What age can my child start sailing at DOSC?

Weekend Learn to Sail Beginner and the taster session start at age 6 for water-confident children. The Intermediate group starts at age 8, and Sailors of Tomorrow is for ages 6-8.

Does my child need to know how to swim?

Weekend Learn to Sail asks for children to be water confident, and Sailors of Tomorrow asks for confident swimmers. Ask the club if you're unsure whether your child is ready.

How much does junior sailing cost?

For Term 1 of 2026-27, weekend Beginner and Intermediate courses are AED 2,500 for non-members and AED 1,995 for members (six sessions). Sailors of Tomorrow is AED 3,000 for non-members and AED 2,400 for members (12 sessions).

Do we need to become members?

No. Junior courses list a non-member price, and members pay less. The club car park is for full members, so non-members park nearby.

Is there a trial session?

DOSC's dinghy page lists a three-hour taster session for water-confident children aged 6+, booked online. None is listed on the junior booking page right now, so ask the club when the next one runs.

On Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai.

Dubai Offshore Sailing Club — Junior Sailing

OutdoorsSailing

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Umm Suqeim

Trial class

Ages6+years and up
PriceAED 2,500a course, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereUmm SuqeimOpen in Maps

Book online

Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) has been sailing in Dubai since 1974 from its beachfront clubhouse on Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim 1. It runs an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) training centre for adults and juniors alongside its racing fleets. For children, Weekly Weekend Learn to Sail runs in three-hour sessions on Saturday or Sunday through the term. The Beginner group is for water-confident children aged 6 and up and works towards RYA Stage 1 or 2. The Intermediate group (age 8+, RYA Stage 2 needed) works towards Stage 3 or 4, and the Saturday Advanced group (RYA Stage 4 needed) prepares young sailors for performance dinghies. Midweek, the Sailors of Tomorrow Programme is for confident swimmers aged 6-8, sailing Optimist dinghies on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. Courses list both member and non-member prices, so you can book without joining the club. DOSC also runs Sailability, which the club describes as sailing for everyone regardless of prior experience and level of competence.

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The activity

Sailing, explained

Learning to sail means learning to read wind and water, steer and trim a small boat (a dinghy), and use balance and teamwork to get the boat where you want it to go. Children start with a qualified instructor in small dinghies built for one or two sailors, and follow a step-by-step syllabus. At DOSC that is the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) youth scheme, which moves from Stage 1 basics such as boat control and safety towards independent sailing and, later, performance dinghies and racing. Along the way it builds confidence on the water, problem-solving and resilience, and gives children a sport the whole family can share.

Who it's for

Weekend Learn to Sail Beginner: water-confident children aged 6 and up. Intermediate: age 8 and up, with RYA Stage 2. Advanced: RYA Stage 4. Sailors of Tomorrow: children aged 6-8 who are confident swimmers. Children aged 6-8 or under 40kg sail Optimist dinghies; sailors over 40kg sail RS Zests, Teras or similar double-handed dinghies. Courses are taught in English only. Sailability is open to everyone regardless of experience; ages aren't published, so ask the club.

What to expect

Weekend Learn to Sail is a fixed weekly term: one three-hour session every Saturday or Sunday, Beginners 10am-1pm and Intermediate and Advanced 2pm-5pm. Term 1 of 2026-27 runs six weeks (Saturdays 5 Sep-10 Oct, Sundays 6 Sep-11 Oct), so ask DOSC about the next term's dates. Your child attends only the day booked (no switching Saturday to Sunday) and there are no make-up sessions for missed weeks. Cancellations need 72 hours' written notice before the course starts. The club car park is for full members; students and non-members park nearby. Ask DOSC what to bring and when the next taster runs.

Highlights

RYA Learn to Sail for water-confident children from age 6, 3 hours every Saturday or Sunday of the term (dosc.ae)
Weekend Beginner and Intermediate terms: AED 2,500 for non-members, AED 1,995 for members (scm.dosc.ae)
Sailors of Tomorrow for ages 6-8 in Optimist dinghies, Wednesday or Thursday 4pm-6pm, 12 sessions a term (scm.dosc.ae)
Intermediate group from age 8 (RYA Stage 2 needed) and a Saturday Advanced group (RYA Stage 4 needed) (dosc.ae)
Sailability runs October to April on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificates of Achievement (dosc.ae)
4.6 on Google from 1,096 reviews, 771 of them five-star (Google listing)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

DOSC holds a 4.6 rating on Google from 1,096 reviews, with 771 five-star and 224 four-star ratings against a small number of one- and two-star reviews (23 and 16).

The facts

Ages: Weekend Learn to Sail Beginner and taster: water-confident children from age 6; Intermediate: from age 8 with RYA Stage 2; Advanced: RYA Stage 4 needed; Sailors of Tomorrow: ages 6-8, confident swimmers (dosc.ae; scm.dosc.ae)
Prices: Weekend Learn to Sail Beginner or Intermediate, Term 1 2026-27 (6 sessions): AED 2,500 non-members / AED 1,995 members. Sailors of Tomorrow, Term 1 (12 sessions): AED 3,000 non-members / AED 2,400 members (scm.dosc.ae)
Schedule: Weekend Learn to Sail: 3 hours every Saturday or Sunday of the term (Advanced: Saturdays); Beginner 10am-1pm, Intermediate and Advanced 2pm-5pm; Term 1 2026-27: Sat 5 Sep-10 Oct, Sun 6 Sep-11 Oct. Sailors of Tomorrow: Wednesday or Thursday 4pm-6pm, 9/10 Sep-9/10 Dec 2026 (scm.dosc.ae)
Trial: Three-hour taster session for water-confident children aged 6+, booked online; ask DOSC for the next date (dosc.ae/trainingcentre/dinghy/)
Languages: English
Where: Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
How to book: scm.dosc.ae/booking/type/junior-dinghy-courses · +971 4 394 1669 · [email protected]
Opening hours: Every day8am–midnight

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Questions parents ask

Good to know

Parking: the DOSC car park is reserved for full members; parking for students and non-members is available nearby (scm.dosc.ae)
No make-up sessions for missed weeks, and a Saturday booking can't be swapped for a Sunday. Refunds before the start carry a 10% admin fee (scm.dosc.ae)
Membership isn't needed to book a junior course; members pay a lower fee, and children up to 18 are free on a DOSC membership (scm.dosc.ae; dosc.ae)
The clubhouse is open every day 8am-12am. These are clubhouse hours, not sailing session times, and the menu includes a kids' menu from 12pm (dosc.ae)
Sailing queries: [email protected]; Sailability: [email protected] (dosc.ae)
Wheelchair-accessible entrance, toilet and car park; Wi-Fi; card and NFC payments (Google listing)