Dubai has set an impressive range of water, snow, and indoor sports events for the summer, staged inside shopping centres and climate-controlled venues across the city. The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) organises these activities under the Our Sports Summer Initiative, a programme designed to reach all members of society — with certain events exclusively for women.
What Is the Our Sports Summer Initiative?
The Our Sports Summer Initiative is the DSC's annual summer campaign to keep residents and visitors physically active during the hottest months of the year. Rather than letting the heat shut down community sport, the council coordinates dozens of competitions and activities at indoor halls, shopping malls, beaches, and parks, working alongside both public and private sector partners to maximise participation.
The goal is straightforward: integrate sport and physical activity into daily life for people of every age and background — from competitive athletes to senior citizens to people of determination.
Snow Sports and Women's Programmes at Ski Dubai
One of the initiative's most distinctive offerings takes place at Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, where the DSC organised a full programme of snow-based events during the summer season.
A dedicated ladies snow camp offered women-only sessions covering snow yoga, snow hiking, snow badminton, and snow table tennis. Alongside the women's camp, the venue hosted skating championships for people of determination that drew international visitors, reinforcing Dubai's position as an accessible and globally connected sports destination.
The DSC also coordinated events for senior citizens at Ski Dubai in partnership with Thukher Community Club. These sessions blended light recreational sports participation with practical education on nutrition and first aid — a thoughtful integration of wellness and sport for older participants.
Dubai Sports World: 300,000 Sq Ft of Indoor Competition
At the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Sports World provides the backbone of the initiative's indoor sports programme. The facility spans 300,000 square feet of air-conditioned space and contains 46 pitches and courts built to global standards — making it one of the largest indoor sports venues in the region.
Throughout the summer, Dubai Sports World hosts competitions and recreational play across a wide range of disciplines, giving both serious competitors and casual participants a world-class environment to stay active regardless of the outdoor temperature.
More Than 20 Sports on the Programme
The breadth of the Our Sports Summer Initiative is one of its defining features. The full list of sports covered includes:
Basketball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, padel, cricket, mall running, swimming, futsal, sailing, rhythmic gymnastics, fitness activities, artistic gymnastics, yoga, wrestling, esports, boxing, bodybuilding, jujitsu, karate, athletics, squash, and a variety of water sports.
This variety ensures there is something for every interest and fitness level. Running and cycling routes are available throughout residential neighbourhoods, main streets, parks, beaches, and shopping centres — embedding everyday physical activity into the city's fabric beyond the dedicated competition venues.
Public-Private Partnerships Drive the Programme
The DSC does not run the initiative alone. Organising events at this scale requires close collaboration with private sector operators, community clubs, and venue managers across Dubai. These partnerships are central to the programme's ability to offer such diverse and geographically spread activities, encouraging an active lifestyle and intercultural interaction among Dubai's diverse resident and visitor population.
