DUBAI, UAE — (ARAB NEWSWIRE) — Fursan Hispania, the Dubai football academy founded by former Real Madrid and Spain defender Míchel Salgado, has kicked off its 2026/2027 season with 500 young and talented players.
The new intake spans every stage of development, from beginners taking their first touches of the ball to teenagers competing for a place in the academy’s squads. It reflects the growing demand for high-quality football education across the Emirates. Training is now well underway, with coaches focusing on technical skill, tactical understanding and the values at the heart of the academy: discipline, respect and teamwork.
A Spanish football education in Dubai
Since Salgado founded the academy in 2014, Fursan Hispania has brought the Spanish approach to the game to young players in the UAE. Sessions focus on possession, intelligent movement and quick decision-making. The academy’s success also led to the creation of a professional first team in 2020, giving young players a clear pathway from grassroots football to the senior game.
AIX Group: partners in a healthy sports community
AIX Group, the Dubai-based firm with offices in the Burj Khalifa, has been a partner of Fursan Hispania since 2021. The two share a common goal: building a healthy, active sports community where young talents can grow, learn and thrive. Through this partnership, AIX also took part in the launch of the Iker Casillas Academy’s first goalkeeper training centre in Dubai, created together with Fursan Hispania.
Over the years, AIX has stood alongside the academy as it has grown, helping to create more opportunities for young players and promoting the values that sport teaches best: hard work, teamwork and respect for others.
The partnership is part of AIX’s wider commitment to the community through its We Are The Future platform, which has also included youth football initiatives with the Iker Casillas Academy and RC Celta. For AIX, helping young people discover their potential through sport means investing in a healthier, stronger community.
Looking ahead
With 500 players, an experienced coaching team and committed partners, Fursan Hispania begins the new season full of optimism. As the first whistles sound across Dubai’s training pitches, one thing is clear: the next generation of UAE football talent is in good hands.
This press release is issued through Arab Newswire (www.arabnewswire.com) — a press release distribution service for the Arab World, Middle East and North Africa (MENA).


