What age can my child start at Empire Football Club?

The youngest group is Mini-Kickers (born 2022) in the Pre Academy, which runs through U6, U7 and U8. From U9, players move into the Academy Programme; boys' squads go up to U19 and girls' squads up to U17, with an open-age Women's First Team above them.

Where does Empire FC train?

For 2026/27 the club lists four venues: Safa Community School in Arjan, Dubai College in Al Sufouh, Dubai Schools in Al Barsha and The Arbor School in Al Furjan. Each group trains at set venues, so check your child's group on the club's schedule. The Stadium Point address in Dubai Sports City is the club office.

When do the younger groups train?

Pre Academy: Tuesday and Thursday 5pm to 6pm at Dubai Schools, Al Barsha, and Saturday 8am to 9am at Safa Community School. Boys Academy at Dubai Schools: U9 and U10 Monday and Wednesday 5pm to 6.15pm, U11 to U13 6.15pm to 7.30pm. Girls Academy U7 to U13: Tuesday and Thursday 5.45pm to 6.45pm at Safa Community School. At The Arbor School, boys U6 to U10 train Monday and Wednesday 5pm to 6.15pm. The club's Pre Academy timetable also lists U9 and U10 Academy groups on Tuesday and Thursday 5pm to 6pm at Dubai Schools and Saturday 8am to 9am at Safa Community School, so ask which slot suits your child.

Yes. The club's registration form is its 2026/27 trials form: after you send it, the team contacts you about trial sessions. You can also call Coach Ben T. on 056 859 7917. Entry to the Select Programme is by open trial or a coach's recommendation. The website does not say whether trials are free, so ask the club.

How much does Empire Football Club cost?

Fees are not published on the club's website. Its terms say fees are charged per term and paid before your child starts, with an annual registration fee, and are pro-rated if you join part-way through a term. Ask the club for current prices.

Is there football for girls?

Yes. Girls Academy squads run from U7 to U17 and Girls Select squads from U9 to U17, and the Women's First Team plays in the UAE Women's Pro League. The Arbor School in Al Furjan also has a girls' group (born 2015 to 2021) on Wednesdays, 5pm to 6.15pm.

Empire Football Club: youth football for boys and girls across Dubai

Ball SportsFootball

New to Waha

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Barsha South

Ages3+years and up
Where5 branchesAl Barsha South, Al Sufouh +3See on the map
Not publishedAskPrices and times

Book online See timetable

Empire Football Club is a Dubai youth football club, founded in 2017 as Empire Sports Academy. For the 2026/27 season its four main venues are schools: Safa Community School in Arjan, Dubai College in Al Sufouh, Dubai Schools in Al Barsha and The Arbor School in Al Furjan. Children start in the Pre Academy (Mini-Kickers to U8), where sessions focus on confidence, making friends and having fun. From U9 to U18, boys and girls join the Academy Programme, open to every ability, with one or two sessions a week. Players ready for a higher-intensity environment can trial for the Select Programme, which trains two or three times a week and plays in the YFL and DOFA leagues. At the top of the pathway are a National Youth League programme run with Rimal Al Sahra and a Women's First Team in the UAE Women's Pro League. The season runs in three terms, from late August to June.

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In the youth leagues

1st of 28 · U11 boys · YFL
1st of 6 · U16 girls · YFL
1st of 3 · U10 girls · YFL
2nd of 23 · U13 boys · YFL
2nd of 22 · U12 boys · YFL
2nd of 20 · U10 boys · YFL

See all 14 age groups in the rankings

The activity

Football, explained

Football is a team game that many clubs start from about age three or four, with short, playful sessions: lots of touches on the ball, dribbling, simple passing games and small-sided matches. As children grow, training moves on to technique, positions and decision making, and many clubs add regular matches in local leagues. Alongside fitness and coordination, it teaches children to listen to a coach, work with teammates, and win and lose gracefully. A beginner needs football boots suited to the pitch, shin guards and a water bottle; clubs usually supply or sell the training kit.

Who it's for

Boys and girls from the Mini-Kickers group (born 2022): boys' squads go up to U19 and girls' squads up to U17, plus an open-age women's team. The Pre Academy covers Mini-Kickers, U6, U7 and U8. The Academy Programme (U9 to U18) is open to players of every ability; the Select Programme (U9 to U18) is for committed players and entry is by trial. Girls have their own Academy squads (U7 to U17) and Select squads (U9 to U17). Groups are set by year of birth. For additional needs, ask the club directly.

What to expect

Pre Academy sessions last an hour: Tuesday and Thursday 5pm to 6pm at Dubai Schools, Al Barsha, plus Saturday 8am to 9am at Safa Community School, Arjan, and players can train up to twice a week. Academy sessions cover technique, tactics, decision making, physical development and confidence, and teams play internal and local fixtures. To start, fill in the club's 2026/27 trials form or call Coach Ben T.; the club then gets in touch about trial sessions, timings and next steps. Fees are charged per term and paid before your child takes part, plus an annual registration fee; the amounts are not published, so ask the club.

Highlights

Four 2026/27 venues: Safa Community School (Arjan), Dubai College (Al Sufouh), Dubai Schools (Al Barsha) and The Arbor School (Al Furjan) (empirefcuae.com)
Pre Academy for Mini-Kickers (born 2022) to U8, up to twice a week at Dubai Schools, Al Barsha and Safa Community School (empirefcuae.com)
Girls' football at every stage: Girls Academy U7 to U17, Girls Select U9 to U17 and a Women's First Team in the UAE Women's Pro League (empirefcuae.com)
Trial-based Select Programme (U9 to U18): two or three sessions a week, strength and conditioning support and termly player reviews (empirefcuae.com)
Teams play in the YFL and DOFA leagues, with further chances in the Mina Cup, the Abu Dhabi Cup and international tournaments (empirefcuae.com)
The Arbor School Training Centre in Al Furjan: boys U6 to U14 on Monday and Wednesday, and a girls' group (born 2015 to 2021) on Wednesday (empirefcuae.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

On Google, Empire Football Club is rated 4 from 4 reviews (three five-star and one one-star), shown on the listing for its Safa Community School venue. Parent testimonials on the club's own website mention friendly, experienced coaches, learning the game in a fun way and children making friends.

The facts

Ages: Pre Academy: Mini-Kickers (born 2022), U6, U7, U8; Academy Programme and Select Programme: U9 to U18, boys and girls; National Youth League (boys): U11, U12, U13, U16, U17, U19; Women's First Team: open age
Prices: Termly fees plus an annual registration fee; amounts not published, ask the club
Schedule: 2026/27: Pre Academy Tue & Thu 5-6pm (Dubai Schools, Al Barsha) and Sat 8-9am (Safa Community School); Boys Academy U9-U10 Mon & Wed 5-6.15pm (also listed Tue & Thu 5-6pm and Sat 8-9am in the Pre Academy slots) and U11-U13 Mon & Wed 6.15-7.30pm (Dubai Schools); Girls Academy U7-U13 Tue & Thu 5.45-6.45pm (Safa Community School); The Arbor School: boys U6-U10 Mon & Wed 5-6.15pm, U11-U14 Mon & Wed 6.15-7.30pm, girls Wed 5-6.15pm. Older and Select groups: see the club's schedule page
Trial: Trials for 2026/27 through the club's online form or by calling Coach Ben T. on 056 859 7917; Select Programme entry is by trial. Whether trials are free is not published
Where: Safa Community School, Arjan, Dubai
How to book: forms.gle/SZotj5JVqcEAeasL9 · +971 56 859 7917 · [email protected]

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

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Pre Academy Saturday 8-9am; Girls Academy U7 to U13 and Girls Select Tuesday and Thursday evenings (empirefcuae.com)
Boys Select squads mostly Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings (empirefcuae.com)
The club office is at Stadium Point, Office 401, 4th Floor, Dubai Sports City; training takes place at the school venues (plus Jebel Ali Shooting Club for the U19 Pro League on Mondays), not at the office (empirefcuae.com)
The 2026/27 season has three terms: weeks beginning 24 August to 7 December 2026, 4 January to 29 March 2027, and 12 April to 28 June 2027 (empirefcuae.com)
Joining part-way through a term: the club's terms say fees are pro-rated and the annual registration fee is AED 50 lower if you pay in term 3; confirm current terms with the club (empirefcuae.com)
General no-refund policy, with full refunds for major illness or hospitalisation and rehabilitation of more than two weeks; make-up sessions if the club cancels (including national holidays or school closures) or after three or more consecutive absences with a doctor's note (empirefcuae.com)
Parents may not take photos or film during sessions, under the club's safeguarding policy (empirefcuae.com)
Club updates, schedules and player feedback run through the 360Player app (empirefcuae.com)
Where a squad trains depends on its age group and day, and some squads use two venues in a week. The 2026/27 timetable colour-codes every slot by venue, so check your child's year of birth before the first session (empirefcuae.com/schedule)