Kids' ice hockey in Dubai: ages, programmes and 2026 fees
Where children can play ice hockey in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from what age, and the fees each programme publishes, with the date and source for every figure.
- Independent · no bookings
- Published 23 October 2026
- 9 sources, checked 23 October 2026
- 5 min read
Short answer
- Galaxy Hockey Academy in Mirdif takes children from age 3 and offers a free first session.
- Dubai Ice Rink's Hockey Academy is for ages 6 to 18: AED 699 once a week or AED 1,200 twice, per Emaar.
- Dubai Ice Rink says 4 is the ideal age to start skating; under 120 cm must skate with an adult.
- Intro hockey classes at Dubai Ice Rink use no hard pucks.
- Most children learn to skate first, then move into a hockey group.
In this guide (7 sections)
Children in Dubai can start ice hockey as young as 3 at Galaxy Hockey Academy in Mirdif, or from 6 at the Hockey Academy at Dubai Ice Rink in Dubai Mall. Two programmes publish fees: Dubai Ice Rink's academy costs AED 699 a term for one class a week, and Galaxy lists AED 17,500 plus VAT for the 2026/27 season (or three trimesters), as of 23 October 2026. Most children learn basic skating first, then move into a hockey group.
Below we compare the options side by side, using only what each programme publishes. Where a fee or detail is not published, we say so.
Where can kids play ice hockey in Dubai?
As of 23 October 2026, two Dubai rinks run youth hockey: Dubai Ice Rink (Dubai Mall) and Sport Society Ice Rink (Mirdif). Al Nasr Leisureland, long the city's hockey rink, was reported closing in November 2025 (see our status page). For the full map, see every rink and club in Dubai.
| Programme | Rink | Ages | Format | Published fee | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Ice Rink Hockey Academy | Dubai Ice Rink, Dubai Mall | 6 to 18 | Beginner 17:00–17:45, Amateur 17:45–18:30, Mon and Wed, 12 Oct–18 Nov | AED 699 (1 class/week), AED 1,200 (2/week) | Emaar page, seen 23 Oct 2026; year not printed |
| Galaxy Hockey Academy | Sport Society, Mirdif | From 3 (U6, U8, U10 small ice; U12, U14, U16 full ice) | Groups and teams; goalie training | AED 6,900 / 5,900 / 5,600 per trimester or AED 17,500 a season, + 5% VAT; first session free | glxyhockey.com/hockey-dubai, Season 2026/27, seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| Sport Society Learn to Skate | Sport Society, Mirdif | From 4 or 6 (the page says both) | Skating only | Not published; packages of 3, 5 or 10 classes | ssicerink.com, seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| Zayed Sports City skating academy | Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi | Not stated on price sheet | Skating groups, power skating, season packages | AED 110 power skating session; season packages AED 3,150–8,500 | ZSC PDF labelled 2025/2026 |
Dubai Ice Rink Hockey Academy
The academy is run with Cyber Bedouins in a closed-off third of the public rink. Classes are 45 minutes. The page says the focus is skating technique and that no hard pucks are used, for safety. There are no refunds, and missed classes cannot be made up. Dates may move because of mall events.
The page does not say what kit children need. Email academy@dubaiicerink.com or call 04 448 5111 before the first class. The page lists 12 October to 18 November with no year; those days fall on a Monday and a Wednesday in 2026, so we read it as the 2026 term.
Galaxy Hockey Academy
Galaxy was founded in 2022 and says it is licensed by the UAE Winter Sports Federation. Its site says children can start at 3 in small-ice groups, then move to full-ice teams from U12. It says it provides gear for new kids. You can book a free first session through a form or WhatsApp (+971 50 859 9547).
Galaxy also lists travel tournaments. Its tournaments page reports U11 gold and U13 silver at an Istanbul Cup on 15–17 October 2026, and a GLXY Cup in Dubai for U7 to U15 from 30 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. These are the club's own reports.
Galaxy's Hockey in Dubai page lists Season 2026/27 fees, billed by trimester: AED 6,900, 5,900 and 5,600 per trimester, or AED 17,500 for the season, plus 5% VAT. Ask what each trimester includes and the refund policy in writing.
Zayed Sports City (Abu Dhabi)
Zayed Sports City's 2025/2026 academy price sheet lists group skating, power skating at AED 110 a session, and half-season (16 sessions) and full-season (32 sessions) packages from AED 3,150 to AED 8,500. The table is partly garbled, and the sheet does not mention hockey. Call 02 403 4333 to ask whether a hockey pathway runs alongside it.
What age should a child start ice hockey?
There is no single rule. What the programmes publish:
- Galaxy accepts children from 3.
- Dubai Ice Rink calls 4 the ideal age to start skating.
- Sport Society's learn-to-skate page gives both 4 and 6.
- Dubai Ice Rink's Hockey Academy starts at 6.
At Dubai Ice Rink, children under 120 cm must have an adult with them at public sessions. That affects how much practice younger children can do between classes.
Learn to skate first, then hockey
Most children follow the same path:
- Public skating to get used to the ice. Dubai Ice Rink includes skates and socks with entry. See Dubai Mall ice rink prices.
- Learn-to-skate classes for balance, stopping and crossovers.
- An intro hockey group with sticks and soft pucks or no pucks.
- A team with games and, later, tournaments.
Our guide to learning to skate before ice hockey in Dubai covers step 1 and 2 in detail.
What "no hard pucks" means
Intro classes at Dubai Ice Rink use no hard pucks. The Emaar page says the focus is skating technique, and that hard pucks are left out for safety. So expect drills on balance, stopping and skating, not a match. Ask the coach whether sticks are used in the first weeks.
How much does kids' ice hockey cost in Dubai?
Only the Dubai Ice Rink academy publishes a fee on its programme page.
Worked example: one Dubai Ice Rink term
Using the fees published on 23 October 2026:
| Option | Term fee | Classes in a 6-week term | Cost per 45-minute class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 class a week | AED 699 | 6 | about AED 117 |
| 2 classes a week | AED 1,200 | 12 | AED 100 |
The page does not say which day the once-a-week option uses, so the class count is our estimate. Holidays or mall events may cut sessions, and there are no refunds. Add any kit you buy (see ice hockey equipment in Dubai) and sharpening from AED 40 a pair, per Emaar.
Is ice hockey safe for kids?
Every programme sets its own safety rules. Dubai Ice Rink recommends helmets but does not make them mandatory for public skating. Sport Society says helmets are recommended for all ages. Ask each hockey programme which helmet it requires for class.
We cannot give medical advice. If your child has a head knock or any concern after a session, see a doctor. In an emergency in the UAE, call 999 for police or 998 for an ambulance.
Youth hockey in the wider UAE
Children also play in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. At the Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup in Muscat in February 2026, the Oman Observer reported that Dubai Sandstorm won the Cubs division, Al Ain Theebs won the Juniors and Abu Dhabi Storms were runners-up. We could not load Dubai Sandstorm's website, so its details are unconfirmed.
What to check before you act
- Ask what kit is provided and what you must buy before the first class.
- Get the term fee, dates and refund policy in writing.
- Confirm the term year on the Emaar page with the academy.
- Ask about helmet rules and whether intro groups use pucks.
- Book a trial or a public skate before paying for a full term.
Compare children's programmes by age
The same programmes from our directory, with each published fee and its date. Enter an age to narrow the list.
| Programme | Rink | Ages | Format and term | Published fee | Free trial | Hard pucks | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Ice Rink Hockey AcademyHockey | The Dubai Mall, Downtown | 6 to 18 | 45-min classes, Mon and Wed; Beginner 17:00–17:45, Amateur 17:45–18:30; closed third of the rink. 12 Oct to 18 Nov (year not printed; weekdays match 2026). | AED 699 (1 class/week) or AED 1,200 (2 classes/week) | Not stated | No hard pucks (skating technique) | Hockey Academy (Emaar Entertainment, year not printed)seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| Sport Society Learn to SkateSkating only | Sport Society Mall, Mirdif | From 4 or 6 (page gives both) | Skating classes; packages of 3, 5 or 10. Rolling. | Not published | Not stated | Skating only | Sport Society Ice Rink, Mirdif (Sport Society)seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| ZSC Ice Skating Academy season packagesSkating only | Zayed Sports City | Not stated | 'Transition To Team' and skating groups; half season 16 x 120 min, full season 32 sessions. 2025/2026 season sheet. | AED 3,150–5,500 (half season), AED 5,100–8,500 (full season) | Not stated | Not stated; sheet does not mention hockey | Ice skating academy prices 2025/2026 (Zayed Sports City, PDF)seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| Galaxy youth hockeyHockey | Sport Society Mall, Mirdif | 3 to U16 | Small ice U6–U10, full ice U12–U16; levels from U8. Season 2026/27, billed by trimester. | AED 6,900 / 5,900 / 5,600 per trimester, or AED 17,500 a season, + 5% VAT | Yes, first session free (one child) | Not stated | Hockey in Dubai, Season 2026/27 prices (GLXY Hockey)seen 23 Oct 2026 |
| SandStorms youth hockeyHockey | The Dubai Mall rink (listed by club) | Not published | Youth divisions. Not stated. | Not published | Not stated | Not stated | SandStorms Hockey (sandstormshockey.com)seen 23 Oct 2026 |
"Not published" means we could not find a fee on the provider's own pages on 23 October 2026. Ask for it in writing, with VAT, kit and refund terms. Fees are the provider's published figures, not quotes. Rows for programmes with no published age range stay visible whatever age you enter.
Questions people ask
What age can kids start ice hockey in Dubai?
Galaxy Hockey Academy says children can start at age 3 in small-ice groups. Dubai Ice Rink's Hockey Academy starts at age 6. Dubai Ice Rink gives 4 as the ideal age to start skating.
How much does kids' ice hockey cost in Dubai?
The Dubai Ice Rink Hockey Academy published AED 699 for one class a week and AED 1,200 for two, for a six-week term, as seen on 23 October 2026. Galaxy's Hockey in Dubai page lists Season 2026/27 youth fees of AED 6,900, 5,900 and 5,600 per trimester, or AED 17,500 for the season, plus 5% VAT.
Does my child need their own hockey kit?
Galaxy's site says it provides gear for new kids. The Dubai Ice Rink Hockey Academy page does not say what is provided, so email the academy before the first class.
Is kids' ice hockey in Dubai full contact?
The Dubai Ice Rink Hockey Academy focuses on skating technique and uses no hard pucks. Ask any club about its rules on contact for each age group.
Is there kids' ice hockey in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Storms and Al Ain Theebs had youth teams at the Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup in February 2026. Zayed Sports City runs a skating academy, but its price sheet does not mention hockey.
General information only. Fees, venues and schedules change; confirm with the rink, club or league before you pay or travel. Spotted something out of date? Send us a source.
Sources
- Hockey in Dubai, Season 2026/27 prices (GLXY Hockey)checked 23 October 2026
- Hockey Academy (Emaar Entertainment, year not printed)checked 23 October 2026
- Dubai Ice Rink attraction page (Emaar Entertainment)checked 23 October 2026
- Galaxy Hockey Academy home page (GLXY Hockey)checked 23 October 2026
- Tournaments (GLXY Hockey)checked 23 October 2026
- Sport Society Ice Rink, Mirdif (Sport Society)checked 23 October 2026
- Ice sports (Zayed Sports City)checked 23 October 2026
- Ice skating academy prices 2025/2026 (Zayed Sports City, PDF)checked 23 October 2026
- Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup concludes in Muscat (Oman Observer, 10 Feb 2026)checked 23 October 2026