Where and when are sessions?

The website publishes a weekly timetable for Emirates International School Meadows: Tuesday and Thursday at 4:45pm (Academy 5-6 and 7-9, Girls 5-9) and 6pm (Academy 7-9 and 10-15), plus Tuesday at 7pm (Academy 15-18); Sunday at 9:15am (Dribblers 3-4) and 5:30pm (Academy 5-6, 7-9 and 10-16). The only invite-only slot listed is Elite Training for 15-18s on Friday, 6-7:30pm. For sessions at the other venues, ask the academy.

Is there a girls-only programme?

Yes. The Girls Academy is for girls aged 5 to 14, and the Emirates International School Meadows timetable lists IFA Girls sessions for 5-9-year-olds on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:45pm. Ask the venue you pick whether it runs girls' sessions.

How much do sessions cost, and is there a trial?

Prices and trial policy are not published on ifasport.com: ask the academy.

Which venues does IFA Sport use?

The website names Emirates International School Meadows, Safa British School, Pulse Football Ground and Delhi Private School Dubai, and says the academy runs in six locations across Dubai. Pick a branch on this page to see its address.

IFA Sport — football training for kids in Dubai

Q: Does IFA Sport run holiday camps?

Yes. Five-day football camps for boys and girls of all abilities aged 5 to 14, with daily themes, skills challenges, mini-tournaments and a performance review at the end of the week. Dates, venue and prices: ask the academy.

Ball SportsFootball

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

The Meadows

Ages3+years and up
Where3 branchesThe Meadows, Al Safa +1See on the map
Not publishedAskPrices and times

See timetable

IFA Sport is an independent football academy established in 2004 by sports professionals, and describes itself as the largest grassroots sports business in the UAE. Sessions follow a games-based programme from UEFA-qualified coaches, built on themes such as 'Play on the Ball' and 'Win the Ball'. The academy says it runs in six locations across Dubai with more than 1,500 participants a week; its website names four: Emirates International School Meadows, Safa British School, Pulse Football Ground and Delhi Private School Dubai. It also runs five-day holiday camps for boys and girls aged 5 to 14. Programmes and session times can differ by venue, so pick a branch on this page and ask which sessions run there.

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In the youth leagues

2nd of 11 · U16 boys · YFL
8th of 23 · U13 boys · YFL
13th of 14 · U8 boys · YFL
20th of 22 · U12 boys · YFL
21st of 22 · U9 boys · YFL
22nd of 28 · U11 boys · YFL

See the full rankings

The activity

Football, explained

Football coaching for children mixes ball skills - dribbling, passing, shooting and control - with small games where kids learn to share the ball, find space and work as a team. Younger children start with movement and coordination through playful drills using child-sized equipment, then move on to more structured technique and match play as they grow. Along the way it builds fitness, balance, confidence and friendships, and teaches kids to win and lose well. Groups are usually split by age so play stays fair, and older players who want more can join squads that play in leagues and tournaments. Some programmes, including IFA Sport's, take children from age 3.

Who it's for

Boys and girls from 3 to 18. Dribblers is for ages 3 to 4; the IFA Academy takes 5 to 16-year-olds in three phases (Foundation 5-8, Foundation 9-12, Development 13-16); the Girls Academy takes 5 to 14-year-olds (5-8, 9-12, 13-14). Holiday camps are open to boys and girls of all abilities aged 5 to 14. Ask which of these run at the venue you pick.

What to expect

Little ones in Dribblers learn football basics such as shooting skills in a play-oriented yet structured format, with child-friendly equipment and games, and the aim of moving up into the Academy. Academy and Girls Academy sessions follow a games-based programme built around themes like 'Play on the Ball', 'Control Possession', 'Take Your Chance' and 'Win the Ball', led by UEFA-qualified coaches. On the published Emirates International School Meadows timetable most slots are an hour; the Sunday Dribblers slot is 45 minutes and the invite-only Friday Elite Training session is 90 minutes. Holiday camps run for five days with daily themes, skills challenges, mini-tournaments and a performance review at the end of the week. Kit, prices and whether a free trial is offered are not on the website: ask the academy.

Highlights

Programmes from age 3: Dribblers (3-4), Academy (5-16), Girls Academy (5-14) (ifasport.com)
Games-based sessions led by UEFA-qualified coaches (ifasport.com)
Five-day holiday camps for boys and girls of all abilities aged 5-14 (ifasport.com)
Established in 2004; the website says it runs in six locations across Dubai (ifasport.com)
Weekly timetable published for Emirates International School Meadows (ifasport.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

On Google, the IFA SPORT listing is rated 4.0 from 21 reviews: 16 are five-star, 2 are three-star and 4 are one-star.

The facts

Ages: 3-18
Dribblers: 3-4
Academy: 5-16
Girls Academy: 5-14
High Performance: 8-18 (invitation only)
Holiday camps: 5-14
Not published yet: Ask about prices and trials
Schedule: Emirates International School Meadows - Tue: 4:45-5:45pm (Academy 5-6, 7-9; Girls 5-9), 6-7pm (Academy 7-9, 10-15), 7-8pm (Academy 15-18); Thu: 4:45-5:45pm (Academy 5-6, 7-9; Girls 5-9), 6-7pm (Academy 7-9, 10-15); Sun: 9:15-10am (Dribblers 3-4), 5:30-6:30pm (Academy 5-6, 7-9, 10-16). Invite-only sessions: Fri 6-7:30pm, Elite Training 15-18
Where: Emirates International School Meadows, Meadows, Dubai (opposite the ENOC petrol station)
How to book: ifasport.com · +971 4 454 1683 · wa.me/971585812669 · [email protected]

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

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Weekly timetable published: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday sessions (ifasport.com)
Two floodlit 7-a-side astro pitches available for hire (ifasport.com)
The website also names Pulse Football Ground as a venue; ask which sessions run there and at each school (ifasport.com)
Two floodlit 7-a-side astro pitches at Emirates International School Meadows can be hired, with bookings at least 12 hours ahead; no bibs or balls provided (ifasport.com)
Timetables for Safa British School and Delhi Private School Dubai are not published; ask the academy (ifasport.com)
WhatsApp: 058 581 2669; phone +971 4 454 1683 (ifasport.com)