Tennis

Tennis is a popular sport in the UAE; most of the major resort hotels have tennis facilities as do many fitness centers. The following list has the better-known courts and lessons.

The Aviation Club. The Aviation Club at Jumeirah Creekside hotel has been used during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, so you can train on the same courts as star athletes. There are four courts here, and nonmembers can play as part of the day-pass fee. The highly respected CF Tennis Academy run lessons and tournaments on-site. Two squash courts also available. Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Al Rebat St., Garhoud, The North Bank, Dubai, Dubai. 4/230--8560; www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/jumeirah-creekside-hotel/facilities-services/the-aviation-club/. From AED95 for adults.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Since the first Dubai Men's Open in 1993, the reputation of this competition has only grown. The Women's Open came on board in 2001. Both ATP World Tour 500 series tournaments are held at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. The high-value fund has always attracted top talent with such names as Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Henin-Hardenne, and Williams. The two tournaments run consecutively and take place in late February and early March. Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium , 31a St., Garhoud, The North Bank, Dubai, Dubai. 4/417--2415; www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com. Grandstand seats range from AED75 on early days to AED700 for finals.

Peter Burwash International . PBI Tennis can be found from Hong Kong to Austria, and many places in between, including Dubai. This five hard court club has been the winter home of Roger Federer, so you might luck out and see a big gun practice hit. Even if he's not on the court, the area is beautiful, rimmed in palms and the adobe brick buildings of Madinat Jumeirah, and connected to the plush Talise Fitness club. Jumeirah Al Qasr, Al Sufouh Rd., Al Sufouh 1, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, Dubai. 4/366--6821.