Wellness
How to Get Into Padel in Dubai as a Total Beginner
Padel in Dubai is easy to start: download Playtomic, book or join a beginner open match (roughly AED 50 to 90 per person), pick an indoor court for summer, and just show up in trainers.
I only said yes to padel because the outfit was cute. That is the honest truth. I filmed my first ever game with Caffelini at ISD Padel in Dubai Sports City, fully expecting to look like I knew what I was doing. Reader, I did not. But I had so much fun that I have been hooked ever since.
So if you are a beginner wondering how to actually start, here is everything I wish someone had told me before my first session.
What is padel and why is everyone in Dubai obsessed?
Padel is a racket sport played in pairs on an enclosed court with walls, a bit like tennis met squash and they had a very social baby. The scoring is the same as tennis, the court is smaller, and the walls are in play, so rallies last longer and beginners actually get to hit the ball. That last part is why it feels good from day one.
In Dubai it has exploded. New courts open what feels like every month, and most of my friends now plan their weekends around a game.
Where can I play padel in Dubai as a beginner?
There are clubs all over the city now. The big question for most of the year is indoor versus outdoor. From roughly May to September the heat is no joke, so I almost always book an air-conditioned indoor court. In the cooler months an outdoor evening game under the lights is genuinely lovely.
Here are a few places I have actually been to or that friends play at regularly.
| Club | Area | Indoor or outdoor | Rough price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISD Padel | Dubai Sports City | Both (indoor and outdoor) | From around AED 200 per hour |
| Padel Kingdom | Al Quoz | Indoor, air-conditioned | From around AED 270 to 280 per hour |
| Padel Park (Ripe Market) | Umm Suqeim | Outdoor | From around AED 200 to 340 per hour |
| Oxygen | Al Quoz | Indoor | From around AED 180 per hour off-peak |
Al Quoz is the real padel hub, with loads of clubs clustered together, so it is a good area to search first if you are flexible on location.
How much does padel cost in Dubai?
You book the whole court, not a seat, so the smart move is to split it four ways. A court runs roughly AED 120 to 220 per hour off-peak and AED 240 to 320 per hour at peak times, which are weekday evenings and weekends.
Divided between four players, that usually works out to around AED 50 to 90 each per session. Peak evenings cost more, so if you want to keep it cheap, go for a morning or an early afternoon slot, especially indoors where it stays cool anyway.
How do I book a court or join a game if I do not have four players?
This is the part that scared me and it should not have. Download the Playtomic app. It is what almost every club in Dubai uses.
- To book a court, just pick a club, a date and a time slot, and pay in the app.
- If you do not have three friends, use the open match feature. You join a game alone and get matched with players at a similar level.
- Playtomic rates everyone on a level scale, and beginners sit at the bottom, so you can filter for low-level matches and not feel out of place.
Honestly, joining an open beginner match is the fastest way in. Everyone is a bit wobbly and nobody cares. If you would rather learn the basics first, most clubs also run beginner clinics and coaching sessions, which I would recommend before you go competitive.
What should I wear and bring, especially in the heat?
Good news: you do not need fancy gear to start. Most clubs lend or rent rackets, so do not buy one until you know you like the game.
Here is what actually matters.
- Proper trainers with grip. Court shoes are ideal, but clean running trainers are fine to begin with.
- Comfortable, breathable activewear. The same kit I wear to the gym works perfectly.
- Way more water than you think you need. Even indoors you will sweat.
- A small towel and a hair tie if you have long hair, because it gets sweaty fast.
If you are playing outdoors in summer, please go early morning or late evening, wear SPF, and do not be a hero in the midday sun. My full hot-weather kit logic is in my guide on what to wear in a Dubai summer.
The outfit got me to the court. The game is what kept me coming back.
Padel is the most fun I have had moving my body in ages, and it does not feel like exercise, which is exactly my kind of workout. If you want something gentler alongside it, my notes on starting yoga in Dubai pair really nicely with a padel habit. Now go say yes, cute outfit optional.
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