Rather like the interactive map of Dubai which we are very happy that others have made questioners aware of, we're also more than happy that other regular helpers on this forum have an easy way to access this list so here it is. Hopefully all you'll have to tell people to put into the search engine is the above-named topic and it will appear below. Here goes:

WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO - A GENERAL OVERVIEW:

http://www.iexplore.com/cityguides/United+Arab+Emirates/Dubai/Where+to+Go

travelguides.lastminute.com/sisp/index.htm…

dubaicity.com/what_to_see_in_dubai/what_to_s…

TIME IN TRANSIT AT DXB:

timeintransit.com/airport/…

We have put the following in some sort of alphabetical order to try and make it easier for you to find what you want - hope this helps. Some things to do are more active than others so take your pick but also check that your travel insurance covers you for anything you book:

BALLOONING

http://www.ballooning.ae/

We're sure there are others companies, just happened to pick this one off Google.

BIRD WATCHING:

That's for the feathered variety - see "Twitching" below

For the alternative see Time Out Dubai: http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/

BOAT TRIP

Boat trip from the Marina next to Le Royal Meridien in Jumeirah

CITY TOUR

The Big Bus Company

It's the same company as in London and you can hop on and off the bus to see the bits you want to see:

www.bigbus.co.uk/dub/html/dub_contact.html

Adult AED175 : Children (5 - 15 yrs) AED100 : Family (2 adults 2 children) AED450

Ticket valid for 24 hours and includes Red Route City Tour, Blue Route Beach Tour (with English speaking guide). Free daily Arabian Dhow Cruise and Arabian Treasures walking tour (Oct - Apr), free entrance to Dubai Museum and Shk Saeed Al Maktoum House

Alternatively, if there are 2 or more of you you could take a cab. Cab will be air conditioned, only some of the buses have their lower deck with A/C (last we heard). Cabs do not include entrance fees that some places charge, although the charges are small.

Ticket valid for 24 hours and includes Red Route City Tour, Blue Route Beach Tour (with English speaking guide). Free daily Arabian Dhow Cruise and Arabian Treasuraes walking tour (Oct - Apr), free entrance to Dubai Museum and Shk Saeed Al Maktoum House

ARABIAN ADVENTURES

arabian-adventures.com/ToursSafaris/…

They have regular tours or you can tailor-make your tour.

There are a host of other tour companies as well, AA is just an example and owned by Emirates Airline Group.

CLAY PIDGEON / TARGET SHOOTING

This one is closed in the summer but ...

Clay pigeon shooting (or target shooting) at Jebel Ali Shooting Club (part of Jebel Ali Golf Resort) followed by dinner there (Tex/Mex style). If you've ever shot clays at any - well most - local shooting clubs in the UK you'll be amazed. It's just like a hotel but without the rooms. Trap, skeet, sporting - it's all there. And they provide everything: http://www.jebelali-international.com

DESERT SAFARI Sundowner (dune bashing, dinner and belly dancing) maybe with Arabian Adventures. They also offer a tour called, I think, Just for You which means that you get a private dinner in the dunes. After the Arabian Adventures general web address is a link to a brilliant report by Puppyjake about their experience of that tour:

arabian-adventures.com/ToursSafaris/…

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g295424-i872-k1593…

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve - http://www.ddcr.org/

225sq.km of conservation reserve about 45 mins from the city / beach.

You can do the sundowner (above) in the DDCR.

There are only 4 tour operators that are licensed to go into the reserve.

http://www.arabian-adventures.com/

http://www.alphatoursdubai.com/

http://www.lama.ae/Static/about_us.html

http://www.travcotravel.com/main.htm

These are a host of other companies that offer a similar style tours (sundowner), but not in the DDCR.

Or if you're not interested in the desert, many companies offer tours to Hatta (on the Oman border - about 90 mins from Dubai) in the Hajar Mountains to see the wadis etc.

DINNER CRUISE

Dinner cruise on Bateaux Dubai on Dubai Creek:

jebelali-international.com/properties/bateau…

Review: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g295424-i872-k1699…

Our review: tripadvisor.com/…9917161

jebelali-international.com/properties/bateau…

Needs to be booked in advance - you can't just turn up and hope to get on.

Went on this dinner cruise on the Creek on Saturday evening with (as Michael Winner would say) two companions - the DBW and a friend. Hadn't done this before (so can't compare it with any other cruise dinners) so it was a new experience and here are my and my DBW's thoughts and observations:

It is quite a new boat and is air-conditioned so dinner cruises take place throughout the year. There are no lunchtime cruises apart from corporate ones (minimum 40 people I think) unless you're thinking of taking 40 of your closest friends with you!

The menu is very good and there is a vegetarian menu available on request although I'd recommend that you ask to have this emailed to you if you book before you come to Dubai. However the dinner menu is quite comprehensive - 7 starters, 7 entrees and 6 or 7 puddings including cheese. Of the starters I remember there were snails with Thai spices, Arabic mezze, tiger prawns with roasted tomato and avocado aioli (very good), ballotine of foie gras. The entrees included breast of chicken (delicious), rack of lamb, herb crusted hammour(like cod), steak of some description. Puddings included stunning creme brulee, a double chocolate pudding (with a crusty outside and a runny centre).

All food and drink orders are taken before the boat leaves at 8.30 (and it leaves promptly so don't be late) and no alcohol is served until the boat leaves.

The food is all cooked on board and was very good - hotel quality - and the alcohol was priced very much the same as you'd find in most hotels. The service is exceptional given that there well over 100 people on board and that everything has to be done within 2 1/2 hours. You get a complimentary "mocktail" when you board and a plate of canapes. Oh yes, there were 4 different canapes that night and they made sure that everyone on the table, whether you were 2 or 8 people, got one of each. Nice attention to detail.

The price of the dinner cruise obviously includes dinner but doesn't include alcohol. Initially the boat cruises up the creek to the floating bridge past, on the Bur Dubai side one of Shk Mohammed's sister's homes (mind boggling), and then does a Uturn and goes out towards the Arabian Sea where it does another Uturn by the Heritage Village and heads back to it's mooring. Some of the other dinner cruise boats can go a bit further out towards the Arabian Sea but they do travel quite a bit faster and it seemed that a couple of them did two trips up and down the Creek although I may be wrong. Bateau Dubai travels at a very leisurely pace and gives plenty of opportunity for photo buffs to get some lovely pics.

Inside is non-smoking but they allow around 15 minutes between courses so those of you who enjoy an "intercourse" cigarette or whatever can go outside and enjoy the view with your wine or whatever your tipple of choice is.

We all enjoyed it very much but would probably say that unless you're staying in this part of Dubai and are looking for another dining option then perhaps it's not worth the trek (though the traffic) from, say the Marina or Jumeirah beach. If you've spent the earlier part of the evening at the souks though then it would be worth thinking about for dinner on the way back to your hotel in either of the above mentioned areas.

As you can see from the website Bateaux Dubai is operated by Jebel Ali Hotel and, having stayed there several times can safely say (from our experience) that it meets the standards you'd expect if you were dining at one of their restaurants.

DIVING

We're not divers ourselves but here's what we know from friends who are. Diving in Fujeirah is great - everything from short trips from Al Aqah beach (there's a PADI dive centre at le Meridien there) to day long trips up to Musandam in the very north of Oman.

Diving in Oman is also supposed to be fantastic (Musandam is in Oman but is closer to Dubai than the other places in Oman).

Here are some sites you can check out:

For UAE:

www.7seasdivers.com PADI

www.alboomdiving.com PADI

www.diversdown.tk PADI

www.emiratesdiving.com PADI

www.jumeirahinternational.com PADI

www.sandybm.com

www.scuba-2000.com

www.scubainternationalnet.net PADI

As we say, we don't dive ourselves and these are details taken from the Explorer series of guides.

It's a pretty gentle drive of about 2 hours from Dubai to Fujeirah and le Meridien at Al Aqah is a good standard 4 star hotel (we've stayed there several times and wouldn't hesitate to go back).

We've also read somewhere that there's a boat you can live on while diving in the Musandam area in the far north of Oman (it's often likened to a tropical Norway - the mountains drop straight into the Arabian Sea from quite enormous heights) but I can't find the details at the moment. Anyway, hope this has given you something to look at and think about ...

PS: We have friends who dive and have always enjoyed their diving from le Meridien at Al Aqah - night dives etc too

FISHING

http://www.oceanactive.com/

Here's a link: www.dubailife.com/sports/index.asp… then click on Captain Vic's.

FYI - Ajman is about 45 mins from Jumeirah Beach.

Jebel Ali hotel:

jebelali-international.com/JAIH/properties/j…

If you can't see anything you fancy in the above fishing section, then put fishing in the TA Forum search engine as there have been some posts in the last 6 months.

GO KARTS

Go-karting / driving lessons / motor sports at the Autodrome:

www.dubaiautodrome.com/general/index.aspx

Or at the Emirates Kart Centre nr Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa

www.emsf.ae or tel +0714 282 711

GOLF

http://www.dubaigolf.com/

There are more courses than mentioned in this link and more coming.

HALF DAY EXCURSION

Perhaps lunch at Hatta Fort in the Hajar Mountains?

http://www.jebelali-international.com/

HELICOPTER RIDE

Helicopter ride (not sure if you can visit some parts of the Palm so that may be the only way to see it)

Google it and take your pick.

HORSE RACING:

www.emiratesracing.com/era/rcJebelAli.cfm

http://www.dubairacingclub.com/

ICE SKATING:

Al Nasr Leisureland - open to the public except when in use by clubs.

Open 09.00 - 24.00

www.alnasrleisureland.ae or telephone +9714 337 1234

Galleria Ice Rink at the Hyatt Regency in Deira

Open 10.00 - 13.30 : 14.00 - 17.30 : 18.00 - 21.00www.dubai.regency.hyatt.com

MOSQUE

Visit Jumairah Mosque: dubaicityguide.com/tourism/sightseeing-4.asp

Note all arms and legs must be covered for the above, that's both sexes.

Ladies must cover their heads as well.

The tours are now held on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday at 10:00am. It has gone very professional since I was last there and you have to pay 10dhs for which you get a very informative booklet and a tour of the mosque. Tour starts at 10:15 and ends at 11:15am, you are asked to be there for 10:00am for 'registration' (payment). No children under 5 allowed though, and don't worry about clothing as they have abayas and head scarves for anyone not suitable attired.

www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10223987.html

MOTOR SPORTS

See Go Karts

QUAD BIKES

If you enjoy any type of motorsport do not leave Dubai without dropping by Big Red, the massive sand dune on the road from Dubai to Hatta. Most Thursday and Friday afternoons in the winter months (November - March) you can go along and have a go at quad biking.

SEAPLANE FLIGHT

Dubai based seaplane:

http://www.seawings.ae/

SHOPPING

Shopping - there's a surprise ... Dobuy ain't called Dobuy for nothing! (BUT, if you're expecting huge bargains you'll likely be disappointed. Check out prices of cameras, dvd etc in your home country first) Prices aren't that much different and at least you get a warranty/guaranty which is valid in your home country.

Here are the websites for some other larger malls in Dubai (and there are more coming ..... !):

MALLS IN DUBAI:

http://www.dubaicityguide.com/shop/ (Includes Souks)

The biggest are these:

http://www.malloftheemirates.com/

http://www.ibnbattutamall.com/

http://www.burjuman.com/site/index.php

http://www.waficity.com/

http://www.deiracitycentre.com/

www.dubaifestivalcity.com/cntn.aspx?id=4

http://www.goldanddiamondpark.com/

http://www.dubaioutletmall.com/index1.htm

This last is on the edge of town, quite easy to get to by cab (30 -> 40 mins) and prices are cheaper - not fully open yet.

In general all the shops in the above are open from 10.00 - 22.00 but later on Thursday, Friday and (sometimes) Saturday, usually until midnight.

Antiques Museum: Al Quoz Industrial by Interchange 3 on Shk Zayed Road. Get your taxi driver to call for directions. +9714 347 9935 or +9714 347 9729

Locally known as the House of Tat (but full of bedlinen etc, lamps, souvenirs, T-shirts etc etc etc)

Gold & Spice Souks:

These basically back onto each other and are in the Deira/Al Ras area on the Sharjah side of the Creek so it makes sense to visit them in tandem with each other. The Gold souk is open 09.30 - 13.00 and 16.00 - 22.00 but Friday hours (being the Holy Day) may be afternoon hiurs only so Spice Souk hours would probably be the same. Don't forget to haggle for the best price.

The Textile Souk is across the Creek from the Gold and Spice Souks in Bur Dubai and the opening hours are the same as the Gold and Spice souks. If you want to buy fabric from around the world this is the place to go - and don't forget to haggle.

A WORD OR TWO ABOUT PRICES AND GUARANTEES/WARRANTIES .....

CHECK THE PRICE IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY!

There seems to be this myth that if it's in a shop in Dubai, then it will likely be cheaper than in your home country. This may well not be the case, thus you must check the price on any specific item that you are thinking of buying here before you come.

WARRANTIES

You must check the warranty on electrical goods to make sure you're covered when you go home. Some manufacturers use lettering in the warranties and the ones that we have come across here are:

EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and MENA (Middle East & North Africa). You must check to see you are covered, obviously a worldwide warranty is the ideal.

Nearly 100% of all electrical goods here come at 240V, except for those imported from the US, but most retailers will give you the transformer.

Some also come with two-pin plugs.

SKIING

Skiing at SkiDubai in Mall of the Emirates (around dh175/person for 2 hours including hire of all equipment except gloves and hats (they even have disposable socks!):

http://www.skidubai.com/

Or if you're not into skiing/snowboarding lunch at Apres in the Kempinski (part of the Mall of the Emirates) watching everyone else fall over on the ski slope. Good pizzas and great fun.

SKYDIVING

http://www.skydivedubai.net/

SURFING

http://www.surfersofdubai.com/

TEN PIN BOWLING

Located in the former Safestway Supermarket, on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Defense Roundabout.

Can't see a website, but here's the phone number: 04 343 1000

THEATRE

Al Sahra - Jumana, a show with lights, lasers, fireworks in the desert - only during the cooler months. Check website for details

http://www.alsahra.com/

TA Comment on the above:

tripadvisor.com/…9285338

TRAFFIC JAMS:

This is one of the few free activities you can enjoy in Dubai although it's probably more properly termed an "inactivity" lol. However your time can be used to count the number of people using mobile phones, operating computers, putting on make-up, eating and drinking, reading the paper, consulting a Dubai road map which was out of date the minute it was published, driving with children on their laps and any number of fascinating things Dubai's drivers do while they're out and about!

TWITCHING

See this link:

http://www.tommypedersen.com/UAE.htm

Then click on "Guiding" in the left hand column.

WATER SPORTS

All kind of water sports including, wind surfing, sailing, fishing and scuba diving.

www.dimc-uae.com/english_html/index.html

WATER THEME PARK

http://www.wildwadi.com/

Here are some more ideas, some are above, some are not: dubaicity.com/What_to_do_in_dubai/dubai_Attr…

AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO HOME:

DUBAI DUTY FREE

dubaidutyfree.com/cgi-bin/…Catalog