DubaiHockey

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Al Ain ice hockey: Hili rink, Theebs and where to start

Ice hockey in Al Ain: Al Ain Theebs, the Hili Fun City and Al Ain Mall ice rinks, published prices, the kids' route and the 2027 IIHF event. Dated sources.

Short answer

  • Al Ain has one Emirates Hockey League team, Al Ain Theebs, champions in 2019-20 and 2021-22 per Elite Prospects.
  • There are two rinks we can trace: Hili Fun City and Al Ain Mall. We found no source saying which one Theebs use.
  • Visit Abu Dhabi lists Hili ice rink entry at AED 10; the Al Ain Mall rink lists AED 40 a session. Both pages are undated.
  • We found no published kids' hockey programme in Al Ain, though Theebs won a youth title in February 2026.
  • Al Ain hosts the 2027 IIHF Division II Group A, listed for 19 to 25 April 2027. No venue is named.
In this guide (7 sections)
  1. Al Ain ice rinks at a glance
  2. Hili ice rink: price, hours and hockey
  3. Al Ain Mall ice rink: what the mall publishes
  4. Al Ain Theebs: titles and record
  5. Where can kids start ice hockey in Al Ain?
  6. Tournaments in Al Ain, including IIHF 2027
  7. What to check before you act

Ice hockey in Al Ain centres on one league team, Al Ain Theebs, and two rinks we can trace: Hili Fun City and Al Ain Mall. Public skating prices are published for both, but the pages are undated, and we found no published children's hockey programme in the city. In April 2027 Al Ain also hosts an IIHF world championship tournament, so interest should grow.

dubaihockey.com is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with any rink, club, league or federation, and we take no bookings.

Al Ain ice rinks at a glance

Rink Entry Hours Hockey Status and source
Hili Fun City Ice Rink AED 10, separate from park tickets Park 16:00–22:00, closed Mondays (Mar 2025) Described as a hockey venue; hockey bookings contact listed Unconfirmed. Visit Abu Dhabi (undated), Property Finder (5 Mar 2025)
Al Ain Mall Ice Rink AED 40 a session Sun–Thu 10:00–22:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–24:00 Not mentioned Listed by the mall (undated), checked 3 Nov 2026

Neither rink's page carries a date on its prices, so ring before you drive. Al Ain is about 1.5 hours from Abu Dhabi, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. For the rest of the country, see our UAE ice rinks guide.

Hili ice rink: price, hours and hockey

The rink inside Hili Fun City is the older of the two. Khaleej Times reported in December 2013 (updated 2015) that it was built in 1987, reopened after a refurbishment, and seats 1,400. The same report described it as able to host ice hockey championships and suited to learning to skate and play hockey. That report is more than a decade old, so treat it as history.

More recent details are thinner:

  • Price. Visit Abu Dhabi's undated page says the rink costs AED 10 to enter. Property Finder said the same on 5 March 2025 and treated it as separate from park tickets.
  • Park hours. Property Finder listed 16:00 to 22:00, Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays, in March 2025. Bayut's undated review shows different times, so hours are worth checking.
  • Park tickets. Bayut's undated review lists AED 45 to AED 50 by day, and does not say whether rink access is included.
  • Hockey use. Bayut's review calls the rink home to an Abu Dhabi hockey team without naming it, and gives a contact for tournament and hockey training bookings: +971 55 257 7954 or [email protected].
  • General phone. Visit Abu Dhabi and Bayut both list 03 784 5542.

We did not read the park's own site, which does not allow automated readers, so we have left the rink's status as unconfirmed. If you ring and find something different, tell us and we will correct the page.

Al Ain Mall ice rink: what the mall publishes

The mall's listing is the fullest price list we found in Al Ain. It sits on the ground floor near the main entrance. The page is undated.

Item Published price
Entry, with or without your own skates AED 40 a session
Socks (required) AED 5
Beginner skating aid AED 10
Safety helmet Free
Group visit, 15 or more, weekdays AED 25 each
School trip, booked ahead AED 15 each
Lessons, 10 sessions, private AED 600
Lessons, 10 sessions, group of 3 or more AED 400
Ice Theatre, 8 sessions, group of 3 or more AED 500
Membership (page dated 28 Jan 2021) AED 500 a month

Source: Al Ain Mall ice rink and membership pages, checked 3 November 2026. Phone 03 766 0333, extension 520. The mall warns that timings may change without notice.

The stated minimum age is 6. Kidzapp shows ages 5 to 16, so check if your child is 5. Lessons run with ISIA-accredited coaches, according to the mall, and the page does not mention hockey.

A worked example, using those figures: a parent and a child aged 7 visiting once cost AED 80 in entry plus AED 10 for socks, so AED 90, with helmets free. Five visits a month for one skater cost AED 200 in entry, and the AED 500 membership would only pay off at more than 12 visits a month, if that 2021 price still stands.

Al Ain Theebs: titles and record

Al Ain Theebs are Al Ain's team in the Emirates Hockey League. Elite Prospects and Wikipedia both credit them with the 2019-20 and 2021-22 titles.

Season Played Won Lost Finish Play-offs
2026-27 (to date) 3 1 2 4th Not yet played
2025-26 15 8 7 3rd Semi-final loss
2024-25 16 0 16 6th Missed play-offs
2023-24 15 5 10 5th Placement game loss
2022-23 16 9 6 1st Semi-final loss
2021-22 12 8 3 1st Champions
2019-20 15 13 1 1st Champions

Source: Elite Prospects, checked 3 November 2026; the 2026-27 record has not changed since 23 October and no game dates are listed.

The 0-16 in 2024-25 needs context. International Hockey Wiki says Theebs withdrew at the end of December that season and their remaining games were forfeited. It gives no reason, and we do not offer one.

Wikipedia lists the team's home as "Al Ain Ice Rink", which matches neither rink's name exactly. Gulf Today wrote in 2024 only of games at an Al Ain rink. So we do not claim either one. Ask the club before you travel, and expect games to be spread across cities: Gulf Today reported Monday, Wednesday and Thursday games at 20:30, with free entry, in 2024-25. The 2026-27 schedule and entry policy are unconfirmed.

Hockey in the city goes back further than Theebs' titles. The National reported in October 2009 that two Al Ain teams, the Emirati Al Ain Ice Hockey Club and the expatriate Al Ain Vipers, were among the five in the league's first season. Wikipedia lists the Vipers as first champions.

Where can kids start ice hockey in Al Ain?

We found no published programme with ages, term dates and fees. Here is what we can show:

  • A youth side exists. The Oman Observer reported on 10 February 2026 that Al Ain Theebs won the Juniors division of the Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup in Muscat, ahead of Abu Dhabi Storms.
  • Al Ain has hosted youth hockey. The same report said the previous edition was held in Al Ain.
  • Camps have run before. The National reported in June 2009 on a junior summer camp at Zayed Sports City and Al Ain rinks for about 100 children aged 7 to 10. That is history, not a current offer.

A sensible route for a parent, based only on what is published:

Step Where What is published
1. Get used to the ice Public sessions at Al Ain Mall or Hili AED 40 or AED 10
2. Learn to skate Al Ain Mall lessons AED 400–600 for 10 sessions
3. Ask about hockey Theebs or Hili's hockey contact Nothing published
4. If nothing fits Abu Dhabi or Dubai programmes See below

Families able to travel have more published options. Zayed Sports City's programme is covered in our Abu Dhabi clubs guide, and Dubai's are in our kids' ice hockey guide. Our guide to learning to skate first explains what to work on before a first hockey session.

Tournaments in Al Ain, including IIHF 2027

The IIHF lists Al Ain as host city of the 2027 Men's World Championship Division II Group A. Wikipedia's page gives the dates as 19 to 25 April 2027 and six teams: Croatia, Serbia, the UAE, Belgium, Australia and Georgia. The IIHF article we read gives neither dates nor teams, and no venue is named on either page. See our IIHF 2027 guide.

Smaller events appear too. The Oman Observer reported in June 2026 that an Omani women's team was preparing for an "Al Ain Classic" in October, and another Omani team for an Al Ain tournament in September. We found no organiser's page or results for either, so we cannot confirm they took place.

What to check before you act

  • Ring the rink. Prices and hours above come from undated or older pages.
  • Ask Al Ain Mall about the minimum age if your child is 5.
  • Ask Theebs or Hili's hockey contact about children's training; nothing is published that we could find.
  • Confirm where a league game is before you drive to Al Ain.
  • Do not book a hotel near a particular rink for April 2027 until a venue is named.

Questions people ask

Is there ice hockey in Al Ain?

Yes. Al Ain Theebs play in the Emirates Hockey League, and a youth side won the Juniors division at the Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup in Muscat in February 2026, per the Oman Observer.

How much is the Hili ice rink?

Visit Abu Dhabi's undated page says the ice rink at Hili Fun City costs AED 10 to enter, and Property Finder said the same in March 2025, separate from park tickets. Ring the park on 03 784 5542 to confirm before you go.

Is the Hili ice rink open?

Visit Abu Dhabi still lists it, but we could not read a dated rink timetable or confirm status from the park itself. Treat it as unconfirmed and call first.

How much is the Al Ain Mall ice rink?

The mall's page lists AED 40 a session, with or without your own skates, socks AED 5 and a free safety helmet. The page is undated, and its minimum age is 6.

Where do Al Ain Theebs play?

Wikipedia says only Al Ain Ice Rink, and Gulf Today wrote only of an Al Ain rink. Neither says Hili Fun City or Al Ain Mall, so check with the club before travelling to a game.

Which rink will host the 2027 IIHF tournament in Al Ain?

The IIHF names Al Ain as host city, and the page we read does not name a venue. Wait for the IIHF or the UAE Winter Sports Federation before booking around one rink.

General information only. Fees, venues and schedules change; confirm with the rink, club or league before you pay or travel. Spotted something out of date? Send us a source.

Sources

  1. Al Ain Theebs team page and season history (Elite Prospects)checked 3 November 2026
  2. UAE league standings 2026-2027 (Elite Prospects)checked 3 November 2026
  3. Emirates Ice Hockey League (Wikipedia)checked 3 November 2026
  4. 2024-25 Emirates Ice Hockey League season (International Hockey Wiki)checked 3 November 2026
  5. Hili Fun City (Visit Abu Dhabi, undated)checked 3 November 2026
  6. All You Need to Know About Hili Fun City (Property Finder, 5 Mar 2025)checked 3 November 2026
  7. Hili Fun City Al Ain review (Bayut, undated)checked 3 November 2026
  8. Hili Fun City's refurbished ice rink now open (Khaleej Times, 2013, updated 2015)checked 3 November 2026
  9. Ice Rink (Al Ain Mall, undated)checked 3 November 2026
  10. Ice Rink Membership (Al Ain Mall, 28 Jan 2021)checked 3 November 2026
  11. Al Ain Mall Ice Rink (Kidzapp)checked 3 November 2026
  12. Gulf Youth Ice Hockey Challenge Cup concludes in Muscat (Oman Observer, 10 Feb 2026)checked 3 November 2026
  13. Training programmes elevate Oman's ice hockey performance (Oman Observer, 8 Jun 2026)checked 3 November 2026
  14. New season of Emirates Ice Hockey League off to a thrilling start (Gulf Today, 23 Nov 2024)checked 3 November 2026
  15. IIHF names hosts for World Championship tournaments (IIHF)checked 3 November 2026
  16. 2027 IIHF World Championship Division II (Wikipedia)checked 3 November 2026
  17. UAE's new league heralds a new era (The National, 7 Oct 2009)checked 3 November 2026
  18. Ice hockey camps building for future (The National, 10 Jun 2009)checked 3 November 2026

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