DAY-CATIONS

Head out of Dubai for a day – or two Bedouin Camp in RAK: This is a brilliantly authentic camp, offering real goat-hair tents, a campfire and a proper underground oven from where your food appears. It will set you back only Dh190 per night. www.arabianincentive.com Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort: It has seen better days, but you couldn’t wish for more a more superlative spot than this quaint place e on the East Coast, 90 minutes from Dubai. The chalet accommodation provides unpretentious luxury in the form of a great beach and evening barbecues and my kids have never bored of snorkelling around Snoopy Island. www.sandybm.com. Arabian Wildlife Centre: Awesome wild animals and desert landscapes are on display in this museum, with more than 100 species from the Arabian peninsula. Brilliant and educational, Dh15, free for under 12s. Sharjah Aquarium: This boasts 250 species of marine life and under-floor tanks you can walk on, all for Dh5. Blue Souq: This stunning airconditioned market, which opened in 1979, is a treasure trove of all things Arabic. Get original Arabian antiques, bartered down to great prices. Dreamland Dreamlan Aquapark: Frolicking with hippos next to a volcano? This expansive water park in Umm Al Quwain has sensible prices, overnight camping, a wave pool and fun for all. w www.dreamlanduae.com Je Jebel Hafeet: It’s the tallest mountain in the UAE, just outside Al Ain, and offers two wow factors – the immense view and cooler temperatures due to the altitude. Be sure to visit Green Mubazzarah at the foot of the mountain (with chalets and hot springs) and the Al Ain Wildlife Park.