Where to play football in Dubai

Enjoy a kickabout at this state-of-the-art venue in Downtown Dubai while taking in views of the iconic Burj Khalifa. Ballers offers four five-a-side and two eight-a-side pitches, all of which have FIFA-grade turf and knee-friendly shock pads for better cushioning. There's also a performance academy, where players of all ages and abilities can up their game, plus a development academy helping talented youngsters to thrive.

Located at Ibn Battuta Mall, Precision Football seeks to develop players by 'gamifying' the footballing experience. This cutting-edge approach allows participants to track their every kick on an app, and hone skills such as penalties, reaction times and first touches across different zones. Gather a group of friends to play on various pitches, including five-, seven-, nine- and 11-a-side, or even join a league, while young players can receive top-notch coaching in the academy.

Located in Al Quoz, U-Pro Dubai (United Pro Sports) has a range of facilities across 46,000sqft of space. The indoor venue has two five-a-side football pitches with surfaces covered in FIFA-approved artificial grass. Football pitches can be rented out to schools, businesses or individual teams, with air-conditioned facilities, spectator areas and automated scoreboards. The centre’s football academy coaches youngsters who dream of soccer stardom, or you can book the venue to train your kids to stay fit and healthy.

Ahdaaf Sports Club aims to encourage healthy living while bringing communities together. The award-winning organisation has indoor venues dotted across Dubai, including six pitches in Al Quoz and two in Al Qusais. There are a multitude of options and budgets for anyone looking to arrange themed tournaments and leagues, corporate games and pitch rentals. Youngsters can also participate in the Ahdaaf Football Academy, which dedicates itself to developing youth players from grassroots to a professional standard – teams range from the under-sixes to the under-16s.

Koora Dome has three indoor five-a-side football pitches, all of which are fitted with FIFA-approved artificial turf, letting you enjoy a match within the air-conditioned dome. Part of Al Wasl Sports Club, the facility also has two outdoor football pitches and can host everything from branded activations to corporate events. For younger players, Koora Dome offers youth football development programmes and a variety of after-school activities.

Open only in summertime, this indoor sports venue spans 25,000sqm within Dubai World Trade Centre. It features six pitches onsite – three for seven-a-side and three for five-a-side. Youngsters looking to improve their abilities can take their pick of football academies led by experienced coaches, or you can rent a pitch for friendly matches. Elsewhere at Dubai Sports World, enjoy a range of activities including cricket, padel and badminton. You can even try the upcoming sport of teqball – an intriguing mix between table tennis and football.