Ambition
Aim high
We push every player to progress, to give their best and to move their own limits further, week after week.
Athletic Football Club Dubai
More ThanFootball.
معًا، كل شيء ممكنTogether, everything is possible
Building Players. Building People.
A club where football brings out what every player is capable of.
The Club
A story that begins in 2016
Athletic Football Club Dubai was founded in 2016 in Al Manara. Since then the club has grown around one simple conviction: football builds players, and it builds people too.
Today AFC guides several generations of players around a shared identity and a strong educational philosophy.
Al Manara, Close to the Burj Al Arab
2016
Founded
10
Years running
Dubai
Al Manara, UAE
Our philosophy
More Than Football
Football is a tool. It passes on far more than technical skill.
- Respect
- Discipline
- Confidence
- Independence
- Team spirit
- Responsibility
Our values
Ambition. Family. Commitment.
Family
Belong
The club grows with its families. Players, parents and coaches all shape the life of the club.
Commitment
Step up
Discipline and respect are part of our daily routine. Every player learns to give fully, on the pitch and off it.
The AFC pathway
One club. One pathway.
From a first touch of the ball to the professional squad, every stage prepares the next.
Football School
3 to 7 years
Everything starts with the pleasure of playing. Children discover the ball, the team and the very first foundations of football.
Pre-Academy
8 to 13 years
Technical foundations are built, along with the working habits that carry a player through their progression.
Project Horizon
14 to 18 years
Standards rise and performance takes over. Players prepare for the top level while growing into responsible young adults.
Professional Squad
Seniors
The end of the pathway: wearing the club colours and inspiring the generation that follows.
Professional squad
Perform. Represent. Inspire.
The highest level of AFC.
The AFC Professional Squad competes in the UAE Third Division and stands at the highest level of the club’s sporting structure. Season after season, the team continues to compete, progress and pursue its sporting ambitions.
Performance & competition
Built around performance, high standards and the pursuit of results.
Club representation
The Professional Squad carries AFC’s identity and ambitions every time it steps onto the pitch.
Professionalism & leadership
Lead by example, set the standard and inspire the generations that follow.
Player development
Growing beyond the pitch
Every player develops across three connected dimensions throughout their pathway.
Athletic
Build technical and tactical quality, game understanding and a standard that rises step by step along the pathway.
Academic
Build the working, organisation and learning habits that suit each age.
Personal growth
Build confidence, independence, respect and responsibility on and off the pitch.
AFC Family
A family, not just a club
The club grows with the people around it. Families are part of the week, not spectators of it.
Families at the centre
Build a strong relationship between the club, the players and their families.
A real club life
Share moments that go beyond training sessions and match days.
AFC community
Players, families and coaches all take part in one shared identity.
Direct communication
A team you can reach easily, alongside families day to day.
Life at the club
Categories & schedule
Find the player group
Select the year of birth to see the matching AFC programme and the details that go with it.
Schedule
Weekly training schedule
Days, times and venue for every group, as published by the club.
Al Manara, Umm Suqeim, Dubai
| Category | Birth years | Days and times | Girls programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| U3-U4 Academy | 2024 and 2023 | Saturday, 9am to 10am, indoor | Girls training indoor, U13 and below |
| U5-U6 Academy | 2022 and 2021 | Monday and Wednesday, 5pm to 6pm | |
| U7-U8-U9 Academy | 2020, 2019 and 2018 | Monday and Wednesday, 5pm to 6.15pm | |
| U10-U11 Academy | 2017 and 2016 | Monday and Wednesday, 5pm to 6.15pm | |
| U12-U13-U14 Academy | 2015, 2014 and 2013 | Monday and Wednesday, 6pm to 7.30pm | |
| U15-U16 Academy | 2012 and 2011 | Tuesday and Thursday, 6pm to 7.30pm | Girls training, U12 and above |
| U17-U18-U19 Academy | 2010, 2009 and 2008 | Tuesday and Thursday, 7.30pm to 9pm | |
| Premium programme (private development) | U3 to U19 | Tuesday and Thursday, 5pm to 6pm, and Saturday, 9am to 10am | |
| Pro Team (UAE 3rd Division) | Seniors | Monday and Wednesday, 7.45pm to 9.15pm |
Information
Practical information
- Location
- Al Manara, Dubai
Close to the Burj Al Arab - Season
- 2026/2027
- Season start
- 31 August
- Categories & schedule
- See the dedicated section
- Registration
- Online through Join AFC, on WhatsApp or directly at the club
Exact pitch location to be confirmed by the club
Our partners
More than sponsors, partners in our journey.
Three partners. Three areas of expertise. One shared commitment to supporting our players, our families and the development of AFC.
Main partner
A leading hospitality group in Dubai creating unique dining experiences and bringing people together.
Health & nutrition partner
Growing healthy produce with care, using technology and innovation for a better tomorrow.
Education partner
Helping students reach their full potential through personalised online tutoring and academic guidance.
Our close relationships
Strong ties with great legends
At AFC, we believe in building bridges beyond the pitch. Through these strong and meaningful relationships, we inspire our players, elevate our standards and create unique opportunities.
Affiliations & competitions
The network behind the club.
The federations, schools and organisations we work with, and the competitions our teams play in every season.
Partners & affiliations
Leagues, competitions & tournaments
