Amid the towering skylines and hectic lifestyle of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, a part of the UAE that often gets ignored is the desert.

Tourists and newcomers to the country might indulge in a bit of 4x4 off-roading or a tour but there is a more peaceful and tranquil way to experience this unique terrain, namely desert hacking.

Organised through the Emirates Equestrian Centre in Dubai, hacking offers the opportunity for those with a degree of riding experience to follow trails through the desert around Bab Al Shams, just outside Dubai.

Held early mornings and later in the afternoons on Mondays/Tuesdays, riders are given a 10-minute session with a horse, to get used to the animal, before being led by an experienced instructor for a 90-minute trek across the dunes.

The treks are done in groups of as many as ten or twelve, allowing an initimate experience with the great outdoors, and a chance to take in all the ambience the desert has to offer.

EEC manager Paul McAuley, who has been based at the centre for six years, said: “It’s just about getting people out of the city and into the countryside because that is where many of us are from. “The quiet and the peace the countryside brings can never be replicated in big cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and some people forget that amid all the hustle and bustle.

“There is plenty of wildlife to be seen, we have geckos, gazelles, oryx, desert foxes and camels. “It’s a truly unique landscape and it would be a genuine shame for people to ignore it, because it is so beautiful and relaxing.”

As for the hacking, Paul is keen to stress that it is not for absolute beginners, due to safety issues, the centre also offers a variety of courses for adults and children looking to get into the sport. With the summer months approaching, the heat may be increasing but the horses still need to be exercised, albeit at a more leisurely pace.

Paul added: “For people learning to horseride this time of year is great for getting into it because the horses have to stay active but they are not able to gallop around, so a gentle trot does them wonders.”

The EEC is a fully recognised British Horse Society (BHS) approved riding and training centre and was established in 1983.

Paul added: “Horse riding is a great opportunity to get children used to being around animals and understand them as well as getting outdoors. “Also, if you are a shy child who maybe doesn’t like getting involved in team sports then horse riding offers something different.

"It is also a great sport for everyone in the family to get involved in and there are not too many activities you can say that about.”