Former LTA-ranked player Sara Essa has created a thriving community in Dubai which she says offers an antidote to the city’s “ultra competitive” padel scene.
Sara played across West London and Surrey before moving to Dubai last August. On arrival, she landed at 2am, entered a padel tournament that same day and won, collecting sizeable prize money.
That first experience gave her an insight into the city’s padel-playing circuit which, Sara says, is “all about winning at all costs”.
She reveals: “Often players play down categories to mop up the prize money as it’s so available here for all levels. Some clubs also ask to do an assessment of a player’s level before letting them join.”
In response to this, Essa set up The Padel Collective, a diverse group of ex-pats and locals who get together twice a week to hit, socialise and have fun.
The Padel Collective has quickly grown to over 300 players, who play every Tuesday on the six courts at ISD Padel, Sports City, and every Sunday on the eight courts at Club Padel, Umm Seqeim.
“I quickly discovered that a lot of the weekly social style events at clubs are organised in competition format,” said Essa. “I thought, ‘What about those who want to just play socially and have a bit of fun?’
“It just took off. People started inviting their friends and family to come along and I think it’s proved so popular because it is completely non-competitive, which is one of the only communities in Dubai that’s like that. It’s a great place to try out new shots and tactics because there’s no pressure to win the match.
“We have developed a really nice culture and a great mix of people – starting from aged 10 right up to 64.”
As well as twice-weekly socials, competitions and corporate events, the Padel Collective will shortly have their second coaching clinic at the World Padel Academy and will be hosting the UAE’s largest women’s tournament to date, in March at the new Danube Sports World, a multisport indoor facility.
Alongside this Essa is focused on introducing new players to the sport and actively getting players from other sports involved. Later this month she is organising intro to padel sessions for the Hurricanes rugby and netball club.
Regular participant Sian Barton said: “A few of my friends had joined and I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. I had 10 lessons then was introduced to Sara at Padel Collective. I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I have had since joining.
“Padel Collective is a great community to get fit, meet new friends, socialise, enjoy a sport, compete and have a laugh. The social element is fantastic, meeting people at all different levels of padel. It’s improved my focus and my son and I love playing together so it’s a great common interest for us both.”
Dounia Ghomari commented: “This is more than a group, it’s a community that Sara managed to bring together and make us progress and challenge each other every week! Thanks Sara for the hard work, I’m so happy to be part of this adventure.”
To join the Padel Collective, get in touch via Instagram.
See also: State of the Game: Padel in the UAE
