Scaling the corporate ladder is what Dubai's all about. But if you want to push the verticle limits, there's another form of climbing here, writes Andy van Smeerdijk, features editor.
Ask most people about their memories of childhood and, chances are, they'll recount tales of them and their pals scrambling up and down trees like a troop of macaques. So the burning question is: at what age do we stop climbing for pleasure? And why?
Of course, this question is completely lost on John Gregory, the doyen of UAE rockclimbing. Like many of the country's 100-strong community, he never stopped climbing and was instrumental in setting up many of the climbs here in the mid-1990s.
So what attributes do you need? A wiry character, he notes that "your power to weight ratio, to a certain extent, is an advantage in climbing." Translation: fatties climb at your peril.
The best place to start is at Dubai's only commercial indoor climbing wall, located at the Pharaohs' Club at Wafi.
"The Wafi wall's somewhere to get a feel for climbing. It's a good training area to develop strength for climbing outside." The wall is open several times a week for public sessions and also offers lessons for beginners.
Half the challenge is finding a handgrip. Once you get hold of this, most first-timers make the mistake of lifting themselves with their arms, rather than letting their legs do the work.
"A lot of it is balance. You've got to place your weight over the feet and do as much with the feet as possible," says Gregory.
But there's more to it than climbing. You learn how to set-up your harness so that while one person climbs, the other 'belays' - standing below, holding the rope attached to the climber in order to break his fall, should he do so.
It's very strenuous and the following day, you'll discover muscle groups you never knew existed.
Outdoors, the art lies in reading a rockface. "You stand at the bottom, pick a line then try to climb up it," says Gregory.
Established climbs are graded according to difficulty so someone approaching them for the first time has some idea of how challenging they are.
For Gregory, climbing is more than negotiating a rockface. "You go out camping in really nice places and meet like-minded people. It's great."
The Lowdown
Indoor climbing: Pharaohs' Club climbing wall at Wafi offers public climbing sessions (for experienced climbers (2 hours, Dhs50) and lessons for beginners (one hour, Dhs50).
Bookings required, 04-3240000, http://wafi-health-leisure.com
Local knowledge: There's no rockclimbing body in the UAE. However, experienced climbers can contact John Gregory on 050-647120. Otherwise, attend the public climbing sessions on Monday and Tuesday at Wafi; a good place to meet climbers.
Traditional climbing: This consists of climbing a rockface and inserting wedges as you progress, which are then clipped on to your harness.
Sports climbing: This is where there are permanent wedges or clips on a rockface that you can attach your harness to.
Suitable for less skilled climbers.
Equipment: If you want to climb at Wafi, you'll need to buy your own boots and harness. For rockclimbing, you'll need ropes and the whole kit.
Suppliers: Go Sports, Mall of the Emirates, 04-3413251 and Ibn Battuta, 04-3685344. Picnico, Beach Road, Umm Suqiem, 04-2246064.
Safety: Always bring a first-aid kit and a mobile or satellite phone. Climb in a group and always tell someone where you're going.
Top spots: Wadi Bih in Ras Al Khaimah has about 20 climbing sites. There are also climbs north of Hatta and in the Musandam. The top climbs in the region are at Jebel Misht, north of Nizwa in Oman.
Websites: Global Climbing (www.globalclmbing.com) is an online climbing resource and a supplier of climbing products. REI climbing (www.rei.com) is one of many overseas sites where you can order equipment.
