Dubai residents looking to scale new heights can soon give the brand new Mountain Extreme a whirl.
The rock climbing destination, previously located in Business Bay, is all set to reopen in early October – but in a different space.
Its location has shifted to Al Quoz, where it will feature bouldering and climbing spaces spanning more than 9,000 square feet, which is why it’s being touted as the city's largest rock climbing centre.
What to expect
The new facility will have a training and warm-up zone with a MoonBoard, an interactive and computerised training wall where climbers can see their problem areas and share performance rankings with others around the world.
It will also have some challenging climbing routes for more advanced athletes, set up by world champion Manuel Cornu.
For beginners, it will be offering the Nicas scheme – a UK climbing programme designed to promote development and accredit individual achievements on climbing walls. This is open to anyone aged 7 and over.
In fact, one of the main aims of the new facility is to introduce more people to rock climbing as a sport, with a kids’ club where UK-certified climbing instructors will teach those aged 6 and above how to climb and boulder safely.
Those looking for a little rest after a climb – or parents killing time while their children scale the walls – can head to a specialty coffee shop on the mezzanine deck, which features views of the action.
Re-opening and safety precautions
While the official reopening is set for early October, only members will be able to visit for now. Founder of Mountain Extreme, James Falchetto, says this is all part of safety precautions to minimise the spread of Covid-19.
“We have to limit the number of people we can welcome at any one time. Our members from our first location deserve to be the first to try the new gym, so they get to book themselves in," he says.
However, anyone can sign up for a new membership and book climbing slots using the venue's online calendar.
"We are just not allowing walk-ins and day passes in order to control the number of people in the gym and keep a comfortable and safe environment for everyone,” Falchetto adds.
The climbing walls have been created to encourage social distancing, with routes and boulders separated by blank space.
“We are sanitising the mats and holds regularly, climbers have to disinfect their hands before and after climbing, and we have suspended lending climbing equipment to avoid contamination,” says Falchetto
Memberships start from Dh650 per person for a month. Details can be found at mtnextreme.com/membership
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
ICC Intercontinental Cup
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (captain), Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Saqlain Haider, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Naveed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Boota, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed
Fixtures Nov 29-Dec 2
UAE v Afghanistan, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Ireland v Scotland, Dubai International Stadium
Namibia v Netherlands, ICC Academy, Dubai
SEMI-FINAL
Monterrey 1
Funes Mori (14)
Liverpool 2
Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
