For a Half Day

Dune bashing: An increasingly popular activity is dune bashing, which involves tourists being driven out into the surrounding desert sand dunes in a 4X4 and thrashing up and down the dunes. Visitors should not hire their own vehicles, as desert driving can be dangerous for the inexperienced. Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com) and Alpha Tours (tel: (04) 294 9888; website: www.alphatoursdubai.com) both run regular tours and can combine dune bashing with desert dinners in recreated Bedouin camps.

Camel rides: Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com) operates a ‘Rides and Slides' tour combining camel rides with sand skiing. Rides on the original ‘ships of the desert' offer a totally different perspective on Dubai's desert landscapes. A half-hour journey in a traditional caravan introduces tourists to Dubai's traditional way of life, before throwing them back into the 21st century with the exhilarating sport of sand skiing.

For a Whole Day

Hajar Mountains: The Hajar Mountains, located 100km (62 miles) south of Dubai city, run along the border with Oman. The best way to explore the rugged mountainous terrain is in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Highlights are the wadis (rock pools), which offer the chance to cool off, and the hill town of Hatta, which has been recreated along traditional lines, in a mountain oasis. Arabian Adventures (tel: (04) 303 4888; website: www.arabian-adventures.com) and Alpha Tours (tel: (04) 294 9888; website: www.alphatoursdubai.com) both offer tours to this region.

Sharjah: Some dismiss the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah as being too industrial and not as glamorous as Dubai. But for those with spare time in Dubai, Sharjah has much to recommend it. Sharjah is located 20km (12 miles) east of Dubai and making a trip there is easy, with regular minibus services. Taxis are perhaps a better idea, as it can be difficult to get a return minibus from Sharjah. This emirate is less developed than Dubai, with a string of more cerebral attractions that are mainly located in its Heritage District. These include Literature Square with its House of Poetry, Bait al-Gharbi cultural centre, as well as the Sharjah Heritage and Islamic museums. Outside this quarter there is also an Arts Museum and Al-Hisn Fort, a museum that sheds light on the history of Sharjah and shows how, like Dubai, Sharjah has comes a long way in a very short time. Further information on Sharjah is available from the local tourist office (tel: (06) 556 6777; website: www.sharjah-welcome.com).