Stay active indoors: Dubai's 2025 summer guide to indoor sports venues

TL;DR:

• Brand Dubai has released an interactive indoor sports guide for summer 2025, covering air-conditioned courts and activity hubs across Dubai .
  
  
• Among featured venues is the expanding Dubai Sports World (DSW) at DWTC, hosting over 40 courts and pitches, plus Dubai’s first indoor half-marathon.
  
  
• The campaign ties into #DubaiDestinations and broader fitness initiatives like Dubai Sports Council ’s “Our Summer is Sporty”.
  
  
  
• With temperatures exceeding 45 °C, these indoor venues offer family-friendly, climate-safe options to stay active.
  
  

With scorching summer temperatures often soaring above 45 °C, Dubai’s indoor sports venues offer residents and visitors a refreshing alternative to outdoor activities. In July 2025, Brand Dubai rolled out its updated “Indoor Sports Destinations” guide, spotlighting everything from football, basketball, padel, bowling, martial arts, yoga, spin, indoor golf, ice skating and Dubai Sports World’s flagship facilities. Paired with ongoing sports initiatives, it forms the backbone of Dubai’s 2025 fitness push.

Brand Dubai’s Indoor Sports Guide: Key Venues Highlighted
Brand Dubai, a branch of the Government of Dubai Media Office launched its guide under the #DubaiDestinations campaign. The digital PDF, available in both English and Arabic, showcases a wide spectrum of indoor sports venues. Emirates media describe it as “an interactive guide spotlighting some of the city’s best indoor sports destinations”.

Featured locations include:

• Ice rinks: Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai Mall, Galleria Ice Rink at Hyatt Regency, Sports Society Mall, and Emirates Sports Hotel.
  
  
• Indoor courts: Multiple temperature-controlled venues offering football, volleyball, basketball, and padel.
  
  
• Leisure gyms & studios: Yoga, spin, martial arts, and indoor golf centres.
  
  
• Bowling alleys: Spread across family-favourite locations.
  
  

As noted, the guide aims to “inspire people of all fitness levels to explore active lifestyle options”.

Dubai Sports World: A Summer Fitness Powerhouse
Dubai Sports World (DSW), held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, has become the cornerstone of Dubai’s indoor sports scene. Now entering its August 2025 edition, the event expands across 25,000 m² with over 40 courts. Participating sports include badminton, basketball, cricket, football, padel, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, and pickleball.

The centre also features:

• A free community gym, equipped with modern cardio, strength, and functional training areas.
  
  
• Kids’ zones, including inflatables, soft-play areas, and arcade games.
  
  
• The UAE’s first-ever indoor half-marathon, kicking off on August 3 with official timing and cheering zones.
  
  
• Corporate engagement through the DSW Summer League on August 23.
  
  

The initiative reflects Dubai Sports Council’s vision to make fitness accessible and engaging for all segments of society.

Community-Led Fitness Initiatives
The guide and DSW are complementary pieces of a wider effort to promote active living. Launched in June 2025, Dubai Sports Council's “Our Summer is Sporty” includes indoor mall races, snow duathlon events at Ski Dubai , and sports camps in Hatta. This initiative invites broad participation, from children’s summer camps to senior fitness sessions and programs for individuals of determination.

Together, these initiatives support Dubai’s strategic goal of becoming a global hub for sustainable, all-season well-being and reflect the unemphasised focus in Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s development vision of an active city all year round.

Why This Matters in Summer 2025

• Climate-proofing fitness: Where outdoor sports become impractical in July and August, indoor venues ensure fitness continuity.
  
  
• Family inclusivity: Venues cater to all ages and abilities, from kids to seniors and people of determination.
  
  
• Social engagement: Events such as the indoor half-marathon and corporate leagues promote community ties and wellness.
  
  
• Health-forward urban policy: Aligns with Dubai’s objectives under national strategies to embed active living in every resident’s routine.
  
  

Dubai’s updated indoor sports guide, the expansive Dubai Sports World event, and broader fitness campaigns together form a robust ecosystem supporting year-round, climate-resilient physical activity. In the face of record summer temperatures, these initiatives ensure that residents, families, and tourists can remain active, healthy, and socially connected indoors.