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Snow on the high mountains of Lebanon

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Skiing and Winter Sports in the Middle East

Skiing in the Middle East surprises almost everyone: real powder on volcanoes in Türkiye and in the mountains of Lebanon and Morocco, plus year-round snow inside a Dubai mall. Few ski vacations let you ski in the morning and stand on a warm beach the same week.

Updated

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At a glance

Skiing and Winter Sports at a glance

Indoor snow
Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt
Biggest ski areas
Türkiye: Erciyes, Uludağ, Palandöken
Season
December to March (indoor year-round)
Highest in Africa
Oukaïmeden, Morocco
Lebanon
Mzaar Kfardebian, the Cedars

Snow in the sun

The region's mountains are higher, and snowier, than most visitors expect. Central and eastern Türkiye have long, cold winters and modern lift systems; Lebanon's Mount Lebanon range gets reliable snowfall within an hour of the Mediterranean; and Morocco's High Atlas, seen from the rooftops of Marrakech, is white for much of the winter.

In the Gulf, snow is engineered. Ski Dubai opened inside Mall of the Emirates in 2005 and remains one of the most famous indoor ski slopes in the world, complete with resident penguins. It was followed by Snow Abu Dhabi and, in Cairo, Ski Egypt, so families can toboggan at minus temperatures while it is warm outside.

Saudi Arabia is planning its own mountain destination, Trojena, in the highlands of NEOM. It is a project to watch, alongside the other amazing things being built across the region. For more sport, see our Sport hub.

Skiers descend the indoor slope of Ski Dubai beneath its chairlift at the Mall of the Emirates.
Photo: Filipe Fortes from New York, United · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Where to ski

Indoor slopes and mountain resorts, from the Gulf to the Atlas.

Indoor

Ski Dubai

Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE

An indoor ski resort with real snow, several runs including a black slope, a chairlift and a snow park, kept below freezing all year. Meet the penguins, then step out to the mall or the Kempinski hotel next door.

Official site ↗
Indoor snow park

Snow Abu Dhabi

Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi, UAE

A large indoor snow park built for families, with snow play, rides and tobogganing rather than ski runs. A cool afternoon in the capital, open year-round.

Indoor

Ski Egypt

Mall of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

Africa's first indoor ski slope, with real snow, ski lessons and a penguin encounter. An easy outing from Cairo's luxury hotels.

To be confirmedPlanned

Trojena

NEOM, Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia

A planned year-round mountain destination in NEOM's highlands, designed to offer outdoor skiing and mountain sports in Saudi Arabia. It is a project in development; check NEOM's official site for its current timeline.

Mountain resort

Erciyes

Kayseri, Türkiye

A ski resort on the slopes of a dormant volcano, transformed in recent years with modern lifts and long, open runs. Kayseri's airport makes it easy to combine with Cappadocia's cave hotels.

Mountain resort

Uludağ

Bursa, Türkiye

Türkiye's best-known ski resort, in the mountains above the old Ottoman capital of Bursa, with a string of slope-side hotels. A short trip from Istanbul.

Mountain resort

Palandöken

Erzurum, Türkiye

A high, snow-sure resort in eastern Türkiye with long, steep runs and dry powder. Erzurum hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade.

Mountain resort

Kartalkaya

Bolu, Türkiye

A forested resort between Istanbul and Ankara, popular for its deep snow and tree-lined runs. A weekend favorite with Istanbul skiers.

Mountain resort

Sarıkamış

Kars, Türkiye

Known for its light, crystal powder and pine forests, in Türkiye's far northeast. Pair it with the historic city of Kars.

Mountain resort

Mzaar Kfardebian

Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

Lebanon's largest ski area, less than an hour from Beirut, with dozens of runs spread across three mountain sectors. On clear days, skiers can see the Mediterranean.

Mountain resort

The Cedars

Bsharri district, Lebanon

One of the oldest ski areas in the region, near the ancient Cedars of God grove and the Qadisha Valley. A beautiful, high resort with a long season.

Mountain resort

Faraya and Laqlouq

Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

Smaller, friendly ski areas close to Mzaar, with cross-country trails and snowshoeing. Easy day trips from Beirut.

Mountain resort

Oukaïmeden

High Atlas, Morocco

Africa's highest ski resort, about an hour and a half from Marrakech, with lifts reaching above 3,000 meters. Snow varies by year, so it is best as a day trip when conditions are good; see the Atlas Mountains.

Mountain resort

Michlifen

Ifrane, Morocco

A small ski area in the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, near the alpine-style town of Ifrane. A charming winter stop between Fes and the mountains.

Indoor or mountain?

ResortCountryTypeSeason
Ski DubaiUAEIndoor slopeYear-round
Snow Abu DhabiUAEIndoor snow parkYear-round
Ski EgyptEgyptIndoor slopeYear-round
ErciyesTürkiyeMountainDecember to March
UludağTürkiyeMountainDecember to March
PalandökenTürkiyeMountainDecember to April
Mzaar KfardebianLebanonMountainDecember to March
OukaïmedenMoroccoMountainJanuary to March, snow permitting
TrojenaSaudi ArabiaMountain (planned)To be confirmed

Questions travelers ask

Can you really ski in the Middle East?

Yes. Türkiye and Lebanon have full mountain resorts with lifts and long seasons, Morocco's Atlas gets snow most winters, and Ski Dubai offers real snow indoors all year.

Is Ski Dubai good for beginners?

Very. It offers lessons for all ages, gentle beginner slopes and all the clothing and equipment you need, so you can arrive in summer clothes.

When is the ski season in Türkiye and Lebanon?

Usually from December to March, with the best snow in January and February. Higher resorts such as Palandöken can run into April.

Is Trojena open?

Trojena is a planned mountain destination in NEOM. Check NEOM's official site for its current timeline before making plans; for what is open in the region today, see our Sport hub.

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Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.