The largest indoor snow park in the world has opened in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai.

The area under snow is the equivalent of three football pitches, with runs built inside a giant, slanting metal tube around 25 floors high.

Built on what was previously desert sand, the slopes will be covered with manufactured snow all year round. The centre has green, blue, red and black runs, chairlifts and snow patrols, like any other ski resort. A snow park next door has tobogganing, icy bobsleigh runs and a ski school. Anyone wanting to ski on the main slopes will have to prove their competence before being allowed to do so.

All clothing and equipment is provided in the entrance price of $35, including black, knee-length padded coats for any Arabs who prefer to wear their traditional kandouras to visit the snow - but skiing in the robes will be banned.

The snow is made by shooting water at high pressure into an atmosphere maintained at around freezing point by coolers both below and above the slopes.

Ski Dubai has 5 slopes that vary in difficulty, height and steepness, the longest run being 400 meters with a fall of over 60 meters.

Your skis will carry you down the slope, and our quad-chairlift and tow lift will promptly carry you back to the top for another run.

You will enjoy our themed restaurants; the St Moritz Café at the entrance to Ski Dubai, and the Avalanche Café at the mid-station, with views of the slope. Our exclusive retail shop, Snow Pro, has expert staff to advise you on your equipment needs and our team of professional instructors will guide you through the simple, fun process of learning to ski or snowboard.

Until now Dubai has been a destination for warm beach holidays. But the ski slope is likely to be most popular, especially for residents, during Dubai's harsh summer when temperatures reach well above 40C. WimpySoft