What age can my child start rugby at Dubai Sharks?

Mini rugby starts at Under 4s, and the club takes rugby enquiries for boys and girls aged 3 to 17.

Is there rugby for girls?

Yes. Girls play in the mixed minis up to Under 12s, then in girls' Quick-Rip teams at Under 12s and Under 14s and tackle teams at Under 16s and Under 18s.

When and where is training?

All rugby training is at the club's ground at Al Habtoor Polo Resort. On the timetable last updated in October 2024, minis train on Saturdays from 8:00 to 9:00am and most groups from Under 9s up also train on a Tuesday or Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Confirm this season's times with the club.

How much does it cost?

Membership fees are not published on the club's website. Ask the provider at joinus@dubaisharks.com.

Can my child try a session first?

The website does not mention a trial session. Ask the provider.

Does the club do anything besides rugby?

Yes. On the 2024-25 programme, Dubai Sharks also ran junior netball from school year 2 to year 13, training on Wednesdays at Jebel Ali School, with matches at Wellington Silicon Oasis and Nakheel Netball Hub JVC. Confirm this season's groups and venues with the club at netball@dubaisharks.com.

Dubai Sharks Rugby: mini and youth rugby at Al Habtoor Polo

Ball SportsRugby

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Dubailand

Dubai Sharks is a not-for-profit rugby and netball club that began in 2006 with one senior men's team; its website, last updated in October 2024, says it has over 850 members aged 3 to 55. Mini rugby is mixed, for boys and girls from Under 4s to Under 12s. Boys carry on in youth teams from Under 13s to Under 18s, and girls have Quick-Rip teams at Under 12s and Under 14s and tackle teams at Under 16s and Under 18s. Since 2023 the club has had its own home ground, with a clubhouse and pitches, at Al Habtoor Polo Club, where it holds training, home matches and social events through a nine-month season. The club describes itself as a family club run by volunteers and parents, with accredited coaches, team managers and trained medics. On the club's 2024-25 timetable, minis and most youth groups trained on Saturday mornings, plus a midweek evening from Under 9s up; check this season's times with the club. The club also ran junior netball from school year 2 to year 13 in 2024-25.

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The activity

Rugby, explained

Rugby is a team ball game where players pass the ball backwards by hand and run it forwards to score a try over the opponents' line. Clubs in the UAE usually start children in 'minis', where the youngest play simple running, passing and tagging games on a small pitch, with contact brought in gradually as they get older. Older juniors move into youth rugby, where girls may play non-contact rip or tag formats before tackle. Along the way children build speed, balance, coordination and confidence, and they learn to play for their team and respect the referee. Many clubs take children from about three or four.

Who it's for

Boys and girls aged 3 to 17 for mini and youth rugby (the club's contact page). Mixed mini rugby runs from Under 4s to Under 12s; youth boys from Under 13s to Under 18s; youth girls play Quick-Rip at Under 12s and Under 14s and tackle at Under 16s and Under 18s. The club says it caters for players new to the game as well as experienced ones. On the 2024-25 programme, junior netball ran from school year 2 (Mini) to year 13; confirm current groups with the club.

What to expect

Mini and youth sessions are held on the pitches at the club's home ground, the Shark Cage at Al Habtoor Polo Club. On the club's 2024-25 timetable (the latest on its website), the youngest group (mixed Under 4s to Under 8s) trained on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00am, and most older groups added a 6:00-7:30pm session on Tuesday or Thursday; Boys Under 18s trained on Tuesday and Thursday evenings only. Check this season's times before you go. Fees, kit requirements and whether a free taster session is offered are not published on the site: ask the club's mini and youth team at [email protected].

Highlights

Mixed mini rugby for boys and girls from Under 4s to Under 12s (dubaisharks.com)
Girls' pathway: Quick-Rip at Under 12s and 14s, tackle at Under 16s and 18s (dubaisharks.com)
Home ground with clubhouse and pitches at Al Habtoor Polo Resort since 2023 (dubaisharks.com)
Not-for-profit club run by volunteers and parents, founded in 2006 (dubaisharks.com)
Saturday morning training for minis and most youth groups on the 2024-25 timetable; confirm this season's times (dubaisharks.com)
Junior netball from school year 2 to year 13 on the 2024-25 programme (dubaisharks.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Dubai Sharks Rugby is rated 4.8 on Google from 19 reviews. Seventeen of those are five stars, with one four-star and one three-star review.

The facts

Ages: Rugby for boys and girls aged 3 to 17: mixed minis Under 4s to Under 12s; boys Under 13s to Under 18s; girls Quick-Rip Under 12s and 14s, tackle Under 16s and 18s
Not published yet: Ask about prices and trials
Schedule: Timetable on the club's site (last updated October 2024; confirm current): Mixed U4-U8 Sat 8:00-9:00am; Mixed U9-U11 Sat 8:00-9:00am and Tue 6:00-7:30pm; Mixed U12 Sat 8:00-9:00am and Thu 6:00-7:30pm; Boys U13-U14 Sat 9:00-10:30am and Thu 6:00-7:30pm; Boys U15-U16 Sat 9:00-10:30am and Tue 6:00-7:30pm; Girls U12 and U14 Sat 8:00-9:00am and Tue 6:00-7:30pm; Girls U16 Sat 9:00-10:30am and Tue 6:00-7:30pm; Girls U18 Sat 9:00-10:30am and Thu 7:30-9:00pm; Boys U18 Tue and Thu 7:30-9:00pm
Where: The Shark Cage, Al Habtoor Polo Club, Wadi Al Safa 5, Dubai
How to book: [email protected]

Guide · 8 min readRead: One sport or several? What the evidence says about kids playing more than one sport

Questions parents ask

Good to know

The training timetable on the club's website was last updated in October 2024: check this season's times before you go (dubaisharks.com)
Wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, and toilets on site (Google listing)
Mini and youth enquiries go to [email protected] (dubaisharks.com)
On the 2024-25 timetable, junior netball trained at Jebel Ali School on Wednesdays and played matches at Wellington Silicon Oasis and Nakheel Netball Hub JVC, not at the rugby ground; confirm current (dubaisharks.com)