Premier League club Liverpool are the latest team to announce plans to bring their unique brand of football to the UAE with the launch of a new LFC International Academy in Dubai.
Beginning in September, the Reds will offer a year-round development programme, providing unique opportunities for young players aged four to 16 years to learn from some of the best in the business.
Under the guidance of Liverpool coaches, young players will get a chance to improve their skills and develop their technical, physical, and mental abilities through age-specific coaching sessions.
The coaching programme will be overseen by Liverpool coaching staff, drawing from the vast knowledge pool at the training academy in Liverpool. Local coaches will also be involved and will benefit from a comprehensive coach education scheme.
Ian Rush, club legend and LFC International Academy ambassador, said: "We're excited to bring LFC International Academy to the UAE, a region of tremendous opportunity and growth for football.
"The expert LFC coaching provided on our programmes will be a huge benefit to young players in the UAE. Not only will it help them to become more technically proficient by working on a wide range of footballing skills, but it will also offer them the opportunity to develop other transferable life skills, like confidence and working as part of a team.
"The development opportunities from the LFC International Academy programme will also extend to the coaches. They will benefit from a comprehensive coach education scheme, which includes the LFC International Academy Global Coach Accreditation and allows them to deliver coaching 'The Liverpool Way'."
Dr Ihab Salama, chairman of Genesis Elite Sports, said: "Exciting times ahead! We're proud to partner with Liverpool FC to bring the most authentic football programme to the UAE, empowering young athletes to embrace the club's legendary philosophy and tradition."
Mostafa Youssef, COO of Genesis Elite Sports, added: "We are passionate about creating the best environment for developing young footballers on and off the pitch. That's why we're thrilled to represent LFC in the UAE and be part of the world's greatest football family."
The LFC International Academy UAE will initially be offered at two venues in Dubai – Deira International School and MVP Lab Dubai. For more information, visit www.LFCacademyuae.com.
Dubai is now home to some of the top academies, including those of Manchester City, Juventus, Barcelona, and others.
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
