Cool indoor activities during the hot summer

Ski Dubai at Majid Al Futtaim’s Mall of the Emirates has around 22,500 square metres of indoor ski. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

As the heat picks up, events and activities during summer tend to move indoors. Across the Emirates, there are some cool things to do during this period. Here is a rundown of a few of them.

• At the Cribb, a business incubator in Dubai, budding entrepreneurs can polish their pitching skills to investors next month with Innov-a-thon. The winners of this day-long marathon pitching of innovative solutions, business models and technology ideas on July 13 and 14 will be incubated for 120 days at a seed accelerator in Dubai. DP World's TURN8 seed accelerator is sponsoring the event. As part of its summer promotions, the Cribb has also halved its membership prices, which can now start at Dh349 per month.

• Those looking to catch coverage of the Fifa World Cup in Brazil in a public space with catering services can head to Sheikh Saeed Hall 3 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Games will be telecast live at DWTC's The Majlis. With a capacity of 1,000 people, the venue will telecast all 64 matches from the opener between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, through the final at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on July 13. Each table booking for more than five people comes for Dh200 and private seating for up to 12 guests starts at Dh500 per table. Iftar is available at Dh140 per person with à la carte and set menus comes for Dh200 per person for Suhour. Call 04 3086322 for more info.

• Al Forsan International Sports Resort is holding its special summer events from May 15 until September 9 at its international sports resort in Abu Dhabi. One can go karting, or engage in some paintballing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, archery besides laser shooting with their promotional rates.

• Indoor skiing at the height of summer has been identified with Dubai for long. And this summer it is not different. Ski Dubai at Majid Al Futtaim's Mall of the Emirates has around 22,500 square metres of indoor ski.

Hotels across the UAE are packaging rooms with deals to attract guests.

• The American operators Hilton Worldwide is offering 33 per cent discount on room rates at its Middle East and Africa properties. Rates can come as low as Dh197 at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Dh227 at DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah. As tourists keep away from Egypt, rates have also plunged at the Sinai Peninsula. At Hilton Hurghada Resort, the rooms start at Dh141 and Dh178 at Hilton Sharm Waterfalls Resort. More information on hiltonweekends.co.uk/SummerSale

• Guests looking to stay at Millennium and Copthorne Hotels in this country, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq can choose from five packages until September. One includes a 15 per cent discount on stays of three nights or more, an equal amount of discount for bookings a week in advance or a 10 per cent off on rates for reservations made 24 hours ahead. The group has 17 hotels in the region, including eight in the UAE. More information on www.millenniumhotels.ae

• The French hotel operators Accor is offering 40 per cent discount on reservations with breakfast included at its 48 hotels in the Middle East and North Africa. The rates are valid for reservations made between May 15 and August 19 for stays between June 1 and September 15. More information on accorhotels.com.

• At Abu Dhabi's hotel chain Rotana, stays between May 15 and September 15 will receive free breakfast and Wi-Fi besides a 20 per cent discount on services during the stay period, including food and beverage, spa treatments and minibar. More information on Rotana.com.

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