Phoning and emailing friends back home to ask about the weather has to be one of the greatest perks of being an expat in Dubai.

Especially if, like me, you are a Brit.

For the British, talking about the weather is akin to a national pastime. We love it. Complete strangers can, and in my experience often do, approach each other to talk about cloud formations, wind and the possibility of the odd ray of sunshine.

So to be able to describe sunshine almost all year round is a real delight. Even when it gets too hot to actually hold a mobile phone to your ear without risking a scorched head.

Making the occasional phone call, just to ‘find out how everybody is doing’, is always that bit more satisfying when done from the beach. Especially if the report comes back that it is wet and miserable back home.

But this week Dubai has had its fair share of torrential downpour.

I can’t remember the last time I was caught in the rain here. But this week it has been unavoidable. We get about 10 centimetres of rain here every year. That compares with around 60 in London and around 190 in Mumbai.

I can’t help but notice that some people haven’t coped too well. Some disruption was bound to happen. But the flooding streets and slowed down traffic aren’t the only side effects of the downpour.

The moaning, complaining and general acting as though this might well be the end of the world has been much worse.

Yes, we’ve all had to change routines.

Yes, it has caused problems with traffic.

Yes, it means we have had to stop phoning home to boast about the weather.

But hotels are still open and businesses are getting back to normal and the end is in sight.

But if you really don’t fancy venturing out this weekend, here are ten ways to entertain yourself without leaving your home this weekend:

1) Remind yourself of a sunny day in Dubai.

The worryingly addictive Dune Bashing in Dubai game will transform your working habits forever.

This was discovered in Time Out towers about a week ago and has already been responsible for about 16 hours of lost work. And we’ve still only managed to get to level two. Time Out is not responsible for the loss of time or sanity that this game can cause. (Use the arrow buttons on your keyboard to control the buggy)

2) Read a book

When was the last time you just bolted the doors, curled up in your favourite armchair and read your favourite book while the rain lashed against the windows? It just doesn’t happen in Dubai. Check out Time Out’s reviews of the latest releases.

3) Make your own restaurant…

If you really do insist on not going out, it doesn’t mean you can’t have restaurant quality food. Follow these recipes, exclusively given to Time Out by some of Dubai’s top chefs, and you can create your own restaurant atmosphere in your own home. Just remember you still have to do the washing up.

4) …or just order takeaway

When your efforts to recreate the culinary masterpieces of Dubai go awry you can always fall back on a good takeaway. We’ve picked out our favourites here.

5) Watch a rainy day movie

Stack up on DVDs and stage your own movie marathon. Rains and storms would be a good theme, try these:

• Singin’ In The Rain - Gene Kelly will make you want to go out and splosh around in the puddle.
• Waterworld - If it doesn’t stop raining Kevin Costner’s leather and gills look will be in this season.
• The Perfect Storm - George Clooney heads to sea to battle against the mother of all storms.
• Spiderman - Watch Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst share their infamous kiss in the rain.
• Withnail and I - Remember how miserable rain can be as Richard E Grant trudges through the countryside.
• Key Largo - The incoming storm is so palpable it almost feels like a character in this John Huston classic.
• Winnie The Pooh and The Blustery Day - Friday is world Winnie The Pooh Day. Catch the little bear’s battle with the forces of nature on DVD.
• Flood - Robert Carlyle watches the water rising in this 2007 drama.
• Twister - A disaster movie (in more ways than one) about the type of people who actually chase after storms.
• The Weather Man - It is easy to blame the weatherman. Watch Nicholas Cage struggle with his life and you’ll realise that they are people too. So go easy on them!

6) Make a rainy day playlist
If a rain dance can make rain appear then a well thought out playlist for your MP3 player should be able to make it go away again. Time Out asked Dubai’s leading rock DJ, Twisted Melon, to select ten tracks that could have been inspired by the oft-soaked streets of indie’s spiritual home: Manchester.

• Red Rain - The White Stripes
• And it Rained All Night - Thom Yorke
• Chasing Rainbows - Shed Seven
• Gravity’s Rainbow - Klaxons
• Waterfall - The Stone Roses
• The River is Wild - The Killers
• The Bucket - Kings of Leon
• Storm in a Teacup - Milburn
• Float On - Modest Mouse
• Comin’ Down - The View

7) Shop from home

Hurrah for the Internet! You don’t need to risk a soaking if you want to get your allowance of shiny new stuff. Switch on your computer and indulge in some online shopping. We rather like Quick Dubai, Save and Brown Bag.

8) Have a house party

You’ve already made the food and sorted out the music. Why not go the distance and invite less weather-scarred friends over to your house.

9) Camp indoors
Don’t let something as simple as the threat of flash floods put you off camping. Stage your own camping trip in your own home by putting your tent up in your living room. Add to the vibe by half-cooking your meals, leaving the windows open all night, locking yourself out of your bathroom and inviting your neighbours to come in and scatter your belongings around the street.

10) Start planning your next trip out

One weekend in doors is probably more than enough. So have a look through Time Out’s listings for the major events in the next few weeks and go out and enjoy yourself.