Every week, we bring you the latest on the UAE's clubs, associations and groups. We choose one each time and profile it, highlighting its purpose and activities. We also bring you bits of news from other such groups. So that you know what is happening when, where and why. This week: The Iranian Club, Dubai

If you are in a mood for lessons in martial art, painting or just a scrumptious Iranian meal, The Iranian Club in Dubai is the place to visit.

Sprawling 50,000 square feet, it is open to Iranians as well as non-Iranians.

"We have a large number of non-Iranian members, 3,000 to 5,000 roughly and twice as many Iranians", says Ahmed Olyaei, Head of the Cultural and Educational Department. "I can even say Iranian Club is used mostly by non-Iranians", he adds with a smile.

Inaugurated in 1990 by His Highness Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai, and affiliated to and funded by Mostazafan-Janbazan, one of the largest semi-government organisations in Iran, the Club is a non-profit organisation

"This club is a showcase for Iranian culture and traditional activities abroad.

"The goodwill of the Iranian Club includes a warm welcome and hospitality extended to all its visitors," says Olyaei.

The activities the club provides are many. The Cultural and Educational Department offers a range of courses in languages, computer, sewing, music and painting.

The tutors who are bi-lingual teach either in Persian or English to cater to the needs of Iranians as well as others. Membership to the club is free and members only pay for the activities they enrol for.

A nursery and kindergarten, a library which boasts of over 9,000 books in Persian, Arabic and some in English, poetry club, video club and a very active theatre are some other facilities that fall under this department.

"We also organise regular trips to the Holy Cities of Makkah, Madinah and other holy places", says Olyaei. "And we have a spacious auditorium which can seat up to 1,000 people.

Most of the users are non-Iranians, and it is used for business conferences and also for national and international graduation ceremonies of schools, universities and hospitals," he adds.

The club also offers a myriad of sports activities. A football stadium, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, lessons in martial arts, segregated gyms and swimming pools are all available to the public.

All lessons can also be requested for in English, as most of the patrons in the female section are again, non-Iranians.

Two wedding halls which are mostly used by UAE nationals and a VIP hotel section with 60 rooms under renovation are some other features of the club.

The restaurants in the club serve all the flavours of Iran. With a seating capacity of 900 people indoors and a 1,000 outdoors, kebabs in the cool night air with the musical lilt of the Iranian dialect all around can definitely be a very pleasurable way to spend an evening.