Hey Raha blog · Dubai school life

UAE Kids' Activities Guide: Football, Swimming and Multi-Sport Clubs in Dubai

By Marie Adly · 7 October 2026

Dubai has a wide choice of kids' football, swimming and multi-sport clubs, and starting ages vary: PTSA and Elite Sports Academy's football programme start at 3, Barça Academy Dubai at 4, Brazilian Soccer Schools Dubai at 5 and Villarreal Dubai Academy at 6. Hamilton Aquatics' parent-and-baby swimming classes start from 3 months. This guide lists each club's programmes, ages and venues from its own website, checked on 7 October 2026.

Last updated: 7 October 2026

Ask any Dubai parent what fills their afternoons and you'll hear the same answer: football, swimming, and a calendar that looks like air-traffic control. There's a huge choice of kids' clubs here, which is wonderful, until you're trying to compare ages, venues and programmes across ten websites at 9pm.

So I've pulled the basics together in one place. This guide covers football academies, multi-sport academies and swim schools in Dubai, with what each one offers, which ages it takes and where it trains, all taken from the clubs' own websites.

How this guide works

• It's not a ranking. Clubs are listed alphabetically within each section, and none of them has paid to be here.
• The facts come from each club's own website, checked on 7 October 2026. Venues, timetables and programmes change from term to term, so always confirm with the club before you sign up.
• No prices. Fees vary by venue, programme and term, so ask the club directly or check its website.
• We'll keep adding clubs. Gymnastics, tennis, martial arts and the arts are next.

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Football academies

Barça Academy Dubai

What they offer: FC Barcelona's official soccer school programme in the UAE. It includes a Pre-Academy (U6), the Academy programme, a competitive Selection programme (U9–U16), a girls' programme and goalkeeping training. Players train three times a week (two training sessions and one match session), and sessions last 1 hour 15 minutes (1 hour for the youngest group). The season runs from early September to the end of June. Ages: Boys and girls aged 4 to 18. Where (Dubai): The academy's site lists GEMS Wellington International School (Sheikh Zayed Road), GEMS Dubai American Academy, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park and Ash Mount School. Good to know: Trial sessions are needed for most ages to find the right team. Players need AstroTurf-suitable footwear, shin guards, a named water bottle and the academy uniform. Written evaluations come twice a season, in January and June. Transport isn't provided. If you'd prefer your child not to appear on the academy's social media, the academy asks you to tell it before you enrol. Website: dubai.barcaacademy.com

Brazilian Soccer Schools Dubai

What they offer: Football coaching based on Futebol de Salão, the Brazilian style of futsal, played on a smaller pitch with a heavier, low-bounce size 2 ball for lots of touches. Sessions focus on individual skill, with small-sided games and the ICFDS Skills Badge Scheme. Ages: 5 to 16, in three stages: Minis (5–8), 8–11 and 11–16. Where (Dubai): Several venues across Dubai, including Deira International School in Dubai Festival City. The full, current list is on the academy's locations page. Good to know: Free taster sessions are available. Website: braziliansoccerschools.ae

Prime Talent Sports Academy (PTSA)

What they offer: A football academy approved by the UAE Football Association, led by UEFA-licensed coaches. Programmes include U5 Mini-Kickers, an U8–U18 Academy, a Girls Academy and one-on-one training. The football curriculum is by former France international Florent Malouda, and the academy hosts the TSC Cup tournament. Ages: 3 to 18. Where (Dubai): The Sustainable City, Dubai. The academy also lists Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Good to know: The registration form offers a one-session free trial. Website: ptsa.ae

Villarreal Dubai Academy

What they offer: An official partner academy of the Spanish club Villarreal CF, using the club's training methods with UEFA-certified coaches. There's a Junior Program (U6–U18), a Girls Program (U6–U18) and a Senior Program (U23), with internal leagues and friendlies. The academy also runs holiday camps in the summer, winter and spring breaks that are open to non-members. Ages: Junior and girls' programmes for ages 6 to 18. Camps for boys and girls aged 6 and up. Where (Dubai): The trial booking form lists LLFPM – Meydan, Hartland International School (Sobha Hartland), Swiss International Scientific School (Al Jaddaf) and Ballers – Downtown Dubai. Good to know: Some pages on the academy's site still refer to the 2024–25 season, so confirm current venues and timings when you book a trial. Website: villarrealdubai.com

Multi-sport academies

Eagles Sports Academy

What they offer: A football academy for beginners up to competitive players. It includes Squads that play in Dubai's Youth Football League, a girls-only football programme, goalkeeper sessions and an internal Football Development League with weekly fixtures from the youngest teams up to U19. There's also a Basketball Academy, multi-sport, football and basketball holiday camps, and facility rentals. The site also mentions karate. Ages: Football runs from the youngest age groups up to U19. Basketball covers ages 2 to 14 (Pre-Foundation 2–6, Foundation 7–14). Where (Dubai): Contact the academy for current venues. Good to know: Coaches are UEFA-licensed, and the academy describes a scholarship pathway (EDU Sports) for top older players. Website: eaglessportsacademy.com

Elite Sports Academy

What they offer: Football, swimming, basketball and gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), plus holiday camps: multi-sport (ages 4–12), football (7–12), basketball (6–14) and swimming. Swimming runs from Baby & Parent classes to competitive squads, taught in line with the Swim England framework. Ages: Football 3–18, swimming 1–16+, gymnastics 3–12. Where (Dubai): Many school and community venues, including JESS Jumeirah, JESS Arabian Ranches, Regent International School, Raffles World Academy, Dubai British School Jumeira, Jumeira Baccalaureate School, Victory Heights Primary School, DAMAC Hills, North London Collegiate School, Harrow International School Dubai, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai International Academy Al Barsha and several Dibber nurseries. It also runs in Abu Dhabi. Good to know: The academy publishes its pricing on its website. Website: elitesports.ae

ProSportsUAE (PSA Academy)

What they offer: A community sports academy, founded in 2014, offering football, gymnastics, swimming, basketball, tennis and MMA across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. Swimming includes toddler classes, learn-to-swim, swim squads and adult classes. Ages: All ages and levels. Football groups are organised by birth year (for example U10 and U16). Where (Dubai): Venues include Mirdif (GEMS Royal) for football, the PSA Gymnastics Centre in Karama, Mirdif (Al Mawakeb Al Khawaneej) and School of Modern Skills in Muhaisnah, which has swimming. Good to know: Each venue page lists class days and times by age group, and trial classes are available. Website: prosportsuae.com

Swimming

Elite Sports Academy and ProSportsUAE also offer swimming (see above).

Hamilton Aquatics

What they offer: Learn to Swim across eight levels, from Hammy's Little Swimmers (parent and baby) to Hammy's Skills School and Hamilton Stroke School, plus competitive squads (Club, Development, Competition and Performance pathways), water polo, artistic swimming and adult and masters swimming. Ages: Hammy's Little Swimmers from 3 months to 3 years, Skills School from 3 years, Stroke School from 6 years. Where (Dubai): More than 30 locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including Dubai British School (Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Park), Emirates International School (Jumeirah and Meadows), Fairgreen International School, GEMS Jumeirah Primary, GEMS Royal Dubai, Safa Community School, Uptown International School Mirdif, GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail and Silicon Oasis, GEMS Founders School Dubai South and VEO venues. Good to know: Free online or in-person assessments are available, and lessons are booked through the Hamilton Bay app. The swim season is split into two terms of about 21 weeks each. Website: hamiltonaquatics.ae

Speedo Swim Squads

What they offer: Baby & Toddler swim (with a parent), Learn to Swim (a maximum of 10 swimmers per teacher), competition squads, artistic swimming, and adult and masters swimming. Learn to Swim levels run from Ducklings and Dolphins through Improver, Bronze, Silver and Gold/Futuras. Ages: All ages. Ducklings and Dolphins is for 3–5 year olds, with up to 4 swimmers per teacher in Ducklings and up to 5 in Dolphins. Where (Dubai): The Burj Club (Downtown), Citizens School, Al Areesh Club, Collegiate International School, Dubai International Academy (Emirates Hills, Al Barsha and Town Square), Dubai College, Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou (Academic City), Nord Anglia International School, Raffles World Academy, Swiss International Scientific School and Al Badia Living. There's also a venue at Raffles World Academy Sharjah. Good to know: Established in 1995. Parents can track progress on the Speedo app. Term 1 2026–27 started on 31 August, and extra sessions are running over the October half-term. Website: speedoswimsquads.com

How to choose the right club

• Start with geography. A brilliant club 40 minutes away at 5pm will be hard to keep up. Look for a venue near home or school, and note that many clubs run at school sites after hours.
• Match the programme to your child. Some want fun and friends, others want matches and squads. Most clubs here offer both a recreational and a competitive track.
• Book the trial or assessment. Most clubs above offer a free trial, taster or assessment. Watch how coaches speak to the younger children.
• Ask the practical questions. Group sizes, makeup sessions, what happens in bad weather, whether you can watch, how the club communicates, and its photo and social media policy.
• Check the season and term structure. Some clubs run a September-to-June season, while others run terms. Know when payments are due and what happens over the school holidays.
• Think about the whole week. Two activities plus homework, reading and family time is plenty for most little ones. If your helper does pick-ups, check the timings fit their day too.

Keeping track of kit days and session times

This is where many families come unstuck, and it's rarely about the club. It's football boots on Monday, swim bag on Wednesday, match day on Saturday, a venue change emailed on Thursday night, and the school's PE kit on top of all that.

What helps:

1. One weekly view. List every school and club commitment by day, with the time, venue, kit and who's driving.
2. A "kit by day" line. "Tue: PE kit + swim bag (goggles, cap, towel). Thu: shin pads + boots + water."
3. Share it with whoever does the run. Our free template for briefing your nanny or helper on the school week has an "after school" column built for this.
4. Pack the night before. The KG bag habits in our KG packing checklist, like named bottles, spare clothes and labels, work just as well for club bags.
5. Plan for timetable shifts. School hours change in Ramadan, and clubs often adjust too. See Ramadan school timings in Dubai. Holiday camps cluster around the 2026-27 school breaks.

Sources

• Barça Academy Dubai: FAQ, Programmes, Our venues
• Brazilian Soccer Schools Dubai: Home, Minis 5–8, Ages 8–11, Ages 11+, Locations
• Prime Talent Sports Academy: About, Register
• Villarreal Dubai Academy: About, Academy program, Junior program, Camps, Book a trial
• Eagles Sports Academy: Home, Football, Basketball, Holiday camps
• Elite Sports Academy: Home, FAQs, Locations, Swimming, Pricing
• ProSportsUAE: About, Locations, Mirdif (GEMS Royal) football, Swimming
• Hamilton Aquatics: Home, Learn to Swim, Squads, Assessment and venues
• Speedo Swim Squads: Home, Locations, Learn to Swim

Frequently asked questions

What age can kids start football in Dubai?
It depends on the academy. PTSA starts at 3, Barça Academy Dubai at 4, Brazilian Soccer Schools Dubai at 5 and Villarreal Dubai Academy at 6. Elite Sports Academy's football programme also starts at 3.

What age can babies start swimming lessons in Dubai?
Hamilton Aquatics' parent-and-baby classes start from 3 months. Speedo Swim Squads and Elite Sports Academy also run baby or baby-and-parent classes.

Are there girls-only football programmes in Dubai?
Yes. Eagles Sports Academy, PTSA, Villarreal Dubai Academy and Barça Academy Dubai all list girls' programmes on their websites.

Do Dubai sports academies offer free trials?
Many do, including free tasters, trials or assessments at Brazilian Soccer Schools Dubai, PTSA, Hamilton Aquatics and ProSportsUAE. Check each club's current offer.

Are these clubs paid to appear in this guide?
No. This isn't a sponsored list or a ranking. Clubs are listed alphabetically by type, using information from their own websites.

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