Sports Facilities Planning Guide

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Sports Facilities
Planning Guide
Technical Standards - 1st Version 2023
Properties and Investment Department - Properties
Section 2023
FO-S01-06-07

Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Vision
Abu Dhabi is a global capital
of sports. Practice .. Competi-
tion .. Hosting ..
Mission
Create a sports environment
that contributes to raising
awareness of the importance of
sports, providing programs and
events for practicing it among
members of society, applying the
best international systems that
qualify for professional sports
competition at the local and
international levels, and hosting
the most important international
tournaments.
Executive Summary
This Sports Facilities Planning Guide provides guidelines for the general
principles for planning sports facilities, the required sizes and the
type of materials used to implement the site for the practice of each
activity in terms of standards and specifications of international and
local federations for each sport. The Guide also provides a method for
calculating the capacity of all facilities according to (the law) known as
the applicable building code in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the stages of
sports facilities planning.
This Guide aims to ensure that the design and implementation of
sports facilities are followed in accordance with legal specifications and
standards, taking into account security, health and safety standards
5 4

7 6
Sports Facilities Planning Guide
General principles for sports facilities planning ......................08
Capacity for each facility ..................................................................18
Population density ..............................................................................26
Sports Facilities Planning Phases .................................................30
Designing a site for practicing sports activity .........................34
Common mistakes in sports facilities ..........................................98
Guide Contents

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
General principles
for sports facilities
planning
1

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Basic principles for planning sports facilities:
Site selection
The selection of the site depends on many
factors, the foremost of which is the type of
sports facility to be established (small play-
grounds, training centers, sports stadium...etc),
the available space for that facility, its distance
from residential areas, and ease of transporta-
tion, as well as other factors must be taken into
account, such as : Future population growth
and their needs, as well as the availability of
basic services (water, electricity, sanitation,
transportation network, distance from sources
of pollution and disturbance, etc.)
Open/outdoor playgrounds Closed playgrounds
The wind has an effect on the movement
performance of athletes in outdoor playgrounds,
and therefore the wind factor must be taken
into account when choosing the location of the
facility. Putting the playgrounds in the direction
of the wind according to its axis so that the two
teams face the wind with the same strength and
proportion throughout the two halves of the
match.
The direction of inclination of the sun’s rays
affects the performance of the players, referees
and spectators as well. Therefore, the playing
field must be directly exposed to the sun’s rays
without there being any barriers (natural or
artificial) that block parts of the rays from the
playground, so there must be equality in the
distribution of rays for all users.
Therefore, the following must be taken into ac-
count:1. Place the playground in a way that allows
the distribution of sun rays in the periods of sun-
rise and sunset in an equal proportion between
the two halves of the playground and equal in
terms of vision for the two teams (for competi-
tors).2. It is preferable that the longitudinal axis
of the playing field be directed from north to
south to ensure an even distribution of rays, and
this can be adjusted according to the location by
no more than (15 degrees).
The need to place a slight inclination / incline
in the floors of all playgrounds in order to fa-
cilitate the flow of rainwater in the outdoor
playgrounds.- It should not exceed 0.5%, and
the degree of inclination should always be in a
perpendicular direction to the direction of the
playground
The need to place a slight incli-
nation / incline in the floors of all
playgrounds in order to facilitate
the flow of excess water as a result
of cleanliness and maintenance in
the indoor playgrounds- It should
not exceed 0.15%, and the degree
of inclination should always be in
a perpendicular direction to the di-
rection of the playground
With regard to air movement, it is
preferable that the direction of the
building allow air to permeate inside
and around the building, and to take
advantage of the northwest wind,
the building can be tilted slightly to
the north.
The optimal direction of the building
is that its longitudinal axis to be
east-west, so the southern façade
receives the largest amount of heat
in winter and the least amount
of heat in the northern façade in
summer. Therefore, the optimal
direction of the openings for hot
areas is northeastern.
Wind directions
The degree of the sun inclination on the playgrounds
The degree of the playground floors inclination

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Optimal direction: Optimal direction:
Open playgrounds Closed playgrounds (facilities).
• It is preferable that the longitudinal axis of the playing field be direct-
ed from north to south to ensure a fair distribution of rays at sunrise
and sunset periods in an equal proportion between the two halves of
the playground and equal in terms of vision for the two teams.
• The optimal direction of the
building is that its longitudinal
axis to be east-west, so the
southern façade receives the
largest amount of heat in win-
ter and the least amount of
heat in the northern façade in
summer. Therefore, the opti-
mal direction of the openings
for hot areas is northeastern.
• Optimal direction of the open playgrounds is one of the important
principles in the planning phase
• It is generally recommended that the playgrounds be directed in a
north-south direction to minimize the impact of sunset on players
• The best common direction is 15 degrees east of north
NW
Summer wind
NW
Summer wind

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Economic aspects Security, safety and public health
Supervision
The financial costs of construction shall not be an obstacle to the
establishment’s realization of its vital value, and the following shall
be followed:
Factors related to the security, safety and health of athletes must be
taken into account, for example:
There are many aspects related to supervision, the most impor-
tant of which are:
To achieve the above economic goals, it is preferable to have an op-
erator of the facility in the initial (preliminary) design stages
• The possibility of dividing the project into multiple phases
• Develop a development plan according to the budgets allocated to
the project (in the long and short term)
• Reduce financial costs as much as possible without compromising
the quality of construction and operation
• Achieve goals at the lowest costs (economy in operation and electric-
ity without affecting performance)
• Exploit the site’s spaces and the multiplicity of facilities and their
uses
• The facility should be far from places of pollution, danger and
disturbance (factories, airports...etc.)
• The presence of sufficient spaces free of any hard or sharp materials
around the playground floors
• The number of doors leading to the playgrounds and their capacity
is commensurate with the number of beneficiaries, and that the
doors open to the outside in order to avoid overcrowding.
• That all maintenance tools and sports equipment be completely
away from the playgrounds floors
• Allocation a first aid room
• Allocation of places for alarms and fire extinguishers according to
the rules of civil defense
• Security surveillance cameras
• The number of toilets and their sizes are commensurate with the
number of visitors to the sports facility
• Taking care of drinking water sources, sanitation, daily hygiene and
periodic maintenance
• Pay attention to good ventilation and adequate lighting
• Continuous care in leveling and cleaning playgrounds’ floors, and
making sure that they are free of any harm to players
• Isolate the crowd areas from the playgrounds floors with barriers
that do not obstruct or distort the playgrounds
• Consider allocating places for press and media personnel
• Observe the emergency exits
• The places of supervision should facilitate the process of communi-
cation with all places of activity in the facility
• It is preferable that the places and supervision rooms overlook the
fields of the facility with good viewing angles (their facades are
made of glass).
• Places for supervision must be provided in all units of the sports
facility
• Places of supervision must be appropriate to control its management

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Possibility of expansion in the future Optimal utilization
The process of expanding or modifying some aspects of sports
facilities in the future is likely to happen, especially in the era of
modern technologies, and for this the following must be taken
into account:
Operating the sports facility to its maximum extent, and
making the most of it as much as possible, is the golden
rule. The increase of operating hours for more than one
purpose is evidence of the facility’s positivity, and this is
done by organizing its operating program for different periods
throughout the day to suit different beneficiaries with an
attempt to continue use in all seasons of the year regardless
of weather factors, i.e. the weather factor is not an obstacle to
the continuity of use.
• Taking into account the continuous development processes in
the technology of sports equipment
• Considering the possibility of amending the laws for sports
playgrounds
• Taking into account the possibility of increasing the number of
users of the sports facility
• Taking into account the possibility of expanding the facility
horizontally or vertically
• Taking into account to leave enough space to build temporary
stands for spectators around the playgrounds in large projects
with large land areas and not containing fixed stands for
spectators in which tournaments can be hosted
Therefore, the following must be taken into account:
• Utilizing the space, location and capabilities of the facility for
more than one purpose
• Establishing more than one sports field to make maximum use
of the spaces
• Using the finest materials that can withstand constant pressure
• Organizing multiple programs in all seasons and events

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Capacity for each
facility
2

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Abu Dhabi International Building Code:
How to calculate the capacity of
each facility: -
• Calculate the area (m²) for each space
• Determine the classification and type of use for each space
• Choose the occupied capacity factor for the space from Abu
Dhabi International Building Code (ADIBC) according to the
classification of use for each space
To obtain the number of users for each space through the
following equation:
• Space area (square meters) / occupied capacity factor for space
(square meters per person)

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Abu Dhabi International Building Code:

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Abu Dhabi International Building Code:

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Population
Density
3

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Population Density
An integrated sports community facility for men and women is
established if the population density of the area ranges between
25,000 to 35,000 people, according to the Community Facilities
Planning Guide of the Department of Municipalities and Transport.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Sports Facilities
Planning Phases
4
Sports Facilities Planning Phases
The following points explain the stag-
es of planning a sports facility:
Planning for a sports facility is an indispensable necessity, whether it
is for the purpose of a new facility or for adding a part or parts to an
existing facility. Planning includes all the necessary procedures by which
the desired situation can be reached in the future. Since this work is
related to a facility that serves the field of sports, the Abu Dhabi Sports
Council has a major role in all planning processes, which mostly depend
on the size of the sports facility to be established.
1. Proposed project idea
2. Studying the sites of lands allocated for the implementation of
sports projects and choosing the site according to its intended pur-
pose.
3. Formulate the initial idea as basic points, requirements, design ideas,
target audience, type of events, and capacity for each facility, as will
be explained later.
4. Preparing studies, technical plans, and economic feasibility studies
for the project
5. Estimating the financial cost of the project
6. Appointing the appropriate design consultant, whose most impor-
tant characteristics are: To be authorized to practice the profes-
sion, to have the ability to innovate, to have previous experience in
designing sports facilities and to be familiar with the specifications
and building rules in the Emirate and as required by the specifics of
the sports game.
7. Choosing the consulting office to supervise the project in the imple-
mentation phase, which in turn provides technical advice

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Sports stadium design stage:
Open/outdoor playgrounds Closed facilities
• Homogeneous playgrounds must be
close to each other in order to facilitate
the process of controlling their manage-
ment and maintenance work.
• Service facilities such as changing
rooms, toilets, showers and adminis-
tration buildings must be close to the
playgrounds
• There is no single type of flooring/surface that
fits and suits all the needs of outdoor activities.
Each floor activity has conditions and specifica-
tions, on the basis of which the quality of materi-
als is chosen.
• In order to choose the floor of the outdoor
playgrounds, the following points must be
taken into account:
• Versatility in use / durability and endurance /
resistance to sun and rain, dust and rust / lack
of roughness / ease of maintenance / beauty of
appearance / flexibility / cost
• The method used to evaluate artificial sur-
faces includes the following points:
• Basic cost / maintenance and repair cost / durabil-
ity and endurance / friction / shock absorption /
flexibility and quality preservation / suitability for
use / stretch and tensile resistance / color fast-
ness / susceptibility to heat and sun
• Football playgrounds floors
• Natural grass: In conformity with the specifica-
tions of the International Federation - FIFA
• Artificial grass : In accordance with health and
safety standards
• The floor specifications must conform to
the minimum specifications and standards
related to quality, the degree of light
reflection, and the degree of bounce of
the ball.
There are three types of floors used in halls:
• Floors for service areas: Moisture, rust and
slip resistant floors are required
• Lecture and meeting rooms, offices and
corridors: It can be used on surfaces such
as carpets, tiles, cement....etc
• Grounds for sports activities (playgrounds):
Require wooden or synthetic surfaces
Types of artificial floors/surfaces in indoor
courts include:
• (PVC’S) Plasticized Polyvinyl Chlorides,
pre-assembled and manufactured
• Polyurethanes
Football playgrounds floors
• Artificial grass : In accordance with health
and safety standards
• Walls / sound, echo, light and heat insu-
lators must be used to separate some desig-
nated areas depending on use
• Walls with moisture and rust resistant and
soundproof surfaces must be chosen for
changing rooms, toilets and shower rooms.
• Separation of toilets from shower rooms
• Meeting and lecture rooms must be of high
quality in sound insulation
• The construction and design of the roof of
the gym depends on the size of the facility
and the type of sports activity
• Taking into account the size of the doors
to allow the entry of heavy equipment and
vehicles (as needed).
Walls
Ceilings
Sports facilities floors
Doors
Open/outdoor playgrounds Closed Facilities
• Natural ventilation, taking into consider-
ation what was previously mentioned in
the general principles of site selection
• Measuring the intensity and degree of lighting
distribution throughout the playground floor (for
each sport a specific degree of lighting intensity).
• There are some factors that must be taken into
account when choosing an electrical lighting sys-
tem, including: Maintenance, repair, replacement
and cleaning.
• In closed halls, swimming pools, and the like, light-
ing sources must be distributed evenly, and it is
preferable to add lighting sources in the goal areas
or the goal to increase the clarity of vision.
• Low lighting is preferred in spectator/audience
areas
• In areas with high humidity, such as toilets, show-
ers, swimming pools, etc., moisture-resistant light
bulbs are needed.
• It should also not be directed in a way that affects
the players
•
• Spectator comfort: Each spectator needs a seat with a width ranging between 50-80 cm, preferably with a
back
• Good visibility / view: This depends on the distance between the seat and the court, as well as the line of
sight (distance between the seat and the center of the court, taking into account the degree of inclination) and
the degree of inclination of the sun’s rays.
• The temperature must be commensurate with the prac-
ticed activity, and it ranges between 18-23 Celsius in the
activity area (and about 24 Celsius for swimming pools,
depending on the humidity in the pool) and it may increase
slightly in the spectator areas.
• Ventilation must be of a high quality, allowing for a
minimum of 4 air changes per hour
• Humidity should be commensurate with body tempera-
ture, ranging between 40-60%.
• The air speed should not affect the athletic performance
or the direction of the ball, and it should not exceed 1.5
m/min
Ventilation
Chairs and stands
Lighting
The spectator can see an object with a height of (3 cm) from a distance of approximately (100 m), and maybe
more. Therefore, good vision is governed by the size/capacity of the playground (the larger the capacity of the
playground, the longer the line of sight) and the type of sport (for example: football is different from tennis.)
Although there are many modern engineering designs for stands around sports playgrounds (circular, oval,
semi-circular.... etc.), however, it is preferable that the maximum distance between the farthest spectator
and the middle of the playground floor be less than 100 meters, so that the vision is sound and comfortable,
and therefore the width (height) of the stands was reduced to less than 70 cm so that the vision curve is
proportional to the height.
• There are three main factors that should be
taken into consideration as follows: Note that
the first and second factors affect the quality
of lighting and the financial cost, while the third
factor is its relationship to practitioners and
viewers.
• Distance: Lighting sources are placed outside
the practice areas at different distances, which
affects the intensity and quality of lighting
• Environmental factors: Special lamps to avoid
their problems
• Safety and Security: The connections must be
removed from the ground and connected to a
separate electrical control unit
• Measuring the intensity and degree of lighting
distribution throughout the playground floor
(for each sport a specific degree of lighting
intensity).
• It should also not be directed in a way that af-
fects the players

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Designing a site
for practicing
sports activity
5

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Outdoor
Sports

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
01 Football
Playground
• The playground on which official matches are held is 105 meters long
and 68 meters wide
• The minimum extra space behind the goals (for warm-up, assistant refer-
ees, media, etc.) is 8.5m at the sides and 10m at the ends.
Floor
The types of floors used in football fields differ according to the spe-
cific needs of each playground. The following are the types of floors
for football playgrounds:
1. Soft and thick natural grass
2. An industrial floor made of plastic or rubber materials.
3. Hybrid floor: It uses natural grass with the addition of some
synthetic materials to improve the durability of the grass
Goal
A rectangular goal is placed in the middle of each goal line, and
the distance between the two vertical crossbars must be 7.32
meters, and the height of the horizontal crossbar from the ground
is 2.44 meters, which is raised from the ground by the two vertical
crossbars.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
02 Football - Beach
Playground
• The playing area is between 35 and 37 meters long and be-
tween 26 and 28 meters wide, and is marked with lines ten
centimeters wide.
• The center line is marked with red flags. Another imaginary
line marked with yellow flags is nine meters from each goal
line. It is the penalty area, and penalties are taken from the
middle of this line if there is a foul.
• The substitution areas are located along the touchline, just
like in futsal.
Playground Floor
Football is played on a ground covered with sand to a depth of
at least 40 cm
Goal
A rectangular goal is placed in the middle of each goal line, and
the distance between the two vertical crossbars must be 5.5 me-
ters, and the height of the horizontal crossbar from the ground is
2.2 meters, which is raised from the ground by the two vertical
crossbars.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
03 Tennis
Playground
The length of the court is 23.77 meters, and the width is 8.23
meters for singles matches and 11 meters for doubles match-
es. There is a need to additional clear space around the court
for players to reach past balls. The length of the tennis court
ranges from 35 to 42 meters, while the width ranges from 18
to 21 meters.
Goal
The net extends across the full width of the playground par-
allel to the baselines, dividing it into two equal ends. It is fixed
either by means of a metal wire, which can be no more than
0.8 cm. The height of the net is 1.07m at the crossbars and
0.91m at the center.
Floor
The tennis court is made
of concrete, mud, grass, or
tartan. Concrete is a fast-
playing surface, while mud
and grass are slow-playing.
Tennis court flooring varies
in material depending on
indoor or outdoor uses.
Outdoor playgrounds:
Made of grass, clay, or
acrylic-coated concrete
Indoor playgrounds: Cov-
ered with hardwood floors
or carpets.
• Additional measures
• The side margin is 4 meters
• The posterior margin is 8 meters
• The distance between the two fields is 7.3 meters
• The required height for indoor tennis is from 9-11
meters

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
04 Paddle Tennis
Playground
The playground should be a rectangular with a width of 10
meters and a length of 20 meters. In the middle of the play-
ground, there will be a net dividing the field into two parts.
It is preferable that there be 1 m surrounding the court from
the outside.
Closed playgrounds:
The ceiling height should not be less than 8 meters, preferably
between 9 meters and 10 meters. In addition, the air condi-
tioners are located around the stadium wall.
Net
The height of the net is 0.88 meters in the middle at a maxi-
mum and it rises to 0.92 meters at the sides
.
الشكل (ب) : املضرب
Floor
Synthetic grass of mul-
tiple colors, but the com-
mon color is the blue col-
or and lined with white
lines fixed on double
Backing consisting of
100% of synthetic Poly-
propylene on even solid
ground free from de-
fects and the playground
should be lined.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
05 Bow and arrow
Field
The standard range in the Olympic Games is 70 meters. As
for the internal distances, they are either 18 or 25 meters.
Practice bow and arrow outdoors on flat ground
It is recommended to provide a surface that allows training
at a distance of 70 meters (Olympic distance), free of all
obstacles, on grass or on a stable surface. The ideal ori-
entation for the direction of shooting the arrow is in the
direction of the north, and the arrow is not shot towards
the south.
* Adapting the land area and when designing it, the fol-
lowing rules must be followed.
For length we must distinguish four areas
• The free movement area behind the arrow firing point
- This area is only accessible to club authorized persons
during shooting.
• Shooting space area
- This area can only be accessed by authorized persons un-
der the club’s internal rules.
- 70 meters for training or Olympic shooting competition.
• Rear safety zone
- This area where protection is provided with a height of 4
meters requires a length of 5 to 18 meters. In this area, no
object will be deposited that enables the arrow to bounce.
• Equipment area

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
06 Track and field
Running track
The track has straight and curved sections of roughly equal length. The
area inside the track is very large to accommodate various events and
a football field of international size). (68m x 105m not mandatory if the
field is only for athletics)
The track consists of two semicircles with a radius of 36.8 meters each,
and straight lines of 84.39 meters each connected to them. (Knowing that
there is a 200-meter track, which has half of the measurements men-
tioned and has only 6 tracks).
The track may contain 8, 6, or 4 tracks, but the four tracks are not used in
official international tournaments, as the width of all these tracks is 1.22
meters ± 0.01 meters, and the materials used in the running track are
synthetic rubber or polyurethane.
Floor
• Natural floor
• Most used. They are convenient to operate, relatively cheap to construct, and
have minimal impact on runners’ joints. These soft surfaces provide excellent
cushioning and help reduce injuries. It also creates more resistance than other
running track surface materials
• Long-term stable floor performance with high maintenance requirements.
• Synthetic floors:
• Rubber particles mixed with latex and polyurethane. Their surface is usually
installed about 1/2” deep over an asphalt or concrete base.
• This floor provides great shock absorption, which protects the athletes from
injury.
• Industrial Vinyl Flooring (PVC):
• The vinyl floor is characterized by shock absorption, high ball bounce, flexibility
and optimal sliding rate for sports.
• Vinyl floors are also easy to maintain, versatile and less expensive than other
floors.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
07 Cricket
Playground
A cricket ground encompasses a sizeable cir-
cular playing field covered with grass. Within
this ground, there are three primary areas,
the outfield, infield, and the cricket pitch. The
diameter of the cricket ground typically falls
within the range of 137 to 152 meters. The
cricket pitch, in particular; possesses an over-
all length of 20.12 meters between the wick-
ets and a playing width of 3.05 meters. In the
context of the pitch, the bowling crease has a
width of 264 centimetres, while the minimum
popping width in front of it measures 366 cen-
timetres. The wicket, which consists of three
stumps, is placed 122 centimetres behind the
popping crease. Each stump stands at a height
of 71.12 centimetres with a width of 22.86
centimetres. Atop these stumps, a pair of bails
is positioned, each having a length of 111.13
millimetres and a maximum height above the
stump of 12.7 millimetres. For demarcating
certain boundaries on the playing field, white
lines are drawn using crayons. These lines
serve to delineate specific areas of play dur-
ing the game.
Floor
The synthetic turf is precisely compacted by measuring the floor in
the carpet areas and the course surface is corrected using a max-
imum 1 ton roller to obtain a smooth surface. Since there are no
bumps in the ground, it is easy to play cricket professionally on syn-
thetic grass pitches

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
08 Equestrian
Playground
A sandy, flat and level arena of 20 x 40m and
20 x 60m which are generally the most com-
mon sizes as the picture indicates the inner
part of the arena which are the two standard
dimensions for dressage tests, which must
be separated from the crowd by a distance
of ten meters (10 meters) at least . Limiters
shall be provided to be placed around the
yards approximately 50 cm from the panels.
The difference in height across the diameter
or along the length of the arena shall not in
any case exceed sixty centimeters (60 cm)
and the difference in height along the short
side of the arena should not exceed twenty
centimeters (20 cm).
Floor
Sandy and flat area.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
09 Showjumping
Playground
The arena area is at least 30 x 50m and it will fit as well as 30 x 60m
which is a great versatile size to ride in - big enough for a dressage
test too, and there is no maximum field size.
Obstacle Equipment: Build 32 jumps (50% vertical fence and 50% ob-
stacle spread) and spare obstacle equipment. With a water jump of a
maximum width of 4 meters, including the take-off element.
Floor
Sandy and flat area

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
10 Falconry
Falconry field dimensions
Falconry competitions are concerned with the abil-
ity and speed of the falcons to snatch and catch the
prey. Therefore, the field must be sufficient to ensure
the continuity of the falcon in flight as long as the speed
of the falcon in competitions exceeds 60 km / h. Therefore,
for the safety of the falcon, the field must be completely
empty and long enough for the safety of the falcon and
the safety of the falconer. . The distance in which the fal-
cons compete within the rules of the competition is (400
meters). Therefore, the dimensions of the falcons arena
are approximately 800 meters long from the start and the
tent of the participants that is equipped for the falcons to
launch and prepare it to the finish line and beyond from
a field completely emptied of any barriers or wires or any
other obstacles, with a width of about 400 meters, and
this is enough from the start to the end of the race.
Of course, all of this is in the general racing field, but there
are additional training fields with smaller dimensions,
where the training fields are dimensions (250 * 100) me-
ters with solid floors and in a flat manner as well.
Floor
The floor of the racing field shall be formed completely
(400 * 800) of sand saturated with water in order to avoid dust.
It is preferable that it be well-packed sabbah sand and have a solid floor
free of stones, obstacles and any things that affect the falcon, especially
since the falcon flies at a height that almost touches the ground of the
field with its wings. The lower the falcon flies, the lower the air resistance
and the faster it is, and this is the falconer’s ability to train and tame the
falcon from flying at lower heights than the natural one that the falcon
used to fly. Therefore, the entire floor of the field is sprayed with water on
each day of the competitions, and the floor is confirmed to be compacted
before the competitions and paved before the season.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Indoor
Sports

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
01 Basketball
Playground
A basketball court is a rectangular surface usually made of pol-
ished hardwood. The playground comes in different shapes and
sizes. The playground is 28 meters long, 15 meters wide, and
the stadium roof is 8 meters high.
Goal
The basket is 3.05 meters above the ground and is suspended on
rectangular backboards
Floor
There are two types of basketball courts, each of which differs
from the other mostly in the material from which the court floor is
made. There are indoor courts that we find in sports halls and their
floors are made of solid wood, and the other type is the outdoor
courts that are in gatherings and recreational facilities and whose
floors are made of asphalt material.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
02 Triple Basketball
Playground
Triple basketball is played on a 3x3 court with one basket. The
playing field is 15m wide and 11m long. Half of a traditional
basketball court can be used to play it. Also, the free throw line
(5.80 m), and the arc line of radius (6.75 m) are measured from
the point on the ground below the exact center of the oppo-
nent’s basket to the outer edge of the arc. The “no drawing
semicircle” area is below the basket. The distance of the point
on the ground from the inner edge of the middle point of the
finish line is 1.6 m.
Floor
Polypropylene floor
The polypropylene floor is smooth and slip-resistant.
Long-term stable floor performance with low maintenance re-
quirements.
The ball bounce rate is 100%.
Solid wood floors:
The hardwood floors contribute to the ball’s high bounce rate
of 100%.
It can be maintained quite easily compared to other floors.
Wood floors provide a flat, uniform playing surface for athletes.
Industrial Vinyl Flooring (PVC):
The vinyl floor is characterized by shock absorption, high ball
bounce, flexibility and optimal sliding rate for sports.
Vinyl floors are also easy to maintain, versatile and less expen-
sive than other floors.
* 3×3 game rule
The matches are played on half a basketball court (15m / 14m) and
on one goal

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
03 Volleyball
Playground
Rectangular in shape, eighteen meters long and nine meters wide, its
land is planned with clear lines 5 cm wide. It is preferable to play vol-
leyball in a closed hall, the height of the ceiling of which is not less than
seven meters and may reach 12.5 meters, according to the specifica-
tions of the International Volleyball Federation regarding the World Cup
and Olympic Games. .
To protect the players, there must be an empty space around the court
of up to 5 meters (5 meters on the side of the court and 3 meters on the
side of the length of the court).
Floor
The playground floor is usually made of wood or synthetic materials but
any non-injurious surface can be used. The floors of the closed playgrounds
must be flat, while the floors of the outdoor stadiums must have slight incli-
nations and slopes for the drainage process.
Acrylic floor
Quick drying, UV resistant, suitable for indoor and outdoor volleyball court
applications. The acrylic floor can be used in the form of 2mm or 3mm. The
Acrylic System consists of an acrylic modified filler or rubber powder filled,
backer, textured surface, acrylic primer, and acrylic paint finishes.
Net
It is nine and a half meters long and one meter wide, on both sides of
which are two fiberglass columns. The length of the column is 2.8 meters,
and the height of the net is 2.4 meters for men and 2.2 meters for women.
Tartan floor
The system consists of two layers with the feature of water permeability.
EPDM layer on top, and SBR granular layer on the bottom. The granular lay-
ers are hot mixed with a substance called binder. Tartan floor is usually used
in the form of 8mm + 5mm. A machine called the Finisher is used on the
EPDM and SBR granules hot in the place.
Solid wood floor
It enables energy recovery, reduction of energy consumption, and engineer-
ing needs to be met by bouncing the ball.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
04 Handball
Playground
The rectangular handball court is 40 meters long and 20 me-
ters wide, and contains two goals one on each side. There is
a safety zone of at least one meter on the edges of the court,
and no less than two meters behind the goal. The floor is paint-
ed so that the width of the line is 8 cm in the goal, and 5 cm
in other places (such as the edges and the middle of the field).
Goal
The goal shall be fixed on the
ground in the middle of each of the
goal lines, with a width of three me-
ters and a height of two meters, and
the thickness of the beams shall be
8 cm. The crossbar and uprights
shall also be made of wood or any
similar synthetic material. The goal
is provided with a net that does not
allow the ball to bounce directly
when shooting.
Floor
Several types of handball court flooring are available, including:
1. Wooden floors: These floors are among the most common types for
making handball courts, as they provide high stability, sufficient resil-
ience and traction for the game.
2. Synthetic Floors: These floors consist of synthetic materials such as
vinyl or polyurethane, and are characterized by their durability and
resistance

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
06 Seven-a-side football - Futsal
Playground dimensions
Length: 45 meters as a minimum - 50 meters as a maximum
Width: 30 meters minimum - 35 meters maximum
Futsal court floor
Seven-a-side football is played on a smooth, flat rectangular ground
without bumps. It is recommended to use wood or synthetic materi-
als for playground floors, and to avoid using cement or asphalt.
05 Five -a-side Football - Futsal
Playground dimensions
Length: 30 meters as a minimum - 42 (45) meters as a maximum
Width: 20 meters minimum - 30 meters maximum
Futsal court floor
Five -a-side football is played on a smooth, flat rectangular ground with-
out bumps. It is recommended to use wood or synthetic materials for play-
ground floors, and to avoid using cement or asphalt.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
07 Bicycle track
Velodrome
The internationally approved track is 250 meters long, 7 to 9 me-
ters wide, and has a slope of 45 degrees at the turns. Where the path
is marked with a set of lines - red, black and blue.
If the track is for beginners, its length is 166 meters, and it must
contain a runway that can accommodate 50 to 150 spectators, and
if it is for training purposes, its length is 200 meters in addition to
a runway that can accommodate 150 to 500 spectators, and if it is
for competition purposes, its length is 250 meters and can accom-
modate 1500 to 3000 spectators, but if according to the interna-
tional standards, it was 250 meters long and accommodated 3,000
to 5,000 spectators. The materials used in the track are synthetic,
wood and concrete materials.
Floor
• The track floor consists of wood or smooth concrete and
the track surface must be completely flat.
• The flatness should be 5mm over 2m.
* Bicycle track
• The use of internationally approved materials for the floor of the bi-
cycle path, such as: The finest types of rubber to prevent damage
• Observe the separation between the bicycle path and the pedestrian
path, and not interfere with vehicles and roads
• Provide safe crossing areas in the areas that conflict with road en-
trances and exits, and setting up guiding boards and ground signs
showing the priority of lanes in the convergence areas.
• The width of the bicycle path ranges from 3 to 6 meters, flat and not
tortuous
• For the purpose of continuous rapid training of at least 8 km

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
08 Ice Hockey 09 Table Tennis
• Game specifications
• An ice field divided into three areas: Defense zones, neutral zone and
attack zone.
• A ball whose cover is made of white leather, its weight does not ex-
ceed 170 g, and its circumference does not exceed 26 cm.
• A stick, which is a wooden bat with a length of 135 cm at most, with
a flat bottom, a length of 37 cm, and a height of 9 cm. It is used to hit
a flat and round piece.
Playground
There must be an area of 5.8 meters in length by 3.4 meters in width, in
the middle of which is placed a tennis table measuring 2.7 x 1.5 meters,
and it is rectangular in shape and green in color, made of masonite or simi-
lar to solid wood, and in the center of the table there is a dividing line that
divides it into two parts, each of which represents an area of one player.
The court helps to mitigate
Goal
There is a goal on the court that is 1.8 meters wide and 1.2 meters high,
at a specified distance from the final borders of the field, and this distance
is 3 meters.
Floor
Flat ice area
Net
The net is stretched along the table so that it is the same height
and the height of the net is 15.25 cm. The length of the ping
pong paddle is usually about 15 cm.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
10 Squash
Playground
The squash court consists of a flat floor made of wood / parquet to ensure
the stability of the game and the bounce of the ball, and it can be cov-
ered or not covered. The surface of the playground contains a front line to
separate the front of the playground from behind, and another line in the
middle of the playground to separate the left and right sides of the play-
ground. Going down along the side walls to the back wall, its area is 9.75
meters long x 6.40 meters wide, and its maximum height is 5.64 meters.
Floor
1- Floors of playgrounds made of fiberglass: Most commonly used in mak-
ing squash courts, these floors consist of a layer of fiberglass with a layer
of suitable adhesive. These floors are characterized by durability, good
traction and compliance with the standards of the International Squash
Federation.
2- Polyurethane playground floors: These floors are characterized by dura-
bility, good traction and light weight, providing good stability for players.
3- Vinyl floors: These floors are common types, and they are characterized
by durability, flexibility and good friction. It also offers the advantage of
easy cleaning.
4- The floors of the playgrounds made of wood: Different types of wood
are used to make these floors, and they are durable, aesthetic, and flexible.
However, these floors require regular maintenance and careful cleaning.
5- Playground floors made of rubber: These floors are characterized by
flexibility and good friction, and are sometimes used in open-air squash
courts, as they provide good resistance to various weather factors.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
11 Gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a type of sport that is individual in its performance, and
it is the process of performing a series of movements on the apparatus
used in gymnastics, which are different, such as the devices on which the
person moves. Those devices used in sports have different types, includ-
ing the technical competition devices for men, which consist of 6 devices,
namely: Floor mat, pommel horse, jump table, parallel bars, horizontal bar,
and pommel. For women, there are two types: Artistic gymnastics and
rhythmic gymnastics.
Floor
It is a ground rug covered with carpets, with felt pieces underneath and
at the bottom wooden pieces placed on plastic pieces to help jump and
absorb landings.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
12 Judo 13 Jiu-jitsu
Playing area
The maximum size of the playing area is 16 x 16 meters and the minimum
of it is 14 x 14 meters. The playing area is divided into two areas: The
main play area has a maximum area of 10 x 10 m and a minimum of 8 x 8
m, and the danger zone that surrounds the main play area is a meter wide.
Competition areas
The area of the competition arena ranges from a minimum of 64 square
meters to a maximum of 100 square meters. That area is divided into two
parts: The first is internal and consists of at least 18 pieces of tatames of
blue color, while the second is external and consists of 14 pieces of red
color.
Playing area (rug)
There is a vinyl or cotton rug, the bottom surface of the rug may be bare
or anti-slip. A bare surface is recommended if the mat is surrounded by a
wooden frame, or an anti-slip underlayment surface so that it adheres to
the ground and prevents moving and spreading as the athletes fall.
Allocated space
As the case in Judo, the maximum size of the playing area is 16 x 16 me-
ters and the minimum of it is 14 x 14 meters. The playing area is divided
into two areas: The main playing area has a maximum area of 12*12 me-
.ters. The danger zone surrounding the main playing area is a meter wide
Floor
- The Jiu-jitsu floor is
made of an EVA filler
which is composed of
ethylene-vinyl acetate,
resulting in a soft yet
durable polymer that
is ideal for high impact
workouts and sports
with a good amount of
cushioning.
- This material with-
stands pressure and
beatings and can re-
ceive shocks and return
to its original nature.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
14 Weightlifting
Competition areas
The area of the competition arena is between 4m in
length and 4m in width. The referees are located to
the right and left and in front of the competitors.
Floor
The transition material for floors is often rubber be-
cause it is high in thickness, shock absorbent, easy to
clean, noise reducing, and antibacterial.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
15 Fencing
Competition areas
The area of the outer fencing ring is 26m in length and 8.5m in width,
while the inner area consists of 14m in length and 1.5-2 in width.
There are three important areas in the interior region, which are as fol-
lows:
• The warning area consists of 2 m
• The guard line area consists of 4 m
• Surface runoff area consisting of 1.5 - 2
Floor
The types of fencing floors vary according to the specifications of the different
leagues and tournaments, and there are many types available that can be used
for training and competition purposes. The following are common types of fencing
floors:
1- Vinyl Floors: These floors are flexible, have good friction, and are slip-resistant.
They are also easy to clean and maintain, and are used in many training and tour-
nament venues.
2- Wooden floors: These floors are durable and aesthetic. They also provide an out-
standing fencing experience. These floors are used in tournaments and training
venues that are keen to provide an elegant and luxurious environment for fencing.
3- Rubber Floors: These floors are a popular type of fencing floor, and they are
resilient, durable, and have good traction properties. They are used in many tour-
naments and training venues that focus on the comfort and safety of fencers.
4- Fiberglass Floors: These floors are durable, have good traction, slip-resistant,
and easy to clean and maintain. They are used in many training venues and tour-
naments.
5- Tile floors: These floors are traditional types of fencing floors, and are charac-
terized by durability and aesthetics. They are used in many training and tourna-
ment venues that are keen to provide a traditional and luxurious environment

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
16 Boxing
Competition area
The competition arena measures 6.01m x 6.01m inside the ropes, and
the arena is 100 cm above the ground. It is equipped with four pillars to
prevent boxers from being injured.
Floor
The floor of the arena must be made of rubber or other approved materials
that are of good quality and flexibility. They must be non-slip and cover
the entire platform, with a size of not less than 1.5 cm and a thickness not
exceeding 2.0 cm.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
17 Bowling alley 18 Billiards and snooker table
Play field and ball specification
The bowling alley consists of a very long, smooth wooden lane. It is 18.29
meters long and 1.05 meters wide. It is bordered on each side by a 23 cm
wide lane, so that the width of the track, including the two lanes, is about
152 cm.
The ball has a circumference of 70 cm and weighs no more than 7.3 kg. It
is held in the hand in order to aim it at objects in the form of bottles made
of wood or plastic. Each one is 38 cm long and weighs between 1.3-1. 6 kg.
The number of lanes allowed for international matches is between 24 and
36 lanes, according to American standards and specifications.
Floor
Very smooth long wood floor
Billiards and snooker table
The snooker and billiard table
consists of a wooden frame with
a surface covered with a soft
cloth of 85% wool and no more
than 15% nylon. The table also
contains six pockets for hitting
the target.
The height of the table above
ground level is between 85 cm
and 87.5 cm
The design of the table should
not contain sharp edges or ma-
terials that could cause injury or
damage to clothes.
The recommended minimum space around the table is 2.5 meters
Lighting: It should be at least 520 Lux and be placed around the table so
that it is not directed at the players

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
19 Shooting
Shooting ranges
Fields for gun activities
6 compact models of Trap and Skeet shotguns, four of which are equipped
for Compak Sporting.
All designs are equipped with Laporte throwing machines, Elettronica Pro-
getti electronic scoreboards and Phonopull systems.
Fields for shooting activities
• Indoor and outdoor shooting range
• Air rifle and pistol field
• Indoor shooting range - 10 meters with 80 firing points
• Outdoor shooting range - 25 meters with 12 groups of 5 targets
• Indoor shooting range - 25 meters with 12 groups of 5 targets
• Outdoor shooting range - 50 meters with 80 shooting points
• Indoor shooting range - 50 meters with 10 firing points
• Outdoor shooting range - 300 meters with 40 shooting points
• Operation of the indoor shooting range using 3 devices targeting the
finals hall: 10 meters with 12 firing points, 25 meters with 3 groups
of 5 targets, 50 meters with 10 firing points
• All air rifle and pistol shooting ranges are equipped with Sius Ascor
targets.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
20 Badminton
Badminton court
Badminton is completely different in terms of playground specifications
and laws from other sports, and therefore we will get to know the most
prominent specifications of the playground for this sport for profession-
als and international competitions as follows:
• The playground is 13.4 meters long
• The playground is 6.1 meters wide
• The playground is divided by a net in the middle, which makes each section
equal to the other.
.
Floor
Synthetic floors:
Synthetic Badminton court floorings have artificial materials as its source.
They are designed keeping in mind the specific needs of the games mod-
ern format and are extremely player-friendly.
There are predominantly two types of synthetic badminton court flooring:
a) PVC/PU Floors:
• Anti-slip quality.
• The bounce rate of the floors is good
• The softer surface creates higher rolling resistance for badminton
players using sports chairs.
b) Acrylic floors:
• Acrylic courts are usually made of hard materials such as concrete or
asphalt and covered with an acrylic adhesive. We use this material to
cover the surface and denote the playing lines.
• It is available in different styles and reasonable prices and is some-
what similar to PVC/PU floors.
Wooden floor:
• Solid wood is the most common form of floors for wooden badminton
courts.
• It requires regular care and polishing with a coating to give it a high
quality sheen and longevity
• Good at absorbing pressure
• Waterproof surface.Solid wood is the most common form of floors for
wooden badminton courts.
• It requires regular care and polishing with a coating to give it a high
quality sheen and longevity
• Good at absorbing pressure
• Waterproof surface.

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Water
Sports

95 94
Sports Facilities Planning Guide
01 Swimming
Pool specifications
The Olympic swimming pool is 50 meters long, 25 meters
wide and 2 meters deep minimum and 3 meters recom-
mended, divided into 10 lines each with a width of 2.5
meters.
The semi-Olympic pool is 25 meters long, 25 meters wide
and 2 meters deep minimum and 3 meters recommended,
divided into 10 lines, each 2.5 meters wide.
The end wall of the pool must be perpendicular to the sur-
face of the water and made of solid materials with a non-
slip surface so that the competitor can touch it and push
when turning without danger. The lighting intensity of the
entire pool should not be less than 1500 lux

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
02 Diving
Specifications of the pool and platforms:
• The preferred thickness for the leading edge of the platform is 0.2m but
not exceeding 0.3m, and may be vertical or inclined at an angle of no
more than 10° to the vertical within the landing line.
• When a platform is directly below another platform, the platform above
projects at least 0.75m (preferably 1.25m) outside the platform below.
• The back and sides of each platform (except for 1.0m or less platforms)
are surrounded by guardrails up to 1m from the platform edge with a
minimum empty space of 1.8m between vertical pairs. The minimum
height is 1.0m and has at least two horizontal crossbars placed outside
the platform, starting from 1.0m from the front edge of the platform.
• Each platform may be accessed by suitable ladders as required by the
countries building regulations or applicable health and safety standards.
• Platforms of 1m and 3m are used for training and 5m, 7.5m and 10m for
tournaments.
Water depth according to the FINA Diving Guide
• The preferred water depth for a 1m platform is 3.3m
• The preferred water depth for a 3m platform is 3.5m
• The preferred water depth for the 5m platform is 3.8m
• The preferred water depth for a 7.5m platform is 4.5m
• The preferred water depth for a 10m platform is 5m

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
Common mistakes
in designing and
implementing
sports facilities
6 •
Distributing the playgrounds
randomly
•
Using unsuitable floors for all
seasons of the year
•
Lack of external lighting or the
weakness and poor distribution
of it in the playgrounds
•
The closeness of the courts to
each other in a way that affects
practice
•
Weakness in the bases of the
nets surrounding some play-
grounds, so that they do not
withstand wind resistance/
directions
•
Lack of tendencies for water
drainage or poor planning for it
•
The far distance between the
playgrounds and the service
facilities (toilets, changing
rooms... etc.)
•
There are no safety barriers in
the fields of sports or practice
•
Failure to take into account
security and safety factors in
playgrounds in general
•
The lack of facilities in the en-
trances, corridors and stands...
etc., for people of determination
• Unavailability of warehouses adequate
spaces and ventilation, or their poor loca-
tions
• Not choosing the appropriate floors for the
types of sports practiced
• The use of floors with a soft / smooth sur-
face in the changing and showering areas,
which poses a risk of slipping
• Lack of convenient and safe ways to fix
vertical lighting (from the ceiling)
• Unavailability of a suitable place (room) to
receive or deliver devices and tools
• Unavailability of separate rooms for main-
tenance
• Poor chemical maintenance of swimming
pools
• Unsuitable natural lighting for sports (win-
dows / glass windows facing east or west
• The absence of a suitable elevator for
transporting heavy equipment if the facil-
ity consists of multiple floors
• The lack of adequate facilities for people of
determination
• The absence of electrical outlets with a
suitable distribution for television photog-
raphy or other purposes
• Wasting the space for changing rooms by
placing spaced rows of boxes
• Not studying the traffic around the facility
before construction.
• Not studying human movement inside the
facility
• Multiple use of some playgrounds without
appropriate barriers/separators between
them
• Lack of private rooms for meetings and
lectures
• There are no designated places inside the
walls for water coolers and fire extinguish-
ers
Open/outdoor play-
groundsClosed facilities

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Sports Facilities Planning Guide
1. According to the standards and requirements of the local and international federations for each
sporting activity
2. United Arab Emirates Football Association www.uaefa.ae
3. United Arab Emirates Basketball Association www.uae.basketball
4. United Arab Emirates Volleyball Federation www.uaevba.ae
5. United Arab Emirates Handball Federation www.uaehandball.net
6. UAE Tennis Federation www.uaetennis.ae
7. United Arab Emirates Padel Tennis Association www.uaepa.ae
8. UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation www.uaewjf.com
9. Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation www.uaejjf.com
10. UAE Swimming Federation www.uaeswimming.net
11. UAE Bowling Federation www.emiratesbowling.com
12. Emirates Billiards and Snooker Federation www.uaebsa.ae
13. General Authority for Sports https://gas.gov.ae/
14. Attached photo guide www.dimensions.com
15. Shooting range photos https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/sport-and-recreation/sports-dimensions-
guide/shooting
16. Photos of the rhythmic swimming and diving pool https://www.rulesofsport.com/sport/diving
17. Velodrome Photos https://www.icebyk.com/ITC.htm
18. Padel sports playgrounds photos https://padten.wordpress.com/court-dimensions/
19. Weightlifting https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/sports/weightlifting/
20. Fencing https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/fencing.html
21. Shooting Ranges - Al Ramii Sport Club (alramiiclub.qa)
22. The World Sports Book - Fourth Edition
23. Abu Dhabi International Building Code - 2013
24. Community Facilities Planning Guide for the Department of Municipalities and Transport - (Ver-
sion 2.0) 2020
25. FIFA Guide to Football and Stadium Design - Fifth Edition - 2011
26. FINA Diving Guide - February 2020
27. Badminton Courts - https://www.kreedon.com/badminton-court-flooring-guide
Sources and references
@Abudhabisc
Abu Dhabi SC
@abudhabisc
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