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The McDonald’s Junior Sports Academy is back, with registration now open for its latest Padel and Basketball programs. Children aged 8–12 can register for either sport, with each eight-week program designed to help young athletes build their skills with professional coaching.
The initiative first launched as the Junior Padel Academy in 2023 and has since grown into the McDonald’s UAE Junior Sports Academy, expanding across four sports: padel, basketball, football and cricket. More than 3,000 children across the UAE have taken part in the Academy to date.
For the upcoming term, Padel and Basketball are the two sports open for registration, with Padel returning following previous editions and Basketball back for its second edition. Both programs will run across eight weekends, giving families the choice to register their children for the sport that suits them best.
Young athletes will train with professional coaches at leading sports facilities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. McDonald’s UAE covers the cost of coaching, court facilities and sports kits, with parents only required to pay a 100 AED registration fee. Whether children are stepping onto the court for the first time or are already passionate players, the Academy is open to all experience levels. Each eight-week program wraps up with a special awards ceremony celebrating the children’s progress and achievements.
“It’s been great to see the Junior Sports Academy grow into something that so many families look forward to,” said Walid Fakih, CEO of McDonald’s UAE. “This term, we’re excited to welcome even more kids onto the padel and basketball courts, where they can learn new skills, build their confidence and, most importantly, have fun along the way.”
The Junior Sports Academy’s upcoming sessions will run as follows, with parents able to register via: <a id="OWA3ce0445d-b3e2-2f4c-73e6-1b62b35fe23a" class="x_x_x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://mcduae.com/event/junior-sports-academy” href=”https://mcduae.com/event/junior-sports-academy” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” data-auth=”NotApplicable” data-linkindex=”1″>https://mcduae.com/event/junior-sports-academy
- Padel: starting 19th September
- Basketball: starting 26th September
Registrations are AED 100 per child while the rest of the Academy cost is fully subsidized by McDonald’s UAE, with spots available on a first-come, first-served basis.