Al Ain are all set to play their first match at their new home – the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium which had been under construction for 17 months – against Al Dhafra on January 24 and you can be part of the action.

To celebrate this occasion, a three-day festival will be held from January 23 to 25 that will provide plenty of entertainment for families.

Titled as the ‘Big Kick-Off’, the event will see fun activities for all ages including show jumping, juggling, BMX bikes and bungee runs with the aim of encouraging families to take part in sports. 

Thursday’s activities starts from 16:00, while the fun begins from 14:00 on Friday and Saturdays. The activities on all three days take place outside the stadium, ending at 23:00 and admission is free. 

The stadium is situated near Al Ain Cromwell hospital, and directions can found on the stadium’s website.

There will be five fan zones that will have different activities where you can test yourself in your agility, long distance running, balance and flexibility in sports such as table tennis, football and running.

Zone One is focused on running, jumping and stamina training, where activities include a running track, a high-jump arena as well as horseless show jumping, while Zone Two tests the strengths of the visitors and provides the relevant training to help enhance their stamina.

You will be able to enjoy tennis activities, shooting hoops, football, table tennis and swing ball. And if you want to give giant chess, hopscotch, giant Jenga and skipping a try, then there are coaches available to help you.

If you like activities that are extreme or flexible, then you can try wall climbing, trampolining or bag jumps in Zone Four. And finally, Zone Five is where you will learn how important nutrition is to a sporting athlete.

This zone focuses on knowledge, especially about the food people eat and how it affects the human body. Nutritionists and leading local physiotherapists will take visitors through what they should and shouldn’t eat and how they should treat their bodies during sports events.

Plus if you’re hungry or thirsty, the Oasis Zone will be serving nutritious meals to encourage a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Visitors will also be entertained by resident circus acts while they enjoy their hearty meal. And by the end of the day, if you feel that you want to come back to the stadium or pick up a souvenir, then visit the merchandise stand where Al Ain products will be available to buy.

The three-day festival will surely be a great experience for one-and-all, also because it will be just a few metres away from the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, which can house 25,000 spectators.

There is seating allocated for spectators with special needs and separate gates and areas dedicated to ladies and families.

The Al Ain players have already begun training on the pitch and cannot wait to play their first match at the stadium.

“The players have seen this amazing structure come to life over the past months and want desperately to play their first game here,” said Al Ain’s first team supervisor, Mohammed Obaid Hamad.

“Al Ain is the most successful club in the Gulf and the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium will ensure that run continues. We understand that not only is the club being given a new home, it also has the chance to change the face of football as we know it in the UAE.”

So get yourself down to Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium this weekend where you will definitely have a fantastic day out.

What: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium ‘Big Kick-Off’ festival

Where: Al Ain

When: January 23 to 25

Contact: Visit www.hbzstadium.ae