When it comes to unique fields and arenas for sports, Dubai pulls out all the stops. After a floating padel court, the world’s fourth most famous golf course, and an annual multipurpose indoor sports arena, there’s a vibrant new entry – a neon badminton court.
Al Quoz Industrial Area 3 is now home to Pioneers Badminton Hub – the UAE’s first-ever neon badminton court. Regular badminton courts too are available here, but these glow-in-the-dark turfs for the racquet sport have been flooding Dubai’s social media and social calendars.
Indoors and incandescent
Open 7 days a week, you can enjoy a game at these indoor badminton courts all day long from 6am to 12am. The nets, racquets, markings on the court and even shuttlecocks all turn vividly fluorescent once the lights go off and black lights are turned on. Besides, the incandescent graffiti and street art covering the walls give the whole experience an edgy vibe.
Incredibly cool phosphorescent tech ensures the warehouse space remains pitch-dark throughout your game, but is still well-lit by the electric glow that the gear and court emit. As a result, players can see where they’re sprinting about and enjoy the trippy atmosphere without tripping.
Neon badminton courts include equipment
Conveniently enough, the colourful badminton equipment is included in the rental cost of a court – AED 150 for an hour – and is provided to players at the venue. That leaves your hands and mind free to focus on your glow-up. The trick is to arrive dressed in whites or bright colours so the ultraviolet lights turn you into a human glowstick.
Built for two-person teams, these neon badminton courts are perfect for doubles and only accommodate a maximum of four players at a time. However, groups of more than 4 people can use the court in turns during the hour-long session which makes this a pretty cost-effective option for a big group of friends or a workplace team-building session.
In case you’re clueless about badminton (like me) and can’t differentiate a deuce from a net shot, fret not – players of all ages and levels can use the neon courts. Maybe you’ll ace serves, maybe you’ll serve lewks and ace selfies. The idea is to brighten up your weekends with some ‘neon-sensical’ good fun.