skiing destination located in the Mall of the Emirates, one of the most prominent shopping destinations in the world.

Ski Dubai is the largest indoor ski resort in the Middle East. Ski Dubai has a total closed area of ​​22,500 square meters and has been open since November 2005.

The skiable terrain of Ski Dubai is impressive despite being an indoor ski resort. The slope measures at a whopping 85 meters, which is as tall as a 25-story building.

Although not huge compared to any regular "normal" outdoor ski area, Ski Dubai does indeed try to offer everything which can be expected from any decent ski resort.



The skiable terrain at Ski Dubai is perfect for everyone, from families with children to expert skiers looking for a black diamond run in an indoor skiing facility.

Get Around the Dubai skiing mall

In total, Ski Dubai has five slopes offering varying difficulty levels and steepness for varying styles of skiing.

It includes a massive 1,312-foot long run that’s perfect for expert skiers. For the snowboarders, a 90-meter long quarter pipe is there to satisfy their "twisted" desires.

When you buy your rather pricy lift pass all skiing gear, suits, gloves, goggles and so on, are included in the skiing package you purchase.

The quad lift and T-bar take skiers to the top of the slope where they can enjoy skiing and snowboarding on different slopes.

On the bottom of the slopes, one will find a toboggan run and a giant sled run.

Snow Making in the Desert - how do they do it?

Ski Dubai has created a somewhat perfect insulating system that regulates the right temperature, which assists in the snowmaking process.

The snow for Ski Dubai is made with a simple procedure. Pure water is passed through a chiller to cool down, and this water is then sent through pipes to snow guns located within the ceiling.

As the temperature is maintained between -1^oC to -2^oC the water blown through the snow guns instantly crystallizes, and the result is perfectly fine snow.



The facility is designed as a massive snow box with multiple levels of premium insulation. The roof alone is designed in a way that its five meters higher than the actual ceiling.

The facility has 23 powerful blast coolers that flawlessly maintains a cold chilling temperature within. Even if the temperature outside is 51C, inside the inside temperature remains between  -1^oC to -2^oC .

The secret to making 30 ton of snow base lies in the miles long glycol tubing insulation running through the floor, which maintains the temperature and keeps the snow from melting.

The Snow Cave at Ski Dubai

One of the other impressive sections of Ski Dubai is the Snow Cave - located at the bottom of the slope.

The snow cave with ice and snow sculptures is one of the must-see spots in Ski Dubai. The idea of ​​visiting the snow cave in a hot country like Dubai is unbelievably incredible - but also a little bit weird.

Step in the observation tower and enjoy the view of the entire facility, particularly the giant slope.

Time to Make Some Peng-Friends

Before we end this absurd trip down weirdo lane, it is worth mentioning the latest marketing stunt to attract tourists to the Dubai Ski Mall.



Apart from the actual skiing, with some extra payment, you can have a one to one interaction with adorable Gentoo and King Penguins. That's right, the intelligent managers of the Dubai Indoor Skiing arena have imported real life antarctic Penguins as their latest tourist attraction.

Without a doubt, children love interacting with penguins. The Dubai Indoor Skiing Arena offers you and your family a chance to meet and greet with adorable penguins in their natural environment.

Take memorable photos with over 29 penguins in Ski Dubai, a fun - but also a rather expensive place - when you need some time away from the scorching heat of the desert.