Cricket is gaining immense popularity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and sporting enthusiasts will find a number of cricket academies in Dubai. Most of the cricket academies have state-of-the-art training facilities and International Cricket Council (ICC) qualified cricket coaches and consultants who develop your skills and polish your talent. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or an expert, these cricket academies in Dubai can help you improve by exposing you to different playing conditions. Celebrated cricket legends and existing international players support and inspire the pupils at the cricket academies in Dubai. Students can utilise masterclass coaching sessions to develop their skills from international cricketers.
Top Cricket Academies in Dubai
The cricket academies in Dubai are equipped with indoor and outdoor facilities; some are perfect for youngsters to kick-start with basic lessons, while some offer exposure to international tours.
Known for its ultramodern architecture, Dubai is also home to a number of cricket academies with sophisticated training equipment like high-speed and spin bowling machines, video cameras for in-depth analysis and other specialised equipment to enhance the training experience. Those with a passion for cricket can approach one of these academies to fine-tune their skills.
G Force Cricket Academy
Started: 2001. It is one of the oldest cricket academies in Dubai.
Coaches: This Dubai cricket academy has 20 experienced coaches, including cricketing legends, international-level and visiting coaches such as Graeme Smith, Jonty Rhodes and Ian Trott. The head coach at G Force Cricket Academy is currently Gopal Jaspara. Other famous coaches included Ramakant Achrekar, who coached the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Facilities: The G Force Cricket Academy houses standard cricket facilities and has access to three cricket grounds. They have two cricket grounds in Dubai and one in Sharjah, each with net practice pitches. The academy also has an abundance of indoor training facilities.
Tours: Apart from local tours, G Force Cricket Academy has had three successful international tours in India and one in England over the last three years.
Locations: The academy is located at Jasapara Sports, next to Bombay Chowpatty at Al Karama. Park Regis Hotel is also nearby to the facility.
Contact: +971 50-455-9083
GM Cricket Academy
Coaches: One of the leading coaching academies in the country, GM Cricket Academy in Dubai has an experienced and professional coaching staff. You’ll find dedicated students as young as 5-years-old, who aim to step out onto a professional cricket field in the future. This academy attempts to develop young cricketers from the age of 5 to 19. There are different coaching classes for U11, U13 and U15 categories trained by skilled coaches.
Facilities: GM Cricket Academy is equipped with diverse training facilities and services under one roof. Apart from cricket coaching, hockey and football lessons are also offered here, complete with net facilities and one-on-one sessions. The academy also provides exposure for international players with special lessons and international cricketing competitions.
Tours: To gain valuable experience and exposure to different playing conditions, GM Cricket Academy has had international tours in the UK, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Locations: In Dubai, the academy is located in Al Quoz on 4th St. of Sheikh Zayed Road for indoor training and practice. In Sharjah, classes take place in the cricket ground of Skyline University.
Contact: +971 50-841-1178 / +971 50-864-4427
Elite Cricket Academy
Started: 2008
Coaches: The academy employs England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) qualified coaches to develop young talent. Dominic Lazarus and Peter Lazarus, ECB level 2 and 3 coaches, who have trained English county teams, lead the academy. Guided by its vision, Elite Cricket Academy focuses on a 1:8 coaching ratio to provide superior coaching to trainees so you won’t be overlooked.
Facilities: Operating with two coaching academies in Dubai, Elite Cricket Academy has modern sports facilities including outdoor pitches and indoor nets. ECA is the perfect place for players as young as four years or for complete beginners. The professional coaches use custom-made kits to ensure the safety of players. For younger players, there are lightweight cricket bats and a sports hall for practising in a safe environment.
Tours: The academy trains young players at school-level and does not plan international tours.
Locations: There are two coaching facilities in Dubai: one in Foremarke School in Al Barsha South Dubai beside Maisan Tower, while the other is in Repton School located in Nad Al Sheba 3.
Contact: +971 50-372-2194 / +971 56-906-8595
MCL Cricket Academy
Coaches: This is one of the few cricket academies in Dubai to offer different coaching programs to suit players of all ages, with each program focusing on skill enhancement. Two former cricketers from the Pakistan cricket team, Abdul Razzaq and Ijaz Ahmed provide valuable coaching lessons to the trainees.
Facilities: MCL Cricket Academy has a 2000+ seating capacity stadium, along with practice nets, spin bowling machines and more.
Tours: MCLCA only hosts domestic events for players over 19 years of age.
Locations: Operating five days a week, the academy is located on Al Sufouh Road, ideally located for aspiring cricket players renting apartments in Palm Jumeirah.
Contact: +971 55-224-1129
ESM Cricket Academy
Started: 2004
Coaches: ESM Cricket Academy is one of the most famous cricket academies in Dubai and has partnered with a number of academies, venues and coaches to offer a team-centred approach to train players. Capitalising on a qualified full-time coaching staff and the latest technology, ESM uses video investigation to identify areas of improvement. ESM also runs academies in some of the top schools in the city, offering students a chance to polish their cricket skills.
Facilities: The cricket coaching classes in Dubai at ESM Cricket Academy take place in numerous locations throughout the city. Net practice, turfs, and multipurpose fields complement the sporting experience of the athletes in the academy.
Tours: ESMCA does not organise international tours.
Locations: It is located opposite Dubai Autodrome in Motor City. Coaching classes are also offered in a number of places including Jebel Ali, Al Warqa, Al Qusais, Oud Metha and Al Satwa.
Contact: +971 4-369-7817
Young Talents Academy
Started: 1998
Coaches: With international coaches from Australia, Young Talents Academy has 12 coaches altogether with level 1 and level 2 coaching experience. The main coach at this top cricket academy in Dubai is a former UAE player Shahzad Altaf. Other coaches include Rameez Shahzad, who is an existing player and Anju Fernando, a special wicketkeeper coach,. If you are not satisfied with the wicketkeeper techniques, Young Talents has a specialist coach to hone your desired skills.
Facilities: Young Talents Academy offers a wide range of cricketing equipment and apparels under one roof. The focus is on increasing exposure of the players with large cricket grounds and net practice facilities.
Tours: The academy organised international tours in the United Kingdom (2017) and Australia (2018), and also hosts tours from other nations.
Locations: Coaching sessions are held in two places: India Club Dubai in Oud Metha and Al Sadiq School in Al Qusais 2 in Dubai.
Contact: +971 55-552-0786
Max Talent Global Sports
Started: 2006
Coaches With international cricket coaches from Australia, UK and India, Max Talent Cricket Academy has vast knowledge and experience at their disposal. If you are striving to learn from legendary cricket masters, this is one of the best cricket academies in Dubai. It features spin-master Saqlain Mushtaq and flying fielder Jonty Rhodes to sharpen your skills in respective departments. The 13 other international coaches include Meyrick Pringle, Craig McDermott and Gary Kristen, who also visit this facility.
Facilities: Max Talent Cricket Academy houses modern facilities including ball machines and net practice arenas.
Tours: Every year, this cricket academy in Dubai conducts international tours for U11, U13, U16 and U20 teams in different locations, such as Muscat, Kenya, South Africa, UK and India.
Locations In Dubai, Maxway Training Centre is located at Al Nasr Club in Oud Metha, while in Sharjah it is located at Wanderer’s Club.
Contact: +971 55-226-5549
JTS Cricket Academy
Started: 1995
Coaches: Led by Jairaj Thakur, this cricket academy focuses on one-to-one coaching techniques. The owner is a well-qualified cricket coach with Level 1 coaching experience in Australia and Level 2 coaching in Malaysia. Visiting cricket consultants include Mohammad Azharuddin, Javagal Srinath, Mark Waugh and Arvinda De Silva.
Facilities: JTS Cricket Academy focuses on developing techniques of players with batting and bowling net practice. If you are struggling with specific techniques, JTS Cricket Academy is a viable option to improve those skills.
Tours: Oman and Sri Lanka are the main destinations for international cricketing tournaments of JTSCA.
Locations: The training academy is located in Al Mankhool in Bur Dubai.
Contact: +971 50-695-5284
Pacific Sports Club
Started: 2003
Coaches: The Pacific Sports Club is associated with MS Dhoni Cricket Academy, which handpicks coaches for training in the academy. The star Indian cricketer, MS Dhoni delivers the best training through the academy to hone the skills of the students. A number of visiting consultants also join the masterclasses to deliver specialised sessions.
Facilities: Pacific Sports Club offers the utmost premium facilities for training and practising. If you want to experience different playing conditions, this sports club is a viable option. There are four turfs and three matted and three cement pitches to improve batting and bowling on different grounds. A swing and spin bowling machine are also in place to improve batting skills. Pacific Sports Club ensures holistic training with video analysis and ICC certified coaches.
Tours: The academy hasn’t conducted international tournaments so far.
Location: The sports academy is located in Al Quoz near Jumeirah University.
Contact: +971 52-627-6999
Future Legends Cricket Academy
Started: 2015
Coaches: FLCA features four lead coaches with years of experience in international cricket. Numerous international cricketers and former legends including Arvinda De Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Ramiz Raja serve as chief consultants. They share practical tips to succeed on and off the pitch in this cricket academy of Dubai.
Facilities: Aiming to foster talent among young cricketers, Future Legends Cricket Academy is equipped with ultramodern facilities and employs internationally certified coaches to impart technical skills that are vital for success. With a focus on diet and fitness, FLCA also increases exposure for up-and-coming talent with domestic and international tours.
Tours: FLCA has international cricketing tours in Sri Lanka, India, England, Australia and New Zealand.
Locations: The academy is located in Oud Metha in Pakistan Association, beside Egyptian Football Club. In Jumeirah, it is located in Jumeirah Village Triangle.
Contact: +971 4-556-7311
Apart from these popular cricket academies in Dubai, the city of gold has a lot more to offer for sports enthusiasts. You can join the fun with other sports fanatics at one of the best sports bars in Dubai to catch the live action of your favourite sport. If you prefer to get fit in the outdoors, you could also check out these top running tracks in Dubai.
