AIRTH Encyclopedia of Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality

Introduction

Ski Dubai is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. It was opened in 2005, and it is known for its family-friendly character. Although not the oldest indoor skiing experience in the world, Ski Dubai has accomplished many “firsts” that have set it apart from the others, including its creation of the Ski Dubai Snow Park. Of Ski Dubai’s five slopes of varying difficulty, one is a black run, the first indoor slope of its kind. The facility also houses the first indoor zipline at sub-zero temperatures and incorporates additional recreational offerings, including bobsleds, a tubing run, snow bumpers, a climbing wall, a snow plough playground, an ice cave, a zorbing option, and a Gentoo and King penguin colony with which guest can interact, depending on their package of choice. This diversification of options is unprecedented in the indoor ski world and has earned Ski Dubai a spot as one of the United Arab Emirates’ top visitor attractions.

Description of the destination or original product

The facility includes slopes as well as the Ski Dubai Snow Park, a 4,500-meter square complex that provides activities for people of all ages. Visitors have the opportunity to choose from packages that include selected activities within the snow park (or even a package that combines the snow park with an iFly Dubai indoor skydiving experience). The park provides jackets and trousers, snow boots, a disposable pair of socks, helmets, fleece gloves, a standard locker and ski/snowboarding clothing (for those who select the Discovery Lesson option). Ski Dubai hosts an in-house ski school as well as Snow Pro, a retail outlet where visitors can purchase the newest equipment on the market. Ski Dubai is home to an 85-meter-high indoor mountain, and its longest ski run has a length of 400 meters. The facility is located in the Mall of the Emirates, which is one of the leading shopping centers in the Middle East as well as Europe.

Process that led to and facilitated change

According to Ski Dubai CEO Phil Taylor, one of the driving factors that led to the creation of the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East is that many people who live in the United Arab Emirates have never experienced snow before. As a destination that attracts tourists with innovations and architectural feats, such as the Burj Khalifa and Palm Islands, Ski Dubai aptly fits the destination profile.

Ski Dubai was developed by the Majid Al Futtaim Group, which strives to innovate and enhance experiences in the field of leisure and entertainment. Thinkwell Design and Production was responsible for the development of the Snow Park portion of Ski Dubai. Having accomplished a vision never before realized, the organization has become the world’s leading expert in the field of indoor interactive snow play.

Implementation and success story

Ski Dubai has been named the world’s best indoor ski resort for 2016-2017 by the World Ski Awards, and it continues to be highly regarded in the indoor ski industry. Although a ski resort in the middle of the desert, Ski Dubai has worked toward creating a destination with a high level of sustainability. The facility needs to maintain a sub-freezing temperature, which is made possible by Ski Dubai’s efficient design; acting as a giant refrigerator, it consumes as little energy as a hotel of average size. With the implementation of intelligent technology, including voltage stabilizers, overall energy consumption is reduced. Additionally, all old and used snow is recycled and re-purposed to assist the air conditioning system in keeping the facility cold. To make the environment as healthy as possible, the snow and penguin filtration systems contain no chemicals whatsoever. Lastly, all of the over one million socks handed out annually to guest are donated to those in need through Oxfam International.