If you want to be cool in Dubai, next time you jet off to the United Arab Emirates forget about the golf clubs and pack your skis.

While everyone else is sweating outside wrap up warm and head off to the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East, containing 22,500 square metres of snow - all year round.

Ski Dubai offers five slopes that vary in difficulty, height and steepness; the longest run being 400 metres with a fall of over 60 metres.

Test your skills on the world's first indoor black run or practice your turns on the gentle beginner slopes. There's even a 90-metre long quarter pipe for snowboarders.

Of course skiing wouldn't be complete without chalets and mountain restaurants.... but they've thought of that too. The St Moritz Café is located at the entrance to Ski Dubai and the Avalanche Café is at the mid-station; with views of the slope.

Ski Dubai is located on Shiekh Zayed Road, exit 39 (4th interchange) - direction Al Barsha.

Skiing in the desert no longer means hiking up a sand dune.

Technorati: Dubai