Pitch, Please! Best Indoor and Outdoor Football Grounds in Dubai
Ever tried playing football in your own backyard? I did it 3 times and eventually realized that I’m never doing it again—at home, at least. The first time, I kicked the ball into our window and smashed it. The second time, I nearly beaned the cat. And if that wasn’t enough, I almost nailed our neighbor with the ball. Geez.
That’s when I figured I should take all this chaos to a real sports field. I called up my buddies to help me review the best football grounds in Dubai. This way, I’ll have plenty of room for my epic kicks. Check out these venues and get your soccer fix too!
How much do football ground rentals cost in Dubai?
Football ground rentals in Dubai can cost anywhere between AED 250 and AED 600 per hour, depending on the location, pitch size, and facilities. Other factors include the schedule and the extra services requested.
How We Chose
1. Ahdaaf Sports Club
Ahdaaf Sports Club has been a big deal in social sports since 2009. We believe this football ground is your all-in-one spot in Dubai: you can rent football pitches and courts, and it’s got spaces for events and even birthdays!
We think this spot is also great at tailoring things to what you need, whether it’s budget-friendly or you’re planning a big tournament. For us, it’s a cool place for students and workers to boost their morale.
And when it comes to comfort, we reckon this place is awesome for summer football! The folks here hook you up with a case of water bottles, and you can chill inside with the AC blasting. Do let the management know if it gets a tad too chilly, though.
Just a heads up: there might not be a lot of parking spaces here, and the traffic can be pretty crazy. We recommend planning ahead of time to avoid any conflicts before your event.
If you’re interested, just fill out an event form and send it over by email. Easy as pie!
Pros
- Caters to budget-friendly events
- Has indoor fields with AC
- Water bottles are provided
- Good customer service
Cons
- Inadequate parking
Very Good Indoor Football Fields
“Very good indoor football fields. We booked for our corporate weekly football game. Everyone enjoyed field is big.”
-Mr. Sajid, Google Review
Very Nice Pitches
“Very nice pitch you can use it for leagues and one day cup as well, have many pitches and paddle as well.”
-Mr. Hadi Zogla, Google Review
2. Football Center
The Football Center is another spot for awesome sports games. It’s also conveniently near Sheikh Zayed Road and other cool places, like Xstrike (an indoor entertainment spot) and Alserkal Avenue, especially if you’re with friends or family.
For us, it’s got a big indoor pitch perfect for 5-a-side games, where you just kick around with flexible rules. And if you’re into basketball, we love that this spot’s got courts for that too.
We also dig that this indoor football academy organizes holiday camps, academies, and sports bookings. This goes from beginner to university level, so we feel almost anyone can have a good time.
And when you get hungry from all the physical and mental action, we adore that there’s a small cafe there for some sweet treats and cool drinks.
But sometimes, the staff might cancel bookings unexpectedly. One of the clients we talked to got his game canceled only 2 minutes before kickoff! We think it’s a good idea to contact the staff right away if that happens.
Also, remember to ask the staff to turn on the AC if you need it. They might not have it running unless you ask.
Pros
- Ideal for side games
- Offers holiday camps
- Has a small cafe
- Nearby other amazing attractions
Cons
- Reports of sudden cancelations
Nice Pitch
“Nice pitch for 5v5 football! Also has a couple of basketball courts and a small cafe”
-Mr. Jonathan D’Souza, Google Review
Good Facilities
“Good facilities for indoor football and many adventures games for kids”
-Mr. Goodwin Wilson, Google Review
3. Ballers
Ballers is a state-of-the-art football ground and fitness center right in downtown Dubai. So location-wise, this is among the most accessible options here, in our opinion.
We believe you can do more than just football here too! There’s padel tennis, fitness workouts, yoga, and pilates. The way we see it, that’s a bunch of options for family and friends with different preferences.
And since it’s an open space, we recommend coming here during the colder season. We feel the seating area’s nice too, perfect for your parents or friends to watch you play with great views.
Speaking of views, this spot is nestled among skyscrapers with a killer backdrop of the Burj Khalifa. Don’t forget to snap some awesome photos now and then!
Plus, this pot even has a shop and a food truck, handy for snacks and drinks whenever you need a break. There’s lots of free parking too, making things more convenient.
Yet, there can be some confusion about fees between the staff and customers now and then. For us, it’s smart to talk it over early to avoid surprise charges.
Pros
- Accessible in downtown
- Good for sports and other workouts
- Provides stunning city views
- With a food truck and shop
Cons
- Some misunderstandings about costs
Such a Nice Place
“Such a nice place! We were watching football match ! Very nice atmosphere! We really enjoyed”
-Ms. Alisa Parkhomenko, Google Review
Absolutely Loved It
“I absolutely loved it. Perfect place to watch a football! Amazing vibes, and it’s just in downtown. Don’t forget to order “penalty” frappe. It’s yum”
-Ms. Valeria Sidelnikova, Google Review
4. Sama Sports
Sama Sports is a sports company based in the UAE. It’s located in The Gardens, so it’s got this outdoor court you can book for games.
What’s really cool for us is that you can play all sorts of sports here, not just football—like swimming, badminton, basketball, and cricket.
And although the pool’s mostly for learning to swim, we love the fact that it’s also a great spot for a quick dip after your match!
This venue also runs sports camps for children and adults too! For us, this is wonderful because it keeps the little ones active in summer or winter and gives the grown-ups a breather from city life.
Still, the facility gets overbooked at times. We heard from a previous client that the staff messed up their booking.
Though their slot was confirmed via WhatsApp, they ended up losing it to other parties upon arrival. We think it’s best to call them on the day of booking just to double-check.
Pros
- Many sports are available
- Has a swimming pool
- Offer sports camps for adults and kids
- Open every day
Cons
- Limited slots
Deserves FIVE Stars
“This Academy deserves FIVE stars Cause their football training is special and the coaches there are professional coaches so you dont have to worry….”
-Mr. Sufyan Ali, Google Review
5. Koora Dome
Koora Dome is among the city’s premier football facilities, being Dubai’s first air-conditioned dome. You can play comfortably here any time of year without worrying about the scorching heat!
Of course, there’s also an outdoor spot for those who just want to have an authentic experience, so no issues there.
Not only that, but we’re also in awe that the pitches here are 4G FIFA-approved. This means it includes stuff like shock pads that reduce the risk of injuries—a pretty impressive setup for serious players and matches, we say.
Aside from that, we appreciate the nice shower rooms with full facilities, complimentary lockers for clients, and free parking spaces close to the indoor and outdoor pitches for all visitors.
The booking process here seems pretty straightforward too, in our opinion. You can easily see court availability and choose your date, time, and play duration.
Just note that the AC may not always feel super cool. For us, it’s worth mentioning to the staff so you and your friends can stay comfortable.
Pros
- With indoor and outdoor spots
- Pitches are up to international standards
- Free lockers and parking
- Seamless reservations
Cons
- Some issues with the AC temperature
Wonderful Field
“It is a wonderful field. You can play comfortably. It has a good surface and has many soccer balls, so you do not need to take a ball with you. Its prices are very good”
-Mr. عبدالعزيز أقرع, Google Review
Great Indoor Football Arena
“Great indoor football arena I was totally unaware of. Recommend it for teams that want to play sports in an air conditioned environment”
-Ms. Premila Braganza, Google Review