Short answer: the best cricket net for you depends on what you want to practise. For batting against pace or a bowling machine, choose an indoor, air-conditioned net with a machine. For match-like bounce, seam and turn, choose an outdoor natural turf net. For cheap evening practice with friends, a floodlit outdoor net on artificial turf is the most affordable option. SPSA has all three: indoor nets with a BOLA bowling machine at Dubai Investment Park 2, turf nets at Oud Metha, and floodlit nets at BRS in DIP 1, from AED 75 an hour.
How to choose cricket nets in Dubai
1. Indoor or outdoor
Dubai’s summer decides this for many players. From May to September, outdoor nets are only comfortable early in the morning or late in the evening. An indoor, air-conditioned net lets you bat at full intensity at any time of day, all year. Outdoor nets are usually cheaper and give you more natural conditions: wind, light and real surfaces.
2. The surface
- Natural turf: the closest thing to a match pitch, with real bounce, seam movement and turn. Best before the season or before league matches.
- Artificial turf, astro turf or matting: consistent bounce every ball, low maintenance, and usually cheaper. Good for grooving technique and for younger players.
Ideally, practise on both. Many players do their technique work on artificial surfaces and switch to turf as matches get closer.
3. Bowling machine or live bowling
A bowling machine lets you practise one shot again and again at a set line, length and pace, and you don’t need a bowler. It’s the best option for solo batting practice and for getting used to genuine pace. Live bowling is still essential, because you need to practise reading a bowler’s action and release. A good routine mixes both.
4. Lights and timings
If you work during the day, check that outdoor nets are floodlit and how late you can book. Some venues inside schools only open in the late afternoon on weekdays.
5. Location, parking and transport
A net 15 minutes from home gets used far more than a cheaper one across the city. Check parking, and whether there’s a Metro station nearby if you don’t drive.
6. Price, and what’s included
Compare the price per net per hour, whether VAT is included, and what the price covers: the bowling machine, balls, a coach. In Dubai, outdoor nets usually cost less than indoor, air-conditioned nets.
SPSA’s three cricket net venues compared
| Venue | DIP 2 (indoor) | Oud Metha (outdoor) | BRS, DIP 1 (outdoor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nets | 4 indoor nets on Uniturf: 3 seam, 1 spin | 4 outdoor nets: 2 natural turf, 2 astro turf | 4 outdoor nets on artificial turf |
| Bowling machine | Yes, BOLA Professional (24–152 km/h) on Net 1 | No | No |
| Climate | Air-conditioned, all year | Outdoor, floodlit | Outdoor, floodlit |
| Hours | 6am to midnight, every day | 6am to midnight, every day | Weekdays 4pm to 12 AM; weekends and school holidays 6am to 12 AM |
| Price (incl. VAT) | AED 120 per net per hour; AED 180 with the bowling machine | AED 120 natural turf, AED 100 astro turf, per net per hour | AED 75 per net per hour |
| Best for | Batting against pace, year-round practice, summer | Match preparation on real turf; central Dubai | Affordable evening practice; teams and friends in DIP, Green Community, Jebel Ali |
| Getting there | Free parking in the Discovery Warehouse Compound | 2 minutes’ walk from Oud Metha Metro (Green Line) | Parking on site; Gate 1, next to Carrefour |
Full prices and booking: cricket nets at DIP and Oud Metha and BRS facilities.
Which SPSA net is right for you?
- “I want to face fast bowling.” DIP 2, with the bowling machine. There’s only one machine net, so book it in advance.
- “I’ve got a league match coming up.” Oud Metha’s natural turf nets.
- “We just want a cheap net for a group of friends after work.” BRS: AED 75 an hour, floodlit until 12 AM.
- “It’s August.” DIP 2, indoors and air-conditioned.
- “I want a coach with me.” Book a net with a coach at Oud Metha (AED 200 an hour), or personal coaching.
How to get the most from a net session
- Have a plan. Pick one or two things to work on, not everything.
- Warm up first. Ten minutes of jogging, stretching and throwing before you bat or bowl hard.
- Start the machine slow. Begin well below your target pace, then build up.
- Film yourself. A phone on a tripod behind the stumps shows what you can’t feel.
- Finish with match scenarios. For example: six balls, ten runs to win.
For more ideas, read how to maximise your cricket net practice in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find cricket nets near me in Dubai?
SPSA has nets in three areas: Dubai Investment Park 2 (indoor, with a bowling machine), Oud Metha in central Dubai (natural turf and astro turf), and Dubai Investments Park 1 at Bright Riders School (floodlit outdoor nets).
Where are there cricket nets with a bowling machine in Dubai?
At SPSA’s indoor centre in Dubai Investment Park 2. Our BOLA Professional bowling machine bowls from 24 up to 152 km/h, with 19 spin and swing settings.
How much does it cost to book a cricket net in Dubai?
At SPSA, from AED 75 per net per hour at BRS, AED 100–120 at Oud Metha, and AED 120 at DIP (AED 180 with the bowling machine). All net prices include VAT.
What is the best time to book a cricket net?
Evenings and weekends usually fill first, so book those a few days ahead. Weekday daytime slots at DIP and Oud Metha are usually easier to get.
Do I need my own kit?
Bring your own bat and protective gear (helmet, gloves, pads and box) for hard-ball practice.
Can beginners book a net?
Yes. If you’re new to cricket, a session with a coach, or one of our coaching programs, is the best way to start.