Anyone know the lowdown on kiting in Dubai?
I am heading there in March for work and and there is nothing like mixing business with pleasure. (the above should be added to the "you know your addicted when" post, this normally applies to chicks not kiting)
SC
Have a gander at this thread:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61322
I was there for 3 months, twice once in winter and once in summer. There is **** all wind there, best of getting a 15m/19m flysurfer to compliment a 12m inflatable. There is alot of flysurfer kites there, and R&D seem to be popular.
Thanks heaps for the reply's, while not the news I wanted to hear, still appreciated. I think I will save my baggage allowance and not pack the kite gear.
Steve
I would def bring the kite gear, because the place is a ****hole and thats about the only thing that will keep you sane there.
Hi,
I spent 3 years there recently and came back to Oz because of the lack of wind. The great beaches have been bulldozed and in Dubai there is only Wollongong/Jumeirah Beach next to the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Some kiters have moved to Ajman beach further north. Abu Dhabi, 2 hours south, has better winds and some good islands to kite from.
Average wind 10 -15 knot seabreezes Feb - Oct with the odd sharmal ( desert wind) blowing 25 knots but offshore. The sea water is too hot for a good seabreeze to happen. The best winds happen from Feb to May although rarely over 15 knots. When the wind did increase to 20 knots many were unprepared because they didn't have small enough kites.
Most kite sizes there are 13m - 20m, flysurfers abundant, big boards (e.g. Doors).
Be prepared to sit on the beach for hours in order to catch half an hour of wind, from April to November, in 45 C degrees, 90% humidity and sea temp about 37 C.
I did this for 3 years and the learning curve was very long due to the marginal conditions but the guys who live there are addicts and kite when they can.
When you decide to go let me know and I'll give you names of people you can contact, or make yourself known to when you do down to Wollongong Beach. Also get on to www.dubaikiteforum.com
SC99,
I attempted to go kiting there late August 09, with no luck. Barely any wind and water temps fo 27C+! In conversation with the locals they all suggested to hit the Omani coast which is not too long a drive. So if you have a weekend free that is my suggestion, unless you like hypersaline swims! Also make sure you check with the locals on the regulations. In the middle east they can be highly sensitive of where and how you access the water, and a little bit of cash doesn't go astray to avoiding international incidents.
I spent a week there end of July. found the same thing :( the thing that made it worst is when i got in to the country the first thing i notices were huge posters with a guy kite surfing. I was so impressed until I was going back through customs, on my way home, and noticed the guy was flying a two line... speaks for its self. 
but on saying that amazing country.besides Spain, i have to say I enjoyed it more there then anywhere else I had travelled (almost the whole of europe) they make you feel like kings and your money goes a long way.
