Climb your way to supreme fitness at Mountain Extreme in Dubai
Calling all adrenaline junkies! Mountain Extreme Dubai is an awesome alternative for those who’d rather not go natural and climb the country’s highest peaks. Spanning over 9,000 sq. ft, this vast Al Quoz-based climbing school offers training for beginners right through to advanced climbers. Ready to get climbing? Read on for everything you need to know.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN EXTREME DUBAI
Located in Al Quoz, Mountain Extreme is an indoor wall climbing facility that features around 127 rope routes and 129 “bouldering problems”. All curriculums offered here are credited by UK-based NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme). They are offered to participants ranging in age – starting from age seven.
In the Middle East, ME is the only climbing centre authorised to award NICAS from levels one to three. That’s one of the many reasons it’s considered among the best places for wall climbing in Dubai.
AVAILABLE COURSES
Here’s more detail on the courses offered by Mountain Extreme Al Quoz.
BEGINNER – LEVEL ONE
Apart from being immensely fun, rock climbing is a great option for a full-body workout. If you are new to the sport and have always wanted to learn, sign up for the Beginner Level at Mountain Extreme Al Quoz. Level One is designed to be “easily achievable by any climber”, with all courses conducted under the watchful eye of professional instructors.
The minimum age to be accepted for this course is seven. All minors must be registered via the online form available on the ME official website before they can begin the course.
INTERMEDIATE – LEVEL TWO
Building on all that is learned in Level 1, Level 2 is an important development phase for those who wish to take up mountaineering professionally. This course requires a NICAS logbook included in the centre’s Young Climbers membership programme — available for participants aged 7 to 18. Here is a brief overview of what amateur climbers can expect from this course.
- Pre-climb checks
- Lowering and belaying using appropriate belay instruments
- Knowledge of ground anchor systems
- Choosing suitable climbing routes
- Knowledge of basic climbing techniques regarding the use of hand and feet, fold observations and more
- Teamwork and communication with a climbing partner
ADVANCED – LEVEL THREE
Those who complete Level 2 can advance to the third level at Mountain Extreme Al Quoz. Apart from gear knowledge, this phase involves climbing techniques with a special focus on bouldering. At this level, here is what students learn.
- Knowledge of different climbing gear and techniques
- Knowing different types of knots like overhand and figure of eight
- Belaying with a range of devices
- The structure of a typical climbing session ranges from warm-up exercises to peaking and warm downs
- All three levels require students to procure their own climbing shoes and harnesses
GCSE
Students of GCSE will be happy to know that Edexcel has made NICAS a syllabus for GCSE PE (indoor climbing) — specifically as part of Adventurous Activities. GCSE candidates who have completed their respective NICAS courses are still required to undergo assessments. Additionally, they must have the required logged climbs.
CLIMBING GEAR
ME Dubai aims to make every training session as safe for participants as possible. To achieve this, the facility is the exclusive distributor for equipment by Petzl, a renowned French manufacturer of climbing gear. Furthermore, they have partnered with other brands like La Sportiva, a brand well known for its climbing footwear.
MEMBERSHIP
Here is an overview of the membership pricing at ME.
Membership Type | One-Month Membership | Six-Month Membership | Annual Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
Membership Type Individual | One-Month Membership AED 680 | Six-Month Membership AED 3,100 | Annual Membership AED 5,050 |
Membership Type Couple or Family* | One-Month Membership AED 1,100 | Six-Month Membership AED 4,100 | Annual Membership AED 7,300 |
A membership at Mountain Extreme also comes with these benefits.
- Complimentary group belay course
- A single tube of liquid chalk
- Free group-based climbing training with UK-certified coaches
* Those who prefer couple or family memberships need to fulfil certain conditions, a full list of which can be found on the ME official website.
FAQS
WHAT IS THE MOUNTAIN EXTREME DUBAI LOCATION?
Want to visit or get in touch with ME? Here are details about the facility’s location and contact information:
- Mountain Extreme Dubai Address: Al Quoz 3, 4th Street – Dubai
- Contact: +971-4-236-6040
- Email: shop@mtnextreme.com
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday 12:00 pm to 09:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday 09:00 am to 04:00 pm
WHAT IS NICAS?
The National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme or NICAS is a climbing award scheme that involves rope climbing with the aid of harnesses. This form of climbing involves two participants, one climbing while the other holds the rope lowering the climber. Furthermore, the programme is designed to promote and accredit achievement in artificial climbing structures.
WHERE OTHER ADVENTUROUS ATTRACTIONS CAN I ENJOY IN DUBAI?
Apart from Mountain Quoz, you can also take on the challenges at TEPfactor in Dubai, which is an indoor adventure park. Additionally, XDubai with its slingshots and ziplines is very popular among adrenaline junkies in the emirate. Those who prefer the great outdoors can try out desert safaris, paintball and these other adventures in Dubai.
That concludes our guide on Mountain Extreme Sports. Looking to beat the heat this summer? Have a read of our guide to indoor activities in Dubai for summer.
Want to take your new climbing skills out into the wild? You can head to Jebel Jais and these other mountains in the UAE.
(Cover image credit: Mountain Extreme Sports Facebook page)
