Can my child join with no football experience?

Yes - the club says its programmes suit both beginners and advanced players, with placement based on age and ability.

Can we try a session before committing?

Yes - register through the academy form on the club's website for a free trial session, and a team representative will contact you with the details.

How much does it cost?

Fees aren't published on the club's website - ask the provider.

When are the training sessions?

Training days and times aren't published on the club's website - ask the provider for the Ripe Market timetable for your child's age group.

Al Ittifaq Football Club — Ripe Market

Q: What age can my child join?

From age 4, placed by age and ability. The site gives the upper age as 14 on its academy page and 18 in its FAQ, so ask the provider which age groups train at Ripe Market.

Q: Are matches included?

The club says eligible teams take part in local leagues, tournaments and friendly matches through the season, and its U9-U14 youth teams compete in the UAE FA Youth League.

Ball SportsFootball

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Sufouh

Free trial

Ages4+years and up
WhereAl SufouhAl Ittifaq Football Club - Ripe MarketOpen in Maps
Not publishedAskPrices and times

Book online

Al Ittifaq FC is a Dubai football club with a youth academy, and one of its training venues is Ripe Market at the Dubai Police Academy in Al Sufouh. The academy takes children from age 4 and describes coaching built around technical skills, game understanding and physical development, with Beginner, Academy and Professional levels and placement by age and ability. Children with no football experience are welcome. The club says its academy has UEFA-licensed coaches, and eligible teams play in local leagues, tournaments and friendly matches through the season. Its youth club enters U9-U14 teams in the UAE FA Youth League. Besides Ripe Market, the club also trains at Etisalat Academy Sports & Leisure Club in Muhaisanah 2 and at Universal American School, Dubai Festival City. New families can register online for a free trial session. Prices and training times are not published, so ask the club which age groups train at Ripe Market and when. On Google, this branch has a 5.0 rating from 6 reviews.

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The activity

Football, explained

Football (soccer) academies for kids build technical skills - passing, dribbling, ball control - alongside fitness, teamwork and game understanding. Sessions are usually grouped by age band, mixing structured drills with small-sided games, and many academies enter their older or more advanced groups into local leagues and tournaments. Younger children typically start with simple ball-mastery games before moving into more tactical training as they progress. It's suitable for complete beginners as well as kids who already play and want more structured coaching, and academies generally place children by both age and ability.

Who it's for

Children from age 4, beginners through to advanced players, placed by age and ability across Beginner, Academy and Professional levels. The site gives the academy's upper age as 14 on its academy page and 18 in its FAQ, so ask which age groups train at Ripe Market.

What to expect

New families register through the form on the club's academy page and get a free trial session; a team representative then gets in touch with the details. Sessions focus on technical skills, game understanding and physical abilities, and children are placed by age and ability, so beginners are fine and your child won't be dropped into a group that is too advanced. The site doesn't publish what to bring, session length or training times at Ripe Market - ask the provider when they call you back.

Highlights

Academy takes children from age 4, beginners included, placed by age and ability (ittifaq.ae)
Beginner, Academy and Professional levels (ittifaq.ae)
Free trial session when you register (ittifaq.ae)
Eligible teams play local leagues, tournaments and friendlies; U9-U14 youth teams compete in the UAE FA Youth League (ittifaq.ae)
Coaching by UEFA-licensed coaches, as the club describes it (ittifaq.ae)
5.0 on Google from 6 reviews (Google listing)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

This branch holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 6 reviews, and all 6 are 5-star.

The facts

Ages: From age 4; upper age given as 14 on the academy page and 18 in the site FAQ - ask the provider
Prices: Ask the provider
Trial: Free trial session when you register through the academy form (ittifaq.ae)
Where: Ripe Market, Dubai Police Academy, Umm Suqeim St, Al Sufouh 1, Dubai · Etisalat Academy Sports & Leisure Club, Muhaisanah 2, Dubai · Universal American School, Dubai Festival City
How to book: ittifaq.ae/join-al-ittifaq-academy · +971 58 508 5458 · [email protected] · wa.me/971585085458
Opening hours: Mon–Fri9am–6pm
Sat–SunClosed

Guide · 7 min readRead: What age can children start football in Dubai?

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Venue: Ripe Market, Dubai Police Academy, Umm Suqeim Street, Al Sufouh (Google listing; ittifaq.ae)
Free parking lot on site (Google listing)
The club also trains at Etisalat Academy Sports & Leisure Club, Muhaisanah 2, and Universal American School, Dubai Festival City - check which venue suits your child's age group (ittifaq.ae)
Contact by phone or WhatsApp on +971 58 508 5458, or email [email protected] (ittifaq.ae)