Shopping and entertainment centres in Dubai each have their own unique features. Dubai Mall attracts visitors with its proximity to Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. Ibn Battuta Mall stands out for the ethnic design of its pavilions. Mall of Emirates hides a special treat behind its rather simple appearance: the Ski Dubai ski resort. If you look closely, you can see snowdrifts, penguin figures and a skier hurtling down the slope on the mall’s logo.
Ski Dubai occupies a huge space. You can watch real winter and a man-made snowy landscape, carefully preserved behind thick glass walls, from different levels of the mall.
The entrance is on the lowest level – level G. As you can see from the complicated schedule, tickets are sold on Thursdays and Fridays until 22:30, and on other days until 21:30. To be honest, I didn’t quite understand how Ski Dubai works on different days of the week.
Before entering, you should familiarise yourself with the rules of conduct on the slopes. The service is fast, and ticket prices are displayed on stands and boards. Tickets can be purchased for separate sectors – different slopes, skiing or snowboarding only, sledding, or visiting attractions. You can also buy a general admission ticket. As I understand it, this includes the penguin show.
Coming from the bitter cold to the Arabian heat and looking for snow is not our thing. But other people went inside and were ‘overjoyed’ just from the feeling of cold. Children made snowballs and laughed happily.
In the photo, you can see what they give you at the entrance: warm sportswear and a protective helmet. Special shoes are provided for skis and snowboards. In the next photo, you can see the lifts and part of the park where people just walk around, getting used to the cold and snow.
Of course, only those who have been there can assess the quality of the slopes and descents. We limited ourselves to visiting the souvenir shop. You sit with a cup of fragrant tea, winter outside the window, and 40-degree heat inside the Mall of Emirates. Amazing…
