IN THE UAE

Beat the summer heat with late-night swims at these 10 spots

Love to swim but hate the sun? Here are 10 places for after-dark dips.

Very little compares to the delicious feeling of slipping into a cool pool to ward off the sweltering heat. But swimming in the UAE’s beaches and open-air pools in summer can sometimes feel a little like stepping into a bathtub.

Luckily, you can cool off without having to brave steaming temperatures thanks to extended pool hours at hotels in the UAE – and for the first time, night swimming at a public beach. Here are the pools (and one beach) around the country that you can paddle in way after sunset.

AL MAMZAR BEACH PARK

There’s more than a long stretch of white sandy beach and barbecue spots to this park on the Dubai-Sharjah border. Its little-known gem is a well-equipped swimming pool with slides for kids, separate changing rooms and showers that is open until 9pm all week. (Mondays and Wednesdays are ladies-only days.) With an entry fee of Dh10 for adults and Dh5 for kids you’ll be laughing all the way to the pool and back. Call 050 8589897.

RAMADA ABU DHABI CORNICHE

In the capital, you can take your swimming regimen to new heights at the Ramada’s rooftop pool. It’s open until 9pm over the summer, so you can soak up glittering night views of Abu Dhabi’s skyline, too. A day pass costs Dh75 on weekdays and Dh90 on weekends; gym access is inclusive. Call 02 401 9000.

LE MERIDIEN MINA SEYAHI

Here’s why we love infinity pools: One, they recreate the endlessness of swimming in the open sea; two, they’re visually stunning. The infinity pool at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi has a third factor working in its favour – it’s open until midnight all summer long. The Horizon Pool Lounge has a night swim offer that gives access to the infinity pool from Sunday to Wednesday for Dh175 per person, which includes Dh50 worth of food and drinks. Kids under 12 swim free. Call 04 511 7373.

EMIRATES PARK AND ZOO RESORT

Dive into the wild side of things with this zoo resort’s day pass. For Dh60 per person, you can splash around in the resort’s junglethemed pools complete with waterfalls and slides for little ones until 9pm. Want a meal with the splash? For an additional Dh19 you get a burger and soft drink to top off your swim and for Dh29 you can get a voucher for Dh50 spend at the in-house Flavors Restaurant. Call 02 506 9000.

NASIMI BEACH, ATLANTIS THE PALM

Nasimi Beach’s pool party opens up the Atlantis’ Zero Entry Pool late into the night, every Thursday. Simply bring along your swimsuit and a happy-go-lucky attitude – music by a resident DJ will set the mood. There’s poolside snacks and pool games like hunting for gold in a pool full of duck floaties. Free; from 7pm until late. Call 04 426 2626.