In the heart of Dubai, two ice rinks – an Olympic rink of 60 meters long by 30 meters wide and a standard-size American rink of 61 meters by 26 meters – have nothing to envy when compared with the most prestigious facilities to be found in countries traditionally attached to ice sports, such as Canada, the US, Russia or the Nordic countries. The Dubai Ice Rink is located in Dubai’s gigantic shopping mall in the Emirati capital, while the Sport Society Ice Rink is housed in a complex combining sports facilities and apartment blocks.
Somewhat surprising one might think for a desert country where temperatures swing between 25°C and 40°C, and even incongruous at a time when climate change has become a more than critical issue? In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ice culture – or rather, ice hockey culture has taken hold – the UAE boasts 11 ice rinks with a new Olympic facility set to open in May 2025.
Over the past 15 years or so, the Emirates have become enamored with ice hockey and curling. There are 695 registered players, and the semi-professional national league, which was set up in 2009, now comprises seven teams. The Dubai White Bears, the Dubai Mighty Camels and the Abu Dhabi Storms began the 2024-2025 season at the end of November, playing three matches per week.
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