McDonald’s UAE grows Junior Sports Academy beyond padel, adding basketball, football, and cricket to the program
Press release
McDonald’s UAE is calling on kids aged 8-12 to step onto the court, pitch, or field, with its all-new Junior Sports Academy launching this September. Building on the success of the McDonald’s UAE Junior Padel Academy, which has brought smiles and skills to over 1,000 kids across the UAE since 2023, the expanded Academy includes padel, basketball, football, and cricket training sessions.
Designed to make sport fun and accessible for all families, the eight-week weekend programs are led by professional coaches at top facilities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. All coaching, equipment, and kits are fully covered by McDonald’s UAE. Each program ends with an award ceremony, where participants are celebrated with certificates recognizing their effort and progress. Encouraging kids to try new activities, develop skills, and stay active, the Academy reflects McDonald’s UAE’s commitment to creating feel-good moments for families across the Emirates.
“At the end of our last Junior Padel Academy program, a parent told me their child had discovered a new passion and developed a level of confidence they hadn’t seen before,” said Walid Fakih, CEO at McDonald’s UAE. “Hearing how much of an impact the program had on families inspired us to go bigger and bring basketball, football, and cricket into the mix. Our goal? To get even more kids moving, learning, and growing through the power of sport!”
The McDonald’s UAE Junior Sports Academy kicks off with padel, followed by basketball, football, and cricket:
• Padel (27 September - 15 November 2025)
• Basketball (4 October - 22 November 2025)
• Football and cricket (Launching early 2026)
Registration is just AED 100 per child, with the remaining costs fully covered by McDonald’s UAE. Families can choose from multiple venues and flexible timings, with spots available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sign your little ones up here: https://mcduae.com/event/junior-sports-academy.
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Background Information
McDonald’s
In 1917, 15-year-old Ray Kroc lied about his age to join the Red Cross as an ambulance driver, but the war ended before he completed his training. He then worked as a piano player, a paper cup salesman and a Multimixer salesman.
In 1954, he visited a restaurant in San Bernardino, California that had purchased several Multimixers. There he found a small but successful restaurant run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, and was stunned by the effectiveness of their operation. They produced a limited menu, concentrating on just a few items – burgers, fries and beverages – which allowed them to focus on quality and quick service.
They were looking for a new franchising agent and Kroc saw an opportunity. In 1955, he founded McDonald’s System, Inc., a predecessor of the McDonald’s Corporation, and six years later bought the exclusive rights to the McDonald’s name and operating system. By 1958, McDonald’s had sold its 100 millionth hamburger
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