THIS week players are taking advantage of the winter break by heading to warmer shores.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea stars have been flown to Dubai by their clubs, where they have endured hot weather training and enjoyed time with their loved ones.
The city in the United Arab Emirates has become one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.
It is now the fourth most visited place in the world for tourists – ahead of places like Tokyo, Amsterdam and even New York City – attracting 16million international visitors annually.
With a break in the schedule, a number of Premier League players have become among those millions to grab some guaranteed sun, where temperatures this year can reach 31 degrees.
Chelsea stars Mason Mount and Reece James have been spotted enjoying time at a zoo, while Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum had a meal celebrity chef Salt Bae’s steakhouse.
And Arsenal star Bernd Leno brought his gorgeous missus, Sophie Christin for some beach time.
John Terry also loves heading there with wife Toni and his kids during his down-time, while in-form striker Danny Ings is another regular.
So, what do the players get up to in Dubai when they’re out there?
Danny Ings has taken in the pleasures of the Middle East
NUSR-ET
The Turkish chain of steakhouses has become one of the most popular in the world in the last year for one reason: Salt Bae.
Unless your head has been buried under a rock in the last year, you will have seen the viral video of head chef and owner Nusret Gokce sprinkling salt on a slab of beef.
That video has catapulted him, and his restaurants, into the limelight.
Salt Bae has become a tourist attraction in his own right, with footballers, musicians and actors flocking to the restaurant to get their picture taken with him.
RASHED BELHASA’S PRIVATE ZOO
One of the most important things ANY self-respecting football must do when they touch down in the UAE is visit 18-year-old Belhasa’s private residence.
Situated inside his mansion, the rich teen who calls himself Money Kicks on Instagram, has lions, tigers, panthers, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, and even bears in his zoo that Premier League stars queue up to get a snap with.
Both Reece James and Mason Mount have taken advantage of Belhasa’s hospitality this winter break, while Paul Pogba, David Luiz and Lionel Messi are past visitors.
BUDDHA-BAR
A VIP nightclub located in the Grosvenor House hotel, the Oriental themed bar features table service and bartenders who wow the crowd with juggling and fire shows.
Buddha-Bar is also a restaurant offering a Far Eastern-themed menu.
Liverpool players arrived to the club in a stretched Hummer limousine for Steven Gerrard’s farewell party a couple of years ago.
The Buddha-Bar is one of the most popular venues in the city
AT.MOSPHERE
The venue at the top of the world, At.Mosphere offers light lunch and high tea during the day before turning into one of Dubai’s most chic night spots.
It sits at the top of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – offering stunning views from nearly a kilometre in the air.
At.Mosphere offers some of the world’s most stunning views from a viewing platform at the Burj Khalifa
BURJ KHALIFA
Speaking of which…
Taking in the view at the top of the Burj has become a must-do on many a travellers’ wishlist.
Standing at a dizzying 828m (2,717ft), or 125 floors up, the viewing platform is the highest observation deck in the world.
The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building, standing at 828m
BURJ AL ARAB
John Terry’s hotel of choice.
This Burj is the epitome of luxury – officially it is a five star hotel, but such is the decadence of the venue, many regard it as the world’s only SEVEN star hotel.
The cheapest room will set you back an eye-watering 1,600 a night.
Two-bedroom presidential suites are even more – clocking in at nearly 7,000 for one night.
SKYVIEW BAR
Another rooftop bar, this one sits 200m above sea level inside the Burj Al Arab.
Cocktails are the speciality at the Skyview – you can even create your own.
The venue once held the record for the world’s most expensive cocktail, selling a drink costing just under 4,000.
The view from the Skyview Bar – where there’s a cocktail on sail for 4,000
ZERO GRAVITY
A beach club that puts others around the world to shame.
Zero Gravity hosts wild pool parties that rival those found in Miami and Ibiza.
JUMEIRAH BEACH
Don’t let the boiling temperatures of the sand under foot put you off.
The gorgeous white sand beach is the most popular in the city.
It boasts warm waters, a cityscape in the background and all the water sports you could want.
The white sandy Jumeirah Beach is a massively popular destination
WILD WADI WATER PARK
The world’s biggest water park.
A must-do for visitors with kids, Wild Wadi boasts three pools and 17 slides.
Some of those slides are among the very biggest found in the world.
Wild Wadi is the world’s biggest water park with three pools and 17 slides
DUBAI MARINA
The Dubai Marina welcomes two types of people – those who want to look at some of the world’s biggest and most expensive yachts…
And the people who own them.
The Marina is an artificially built canal city that stretches for two miles.
A number of residential properties, offices, bars, restaurants and clubs overlook the Marina.
The Dubai Marina has a number of restaurants, clubs, bars, offices, residential properties and super yachts
WAFI MALL
Dubai is the shopping capital of the Middle East and, increasingly, the world.
Opened in 1997, the mall boasts more than 200 shops, offering everything any shopaholic could ask for.
Jewellery is one of the mall’s signatures.
Precious metals for sale are of the finest quality and available for much cheaper than it is in Europe.
