DWTC offers indoor sports during Ramadan

Dubai World Trade Center has been busy with business events and exhibitions, but this Ramadan, the Sheikh Saeed Hall, venue of Dubai Sports World, is becoming a major hub for indoor sports activities attracting enthusiasts from different parts of the city and adjacent Emirates.
 
As many teams and players have always been looking for a suitable venues to conduct friendly matches and games during the summer, the indoor sports complex created by Dubai Sports World, has become a major attraction.
 
The organisers said hope to add more activities since large crowds are expected during Ramadan.
 
Ric Lambert from Apsa Rugby Academy, an active participant in Dubai Sports World, said: “This is the first time that we are having a spacious indoor sports facility within the Dubai World Trade Center. The response during the first three weeks was cool, but from the third week onwards, people started coming in. We expect to have more players coming to use the indoor facilities during Ramadan, as it is an ideal venue for playing various games. As the business activities and exhibitions are limited in summer, DWTC has converted the spacious Sheikh Saeed Hall into an indoor sports stadium, perhaps the biggest such indoor stadium in the city.”
 
Over 25,000 square metres of dedicated indoor space is filled with full sized football and rugby turf pitches, two beach football pitches filled with natural sand, beach volleyball pitches, basketball courts and a multipurpose area for other games.
 
“There are other indoor sports facilities in the city, but not as big as the current indoor sports complex in Sheikh Saeed hall. Summer is a lean period for business. We used to practice at the The Sevens Ground. Now rugby enthusiasts are getting training and practice here. We practice for two hours every day There are also some major tournaments scheduled during Ramadan,” added Lambert.
 
There are several sports programmes as part of Ramadan in Dubai.
 
The event organised jointly by the Dubai Sports Council, the Roads Transport Authority and the Land Department is getting better and there are more pitch bookings for Ramadan sports activities. 
 
Sports teams and academies have to pay Dh450 per hour and individual players have to pay Dh200 per hour for pitch time.
 
“Any teams are welcome to come and play in these indoor stadiums. We promise the same thrill of playing in an open ground and we hope it is going to be an annual event. We used to practice all over Dubai, but now there is a centralized location for our team members to come and practice. The indoor temperature is cool and the facility is easily accessible. We are pleased with the facility,” he added.
 
The coaches are English speaking and the DWTC safety standards are strictly followed.
 
Abdulla Qassem, Senior Vice-President, Dubai World Trade Centre, recently said about Dubai Sports World: “The Holy month of Ramadan is a time for giving and sharing. As part of Dubai World Trade Center's commitment to the residents and visitors to Dubai, we present a unique combination of the most welcoming atmosphere, the most professional service and the most exciting facilities.”
 
He said the nation's largest ever indoor sports festival, Dubai Sports world, provides an opportunity for all ages to enjoy an unrivalled experience within a purpose built multi-sport arena.
 
Humaid Abdulla Saleh, a volunteer from the Dubai Sports Council said they are thrilled about the indoor sports facility which will be busy during Ramadan. “It is the first time that we are having an indoor sports facility here. Our idea is to encourage the youth to participate in various sports activities during summer. During Ramadan, we expect a big crowd here as major football tournaments are scheduled by various academies.”
 
Week days are better than weekends as sports enthusiasts from various schools and even offices, drop in during lunch time. The event which started from July 1 is specially created for Ramadan activities. Due to harsh weather outside a new indoor facility has been created for the youth and adults to remain active and play different games such adult football, rugby, and baseball, Mini Tennis, Table Tennis and Pool.
 
There are also video games kiosks for PlayStation and Xbox games with a Magic Planet area, Majlis and restaurants and coffee shops within the complex. This is in addition to the Dubai Summer Surprises venues created for kids and youth.
 
Saci Ouhib, Head Coach, of the International Football Academy (IFA), which is having a facility for indoor football, said: “We have got 100 kids coming every week to practice here. Currently we don’t have a permanent base in the UAE and our football training programmes are conducted in 17 major schools and sports clubs across the UAE.
 
“It is an ideal location as players can avoid the extreme temperature outside and come to the Dubai World Trade Center from Sharjah and Ajman. In many of these places, there are restrictions for playing in the open spaces or the sports grounds are very expensive. IFA is conducting Youth Football Camp for children (5-15 years old) from Sunday to Thursday.”
The prices range from Dh 650 for full week/full day and Dh 75 for any one day or half day games.
 
Parents bring their kids (5 to 15 years old) for football camp (from 9 am to 4 pm and there are regular football matches and games in the indoor football ground, a replica of an original football ground. Between 5 pm until mid-night there are football and beach ball games.
 
Various teams book the pitches for friendly matches, competitions. The facility is open to everybody -males, females and children. There are also fitness and wellness centres like Ignite Fitness and Wellness Centre ready with its personal trainer.

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