Supporting JESS Arabian Ranches in Developing Their Sports Surfaces

Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) is a leading British International School educating students aged 3 to 18. With a strong focus on sport and physical education, the school requires high-quality playing surfaces that deliver performance, safety, and longevity all in one. While SIS Pitches has a long-standing relationship with Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), the Arabian Ranches campus sought our expertise for the first time.

An Overused Natural Grass Pitch

The school’s main natural grass football pitch at Arabian Ranches was under heavy use, limiting playing time and putting stress on the surface. The usual approach to navigate these issues is to install a synthetic grass playing surface. After consultation, the school applied for planning permission for a new parking lot and synthetic sports pitch across from the school.

Their requirements were clear, deliver a durable and high-performing surface that could support both football and rugby, which would ultimately result in alleviating pressure on the existing natural grass pitch.

With the surface needing multi-sport capabilities, we had to use a system that is multi-sport compatible, especially for high contact sports like Rugby. SIS Pitches provided a complete single-source solution for the new 2,661 m2 synthetic pitch. From the manufacturing of the surface, to installation and maintenance. Key elements of our approach included:

• Laser grading and installation of a 150mm thick compacted road base and 20mm compacted black sand layer to create a strong, level base for the pitch.
• Installation of a 14mm thick density shock pad for extra player comfort and safety (a shockpad like this is required for safely playing rugby).
• Supply and installation of SIS Grass Synthetic Xtreme Ultra 60mm synthetic carpet (a high-pile height carpet is required for multi-sport) with silica sand and green EPDM rubber infill. This system is our flagship synthetic carpet for maximum performance, safety and durability standards.
• Precise line marking for 2 pitches, with white lines for football and blue for rugby.
• Perimeter soft net fencing system to ensure ball-stop safety and protect surrounding areas.

By addressing the subgrade preparation, drainage, shock absorption, and surface quality, the new pitch was designed to meet the daily demands of school and competitive sports.

Having previously partnered with SIS Pitches at JESS Jumeirah, the Arabian Ranches project reinforces our commitment to providing custom solutions for the school. From subgrade preparation to final surface installation and ongoing maintenance, SIS Pitches showcases its ability to manage every stage of the project in-house, ensuring quality and consistency throughout.

Transforming School Sports Across Dubai

The successful completion of JESS Arabian Ranches’ synthetic football pitch highlights SIS Pitches’ ongoing commitment to delivering safe, resilient, and high-performing surfaces for schools across Dubai and the wider Middle East. From football and rugby pitches to multi-use games areas and training facilities, our single-source approach ensures every project meets the highest standards of quality and durability.