MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants ILT20 2026 in Abu Dhabi

MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants ILT20 2026 in Abu Dhabi is a Monday night fixture of DP World ILT20 Season 5 at Zayed Cricket Stadium on 7 December. MI Emirates use the stadium as their home ground, so this is a home game for one of the league’s two former champions against the other. Gates open at 4:30pm and the first ball is at 6:30pm, which makes it a realistic after-work plan for anyone in the capital.

Two former champions

The ILT20 is the UAE’s franchise T20 league, run by the Emirates Cricket Board since its first season in 2023. Six teams share fixtures across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and Season 5 runs from 22 November to 20 December 2026, with a round-robin stage before the playoffs. By 7 December the table is starting to take shape, so a win here matters for both sides.

MI Emirates

MI Emirates are owned by Reliance Industries, the group behind the Mumbai Indians franchise, and are part of the wider MI family of teams. They won the ILT20 title in 2024, beating Dubai Capitals by 45 runs in the final, and reached the final again in the 2025–26 season, losing to Desert Vipers. On their own ground in Abu Dhabi, they will expect a vocal home crowd.

Gulf Giants

Gulf Giants, owned by the Adani Group, were the league’s first champions, winning the inaugural 2023 final against Desert Vipers by seven wickets. The ticket page describes the head-to-head record between the two teams across the first four seasons as closely contested, so there is no clear favourite going into this one.

Squads for Season 5 come from the league’s auction and retention process, so check the teams’ own announcements for line-ups closer to the date.

Zayed Cricket Stadium

Zayed Cricket Stadium opened in 2004 and sits within the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub in Khalifa City. It holds around 20,000 people, with large stands at each end and grass banks square of the wicket, and is owned by the Emirates Cricket Board. Alongside MI Emirates, it is home to the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, the UAE national team and Afghanistan, who have played home matches here since 2010.

The ground has a long international history. It staged its first one-day international in 2006, a charity match between Pakistan and India for earthquake relief, and its first Test in 2010, and became one of Pakistan’s home venues after 2009. It hosted the opening match of the 2020 IPL and 20 games that season, and 15 matches at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including a semi-final.

How match night works

Seats and tickets

Seating is first come, first served across the ground, and some seats have restricted views, so arriving after the gates open at 4:30pm gives you the widest choice. Tickets are emailed 48 hours before the match and can be printed or shown on your phone. Each ticket is valid for one entry only, with no re-entry. Each buyer can purchase up to 10 tickets per match, and tickets cannot be resold or passed on for more than their original value. If the match is cancelled before the toss or moved to another date or venue, a full refund applies.

Children

Under-fives can enter without a ticket if they sit on an adult’s lap. Children aged five and over need a ticket, anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times, and parents or guardians are responsible for under-18s. Strollers are not allowed and there is no storage at the stadium.

Accessibility

Dedicated wheelchair viewing areas are available, though they may not always be next to standard seating for companions.

What not to bring

Alcohol is not allowed and smoking is restricted to designated areas. Weapons, pyrotechnics and dangerous substances are prohibited, while food, drinks, bottles, cans, drones, signage and oversized bags are restricted. Umbrellas and camping chairs are not permitted, there are no bag drops, and betting is prohibited inside the venue.

Getting to the stadium

By car, head along Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, join the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain Truck Road (E30), turn onto Al Mudwi Street and continue on Al Mabrouk Street, taking the second exit at the two roundabouts that follow. The stadium is on the right. The ticket page strongly recommends using GPS, and taxis and ride-hailing apps are an easy alternative.

Who it suits

This fixture is an obvious one for MI Emirates supporters in the capital and for Gulf Giants fans willing to make the trip, but the format makes it easy for anyone. A T20 game is done in an evening, the rules are simple to pick up, which suits families with younger children and first-timers who want to see franchise cricket on a school night without a late finish eating into the next morning.

For more fixtures, see our sports events in the UAE page, or explore things to do in Abu Dhabi, the full December calendar and what’s on in the UAE.