From accessible daily racquet sessions to free football coaching, ISD takes fitness into local communities.
- Six racquet sports facilities are reserved daily for people of determination.
- Free padel and table tennis sessions run throughout the 30-day Challenge.
- Real Madrid Foundation coaches will visit schools and parks across Dubai and Sharjah.
- Children receive participation certificates and invitations to free football taster sessions.
A month of fitness can start with something as simple as picking up a racket, joining a football game or finding a place where everyone feels welcome. As Dubai prepares for its 10th Dubai Fitness Challenge, access to sport is taking centre stage. Dubai Fitness Challenge 2026 runs from 31 October to 29 November, and ISD Dubai Sports City is making participation easier with free inclusive sessions and community football coaching.
For people of determination, finding a regular place to play can matter as much as the sport itself. Throughout the Challenge, ISD Dubai Sports City will reserve three padel courts and three table tennis tables exclusively for people of determination, with one dedicated hour every day and free admission. The aim is to create an accessible space where participants can stay active, build confidence and enjoy playing alongside the wider community.
Consistency matters. Rather than limiting participation to a single event, the daily sessions give people an opportunity to make sport part of their routine throughout November. Families can plan around a regular time, while participants can return to familiar courts and tables as the month progresses. That sense of belonging is part of the experience.
A school PE lesson can be a child’s first chance to discover a sport they genuinely enjoy. Through the Real Madrid Foundation’s Educational Football Program, coaches will deliver free sessions during PE classes at schools across Dubai and Sharjah, working alongside each school’s PE department. Children do not need previous football experience to take part. Everyone gets a chance.
The coaching goes beyond passing and shooting. Sessions also focus on teamwork, respect and resilience, giving children skills they can carry into other parts of school life. Outside the classroom, coaches will run beach soccer activities at Kite Beach and host school groups at Al Warqa Park, with further sessions planned at Zabeel Park and other community locations. Expect more than drills.
The wider Challenge has attracted more than 16 million participants across its first nine editions, and its 2026 programme continues to make daily activity accessible to people of different ages and abilities. ISD’s community sessions fit that approach by bringing sport to schools, parks and dedicated facilities rather than expecting everyone to find their own way into organised fitness.
A certificate can become a small but meaningful reminder of a child’s first football session. Every child taking part in the football activations will receive one, along with an invitation to a free taster session at ISD Dubai Sports City. The programme already has almost 1,200 players and has capacity to nearly double that number.
All ISD 30×30 activations are free. To book a session or ask about activities, WhatsApp or call ISD reception on +971 52 671 2890. For families and people of determination looking to make movement part of everyday life, the best starting point may be a session that feels welcoming enough to return to.
