GLXY Sport Hub (Galaxy Arena) Dubai: what's announced and when
Galaxy Arena in Oud Metha: two ice sheets, 1,600 seats and a GLXY Cup set for New Year, but still 'Opening soon' on 27 Oct 2026. What is known so far.
- Independent · no bookings
- Published 27 October 2026
- 6 sources, checked 27 October 2026
- 5 min read
Short answer
- GLXY Sport Hub, also called Galaxy Arena, is a two-sheet ice venue announced by Galaxy Hockey in Oud Metha, Dubai.
- On 27 October 2026 Galaxy's page still said 'Opening soon' and 'Coming September 2026'. No opening day has been announced.
- Galaxy lists its GLXY Cup youth tournament at Galaxy Arena from 30 December 2026 to 4 January 2027.
- Until it opens, Galaxy Hockey Academy trains at Sport Society Mall in Mirdif.
- Galaxy says there has been ice on the site since 1979 but does not name Al Nasr Leisureland.
In this guide (8 sections)
GLXY Sport Hub, which Galaxy Hockey also calls Galaxy Arena, is a two-sheet ice venue announced for Oud Metha in Dubai. When we checked on 27 October 2026, Galaxy's own page still said "Opening soon" under a "Coming September 2026" heading, and no opening day had been announced. Galaxy has nonetheless listed its New Year GLXY Cup there for 30 December 2026 to 4 January 2027.
dubaihockey.com is independent. We are not affiliated with Galaxy Hockey or any rink, club, league or federation, and we take no bookings.
Is Galaxy Arena open yet?
No opening has been announced. Here is what Galaxy's own pages said, by date:
| Date checked | What Galaxy's pages said | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2026 | "Coming September 2026"; "opening soon" | glxyhockey.com/hub |
| 27 Oct 2026 | Same wording; FAQ says it "opens soon"; no day given | glxyhockey.com/hub |
| 27 Oct 2026 | GLXY Cup New Year event listed at Galaxy Arena, 30 Dec to 4 Jan | glxyhockey.com/tournaments |
| 27 Oct 2026 | Academy home page calls the arena the UAE's first dual-ice arena, "opening soon" | glxyhockey.com |
September 2026 has passed without an opening announcement that we could find. That does not mean the project has stopped. It means the published target has slipped and no new date has been given. We mark it "announced, not confirmed open" in our directory entry and will change the label when Galaxy publishes an opening day that has passed.
Where is GLXY Sport Hub?
Galaxy places the hub in Oud Metha. Its page gives the drive as about 4 km (8 minutes) from Downtown Dubai and about 10 km (15 minutes) from Dubai International Airport. It does not give a street address or map pin on the hub page.
Is it on the old Al Nasr Leisureland site?
We cannot confirm that. Two facts point the same way, but neither source makes the link:
- Galaxy's hub page says there has been ice on the site since 1979.
- Gulf News (updated 28 November 2025) said Al Nasr Leisureland's ice rink in Oud Metha had operated since 1979 and would shut from 30 November 2025, with no official reason given.
Galaxy does not mention Al Nasr anywhere on the hub page. Until Galaxy or the venue owner says so, treat them as two separate things. Our Al Nasr Leisureland status guide tracks the old rink.
What has Galaxy announced?
All of the figures below are as printed on Galaxy's hub page on 27 October 2026. None has been independently checked.
| Feature | What Galaxy lists |
|---|---|
| Main rink | NHL-size, 1,401 m² |
| Training rink | 391 m² |
| Seating | 1,600 seats around the main rink |
| Event mode | 3,000+ with the ice covered |
| Extra event spaces | Five rooms of 50 to 200 m² |
| Ice sports | Hockey, figure skating, public skating, curling, off-ice training |
| Other sports | Padel, badminton, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball |
| Performance | Off-ice gym, physiotherapy, ice baths, sports massage, sauna and banya, a shooting system |
| Shops and food | Multibrand pro shop with blade sharpening, restaurant, coffee shop, athlete nutrition |
| Other | Coworking, kids' centre and nursery, VIP lounges, outdoor courts |
Worked example: how much ice is that?
Adding Galaxy's two figures gives 1,401 + 391 = 1,792 m² of ice. For comparison, Emirates Sports Group lists a 26 m x 61 m rink for its planned arena in Dubai Sports City, which is 1,586 m² as a plain rectangle (real rinks have rounded corners, so the true area is smaller). So Galaxy's main sheet alone is close to a full-size rink, and the training sheet adds roughly a quarter again.
The second sheet matters for families. Small-ice sessions for young age groups and full-ice sessions for older teams can run at the same time instead of queuing for one rink.
What it means if your child plays with Galaxy now
Galaxy Hockey Academy currently trains at Sport Society Mall in Mirdif, according to its home page on 27 October 2026. The academy says it takes children from age 3, with U6, U8 and U10 groups on small ice and U12, U14 and U16 on full ice, and that the first session is free.
Its published youth fees, checked on 23 October 2026, are for Season 2026/27 at its current base:
| Option | Fee (plus 5% VAT) | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| First trimester | AED 6,900 | glxyhockey.com/hockey-dubai, 23 Oct 2026 |
| Second trimester | AED 5,900 | as above |
| Third trimester | AED 5,600 | as above |
| Full season | AED 17,500 | as above |
Galaxy has not said whether fees, session times or age groups will change when training moves to Oud Metha. If you are signing up now, ask in writing where sessions will be held for the term you pay for, and whether there is any refund or credit if the venue or schedule changes. Full programme comparisons are in kids' ice hockey in Dubai and what ice hockey costs in Dubai.
The GLXY Cup at Galaxy Arena
Galaxy's tournaments page, checked on 27 October 2026, lists:
- GLXY Cup: New Year in Dubai, 30 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, for U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15, in 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 formats, at Galaxy Arena.
- No entry fees or registration deadlines are published; Galaxy says team entries are open and points to its registration page and WhatsApp.
The same page calls Galaxy Arena the series' future home and says it opens soon. If you are a visiting team, ask Galaxy to confirm the venue in writing before you book flights and hotels, and ask what happens if the arena is not ready. Other events are listed in our Dubai ice hockey tournaments guide.
How does it compare with Dubai's other new rink?
Dubai has two announced hockey venues. Neither was open on 27 October 2026.
| GLXY Sport Hub (Galaxy Arena) | Emirates Sports Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Oud Metha | Dubai Sports City |
| Operator | Galaxy Hockey (GLXY) | Emirates Sports Group |
| Ice | Two sheets: 1,401 m² + 391 m² | One sheet, 26 m x 61 m |
| Seats | 1,600 | 1,000 |
| Latest published target | "Coming September 2026", "opening soon" | "Opening January 2027" |
| Directory | GLXY Sport Hub | Emirates Sports Arena |
Emirates Sports Group changed its target from spring 2026 to January 2027 in late October 2026; see our news report. For every rink that is open today, see ice rinks in the UAE.
Where can you play hockey in Dubai until it opens?
- Sport Society Ice Rink, Mirdif: Galaxy's current base for kids, youth and adults. Directory entry.
- Dubai Ice Rink, The Dubai Mall: a children's Hockey Academy, team ice rental and league games. See Dubai Ice Rink prices.
- Adults: Galaxy lists adult practices and pick-up at its current base. See adult ice hockey in Dubai.
What to check before you act
- Look for an opening day on Galaxy's hub page that has passed before travelling to Oud Metha.
- If you pay for a term now, get the venue and schedule for that term in writing.
- Visiting teams: confirm the GLXY Cup venue before booking travel.
- Prices for public skating at the new arena have not been published; do not rely on third-party figures.
- Spot a change? Send us the source and we will update this page and the directory.
Questions people ask
Is Galaxy Arena in Oud Metha open?
Not as far as we can confirm. Galaxy's GLXY Sport Hub page still said 'Opening soon' and 'Coming September 2026' on 27 October 2026, and we found no announcement of an opening day.
Where is GLXY Sport Hub?
Galaxy places it in Oud Metha, Dubai, about 4 km from Downtown and about 10 km from Dubai International Airport. It does not publish a street address on the hub page.
Is Galaxy Arena the old Al Nasr Leisureland ice rink?
Galaxy's page says ice has been on the site since 1979, the year Gulf News gives for Al Nasr's opening, and both are in Oud Metha. Galaxy does not name Al Nasr, so we treat the link as unconfirmed.
How big is the ice at GLXY Sport Hub?
Galaxy lists a main NHL-size rink of 1,401 m² and a training rink of 391 m², with 1,600 seats around the main rink and room for more than 3,000 people when the ice is covered.
Will the GLXY Cup New Year tournament be at Galaxy Arena?
Galaxy's tournaments page lists the GLXY Cup: New Year in Dubai at Galaxy Arena from 30 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, for U7 to U15. The arena was not confirmed open on 27 October 2026, so ask Galaxy where games will be played before booking travel.
Can I book public skating at Galaxy Arena?
Galaxy lists public skating among the planned ice sports, but no prices or booking page were published on 27 October 2026. Galaxy's hub page directs opening updates to WhatsApp.
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
- GLXY Sport Hub, Dubai's new home of ice (GLXY Hockey)checked 27 October 2026
- Hockey tournaments in Dubai, the Galaxy Cup (GLXY Hockey)checked 27 October 2026
- Galaxy Hockey Academy Dubai home page (GLXY Hockey)checked 27 October 2026
- Hockey in Dubai, Season 2026/27 prices (GLXY Hockey)checked 23 October 2026
- Dubai's beloved Al Nasr Leisureland to shut down? (Gulf News, updated 28 Nov 2025)checked 27 October 2026
- Emirates Sports Complex home page, ice rink section (Emirates Sports)checked 27 October 2026