Snowdomes in the sand

Not to be outdone by Ski Dubai, Abu Dhabi's Snoworld is due to open later this year, complete with ski slope, ice rink and shopping mall.

Snoworld will be part of the Marina Mall, one of the world's biggest malls, with 900,000 visitors each month.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia is looking for a piece of the snow action and is examining the feasibility of constructing a Ski Trac, a rotating ski slope.

Back in Britain, plans for SnOasis in Suffolk, which would be the world's biggest indoor ski slope, have been put on hold by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. A public enquiry into the planning application could take up to two years.