The UAE’s first all-sports virtual reality arcade was launched at the weekend at Dubai Mall.

Located in the state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Theme Park, VR Sports is a one-stop-shop for sports fans and active families, where enthusiasts of all ages can challenge themselves and their friends and family to over 20 VR games.

These include basketball, football, skiing, golf, and cricket. Competitions and activities designed for everyone will start next month, in time for the World Cup.

 According to Saeed Hareb, general secretary at Dubai Sports Council, he believes VR will change the sports scene forever. “It will help in making workouts more effective, and athletes won’t even have to step out of their homes to train”, he said.

“VR Sports is a great new addition to Dubai’s sport scene, not just for virtual reality enthusiasts, but also sports professionals who are looking to improve their game. A number of studies in recent years have confirmed how virtual reality helps foster a better understanding of sports performance, becoming an integral part of training for sports teams and individuals. So we at Dubai Sports Council are looking forward to working with VR Sports in our efforts to further enhance the sporting landscape of Dubai, and add exciting new technological advances like VR.”

Arindam Kunar, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Entertainment, welcomed the event and praised the innovative idea. “We are that VR SPORTS attraction at VR Park will be very popular among Dubai Mall customers.”