The Ripe Market Dubai Police Academy edition is the flagship Ripe Market — the big weekend market held at Academy Park, inside the grounds of the Dubai Police Academy on Umm Suqeim Road. For the 2026-27 season it runs every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 9pm, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027. Entry is AED 5 per person (kids under 12 and seniors over 60 go free), parking is free and plentiful, and more than 100 local vendors sell everything from organic produce to handmade jewellery. Here is the complete visitor guide to the Police Academy location.
Ripe Market Police Academy Dubai: Exact Location
The market takes place at Academy Park, Dubai Police Academy, Umm Suqeim (Al Sufouh 1) — the park sits inside the academy’s grounds, just off Umm Suqeim Road and a few minutes from Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha and Jumeirah. It is the market’s permanent winter home and its biggest, best-equipped venue.
How to Get There
- By car (easiest): Drive along Umm Suqeim Road toward the Dubai Police Academy and follow the signs to Academy Park / Ripe Market. From Mall of the Emirates or Al Barsha it is roughly a 10-minute drive; from Dubai Marina or Jumeirah, allow 15–20 minutes depending on traffic.
- By taxi or Careem: Set your destination to “Ripe Market Academy Park” or “Dubai Police Academy Park, Umm Suqeim”. Drivers know the market well during the season.
- What to tell people: If someone asks where you are headed, “Ripe Market at Dubai Police Academy Park, Umm Suqeim” is the phrase that gets you there — there is no separate Ripe Market gate, you enter through the park entrance.
Timings, Days & 2026-27 Season Dates
The market is a weekends-only event. Current timings for the 2026-27 season:
- Days: every Saturday and Sunday
- Hours: 9am to 9pm (both days — Sunday hours were extended this season)
- Season: 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027
- Weekdays: closed — the park hosts the market only on weekends
Arrive before 11am for easy parking and the freshest produce, or after 5pm when the temperature drops and the lights come on for a slower dinner-and-browse mood.
Entry Fee & Tickets
There is no ticket to buy in advance. You pay AED 5 per person at the Academy Park gate — this is the park’s entry fee, and the market itself is free to browse once inside. Children under 12 and seniors over 60 enter free. After that, you only spend on what you eat, buy or ride: food is priced per stall, and kids’ activities like pony rides and the carousel charge individually.
Parking at the Ripe Market
Parking is one of the venue’s strengths. Academy Park has a large, free on-site car park with room for the weekend crowds — reviewers consistently call it ample. It does fill up during the peak 12pm–5pm window, so the golden rule stands: arrive before 11am or after 5pm and you will park without circling. Card payments are widely accepted at the stalls, so you don’t need to carry much cash.
What to Buy: The Best Stalls at the Police Academy Market
With 100+ vendors rotating through the season, the shopping splits into a few clear zones:
- Organic produce: the heart of the market. Long-running vendors like Hasabi Organic Farm (Al Ain) sell freshly harvested UAE-grown vegetables every weekend — arrive early for the best pick.
- Fashion & jewellery: independent UAE designers selling clothes, accessories and handmade jewellery you won’t find in the malls.
- Homeware & art: candles, pottery, home décor and original art from local makers.
- Natural beauty: small-batch skincare, soaps and eco-friendly products.
- Plant souk: indoor plants, herbs, succulents and decorative pots — a favourite with Dubai’s plant lovers.
- Gifts & souvenirs: genuinely local, handmade gifts that make far better souvenirs than anything from a mall gift shop.
Vendors change through the season, so a November visit won’t look identical to a March one — regulars keep coming back for exactly that reason.
What to Eat at the Market
Food runs all day: breakfast plates and speciality coffee in the morning, street food through the afternoon, desserts throughout. Expect artisanal breads, small-batch condiments, smoothie bowls, gourmet burgers and Middle Eastern snacks. Several food trucks trade here too, and because the line-up rotates, walk the full food row once before committing — the market’s oldest rule.
Dubai Police Experiences at the Market
The Police Academy setting brings extras no other Dubai market has. Through the season, Dubai Police run community activations including performances by the marching band, K9 unit demonstrations, displays of the famous Dubai Police supercars, and appearances by mascots Officer Amna and Captain Mansour. Kids can join educational safety activities with officers — all free to watch and genuinely engaging.
Kids & Family Activities
Beyond the shopping, the venue is packed with family programming: a petting zoo, pony rides, a carousel, a mini train, inflatable play areas, arts-and-crafts workshops and slime-making sessions. Free yoga, Pilates and mindfulness sessions run on selected weekends for adults, alongside sports from padel and tennis to horse riding. For the bigger picture on the market across the whole season, see our main guide: Ripe Market Dubai — winter food markets & food trucks.
5 Tips Before You Visit
- Time it right: 9am–12pm for easy parking and fresh produce; 5pm–9pm for cooler weather and evening atmosphere.
- Bring a mat: families picnic on the grass — pack a straw mat and fit right in.
- Sun protection: hats, sunscreen and water for the midday stretch; shade is limited between stalls.
- Check the weekly line-up: vendors, entertainment and workshops rotate — @ripemarket on Instagram posts the weekend schedule.
- Go cash-light: cards are accepted at most stalls, and entry is only AED 5.