Abu Dhabi sports community gets active in football, pilates, bootcamp and more in unique, state of the art facilities
New exercise classes, football leagues and special events at the Dome@Rawdhat are developing Abu Dhabi’s unique indoor and outdoor facilities into a vibrant sporting hub of the capital.
More than 12,000 people visit the Dome on Airport Road, at the entrance to Abu Dhabi, every month taking part in soccer leagues and tournaments. Now, organisers have introduced keep fit classes such as Pilates and bootcamp sessions to broaden the reach to exercise enthusiasts as well as new football leagues to suit every player.
The Men’s Friday Brunch League kick-starts in February and registration is now open for seven-a-side teams to compete in exhilarating matches every Friday morning, followed by post-match food. Ideal for those looking to play in organised leagues at the weekends, the league will culminate with an end of season presentation and awards dinner.
The Ladies Pilates classes take place every Wednesday evening and are an ideal way for women to develop core strength and flexibility. One of the safest, most adaptable forms of exercise and muscle conditioning, the classes are also one of the most cost-effective in the UAE, costing AED300 per person for six sessions and run by Fatima Cornejo De Schnurrer who holds a Stott Pilates Mat certification.
The new Rawdhat Bootcamp will begin in February, open to men and women who are serious about improving their fitness levels. Weekly one-hour sessions cost AED100 per person and the programme will be run by a British Weight Lifting Association (BWLA) qualified expert.
February will also see the launch the UAE’s first street soccer programme, the Streetkings Academy, a six-week intensive course for footballers of all ages to learn and master the freestyle tricks and techniques of this new global phenomenon.
Street soccer has grown in popularity in Abu Dhabi in recent months since Streetkings founder and the ‘godfather’ of the sport, Edward van Gils made a series of star appearances to introduce this sport to the Emirates.
Underlining the Dome’s commitment to grassroots football and developing youth talent, the venue now hosts the Rawdhat Abu Dhabi Schools Football League, a competitive league open to all Abu Dhabi schools. Membership includes access to the state of the art pitches at the Dome and is especially popular for schools where space and sporting facilities are limited.
Taking advantage of the unique nature of the facilities, more and more children are celebrating their birthdays with parties at the Dome@Rawdhat which can be customised to the child and parents’ wishes. Organisers can arrange football coaching sessions, magicians, face painters, piñatas, balloons, birthday souvenirs and special menus for the birthday boy or girl and friends.
While Manchester United Soccer Schools continues its current programme teaching more than 300 children the skills of United legends Ryan Giggs, Nani and Antonio Valencia, the Rawdhat Football Club teams, the Rawdhat Team and the Reem Female Team are training hard in their weekly sessions in preparation for a series of games against local clubs.
The Mini Kickers programme, football for children aged between three and six years old, is also underway with a new course starting in April.
Abu Dhabi based developer Reem Investments built the Dome@Rawdhat to create a vibrant sporting community in the area. To register for any of the Dome activities or to learn more, visit www.dome.ae or call 02 449 8480.
