A new padel tennis centre, licensed by Austrian sports company Head, is coming to Abu Dhabi.
The 2,200-square-metre Head Arena is set to open in Mussaffah on February 21.
The National had a first look inside the facility, which houses five professional padel courts. Those who want a bit of privacy when playing can book a sixth VIP court. The space has capacity for 60 spectators.
Head Arena also has its own branded juice bar and a retail shop that offers accessories, shoes and other sports apparel by the company.
Court rental rates start at Dh300 for 60 minutes or per game. Other services include private and group coaching for children and adults, starting at Dh350 per session. The facility also has a membership option from Dh795 per month.
Members will have unlimited access to the courts and can borrow racquets for free, and take advantage of a 90-minute clinic once a month. They will also get discounts on retail offerings.
The arena will eventually be home to its own professional padel team.
“It is our pleasure to welcome everyone in the community to visit, train and learn,” said Ravi Menghani, managing partner of Xische Ventures, the investment group that owns Head Arena. Xische and Head plan to launch 10 more facilities across the Mena region, including two this year.
The new facility comes as padel gains traction in the UAE. As of last year, there were about 350 padel courts across the country, according to Eisa Al Marzooqi, a board member of the UAE Padel Association.
Padel is something of a cross between tennis and squash. It is typically played in doubles, on an enclosed court that is slightly smaller than a tennis court.
Scoring is the same as in tennis, but the balls are similar and padel players use solid, stringless bats. The court's walls also play a role in a match, as balls can be bounced off them, as in the game of squash.
The sport is relatively new, with its origins being traced back to Mexico in the 1960s. It is currently one of the fastest-growing sports, with more than 25 million players globally, according to the International Padel Federation.
Its rise in popularity can be attributed to the simplicity of the game, especially in comparison to tennis, which “can get technical”, said Audrey Descols of Matcha Club, a padel venue in Dubai. “The thing about padel is that you don’t need to get to a certain level to have fun.”
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Tips to avoid getting scammed
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5) Don't be rushed into a sale
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Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
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Sector: E-commerce
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
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“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
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Conflict, drought, famine
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Fly direct to London from the UAE with Etihad, Emirates, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from about Dh2,500 return including taxes.
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