Stroll along Dubai's Jumeirah Beach Residence on any weekend and it is clear that the area has become a magnet for adventure tourism.
Parasailers glide along the horizon - hanging from parachutes as they are pulled along by boats - while skydivers, just distant figures high in the blue sky, gently drift down under their colourful parachutes. Off the coast, boats speed along as they take tourists out for deep-sea fishing trips.
Seizing on this trend, adventure tourism companies have expanded their business in the Emirates as more hotels open up and capitalise on a recreation sector worth an estimated US$89 billion (Dh326.87bn) globally.
"It seems like adventure tourism is growing in the UAE," says Moritz Klein, the general manager of the Beach Rotana hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Desert trips are still the most popular activity, but there is evidence that companies are branching out to offer a wider array of packages for adventure-seeking tourists.
One such company is Sky & Sea Adventures, which specialises in water sports and operates at Jumeirah Beach Residence.
Mehmet Battal Ozturkmenset up his business in 2004 with just one boat when several luxury hotels were under construction in the area. He saw a demand from tourists looking for something more exhilarating than lying on the beach or strolling around malls. And even now the sector is still relatively underdeveloped.
"There's not much to do for the tourists," says Mr Ozturkmen. "They're doing the desert trips and the shopping centres." His business depends on the hotels. "If there are more hotels, it means more business. The problem in Dubai is that there are not many beach hotels."
Parasailing is the most popular activity the company offers - a 10-minute excursion costs Dh250. But Sky & Sea Adventures also arranges fishing trips, cruises and windsurfing.
Believing there is potential for further growth, the company launched a diving centre based at the Sheraton in Jumeirah Beach Residence four months ago.
Hotels also hope to cash in on the trend towards adventure tourism in a move to attract more visitors to the Emirates.
"Other than the well-established desert safaris, there are now a lot more adventure options available such as quad-bike safaris in the desert, car-racing lessons, kayaking in the mangroves and motorbike trips," says Mr Klein.
He points out that guests mostly request visits to cultural areas such as the souqs and Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Mosque, but adds that many are now opting for desert safaris, dune-buggy rides and camel trekking, among other activities.
Mr Klein believes adventure tourism will grow as the Emirates offers natural attractions such as mountains, desert, sea and islands.
"With the rich nature available in the UAE, in particular in Abu Dhabi, this is a good platform to further expand the offering and attract more adventure-seeking visitors," he says.
Other emirates are also becoming increasingly popular adventure tourism spots. Ras al Khaimah has excellent rock-climbing areas, while Fujairah has become popular with divers.
But the beauty of the desert remains the main draw.
"The desert by itself is a major attraction," says Samir Hamadeh, the general manager of Alpha Tours in Dubai. "The main focus of adventure tourism is the desert."
Still, he feels there is a definite trend for tourists looking for more than just desert treks or a lazy morning by the pool.
"There are new markets coming to Dubai and different tourists from different countries," says Mr Hamadeh.
"We are opening into new markets such as Asia and South America. Those people who come back to Dubai are now looking for more adventurous kinds of tours.
"The more attractions we have, the better it is for us to capture other market segments."
For Sky & Sea Adventures, there are drawbacks to the adventure tourism business - safety considerations and the weather.
"Safety is the first concern," says Osman Durmus, the company's operations manager. "The conditions also affect us.
"If the wind is coming from the east side, the desert side, we are not flying. We couldn't work for the last four days because of the weather conditions. The Coast Guard is preventing us, saying it is not safe. If you don't have navigation permission from the Coast Guard, you cannot go out. It's illegal and there are huge fines and we cannot risk our reputation."
Of course, during the summer months, business is slow, as tourists avoid the extreme heat.
The company was also affected by the financial downturn, although Mr Durmus says there has been huge improvement recently, with an influx of Iranian, Saudi and Russian visitors to Dubai beaches.
"I think now we are picking up," he says. "This month will be a huge one for our business. We've made a lot of investments, so we have to recuperate all this. We have to renew our boat registrations every year, and we have to give the fees to the Government and we have to get all the licences for the crew."
