Our guide to sports events in Dubai and the UAE
Sports events in Dubai and across the UAE fill the calendar from autumn to spring, when the country hosts a remarkable run of world-class fixtures: Formula 1 on Yas Island, tour-level golf and tennis, franchise cricket, rugby sevens, EuroLeague basketball, big fight nights, padel, sailing and some of the region’s most popular marathons. Because many of these events return every year, it is easy to plan a season around them.
This page lists every sporting event we know about across the emirates, with links to official ticket sellers. Use the filters at the top of the page (When, Type, Emirate, Price) to narrow the listings, and finished events drop off automatically, so what you see is always upcoming. Below is our guide to when things happen, where to go and how to make the most of game day.
The UAE sporting season at a glance
Most major outdoor events take place between October and April, when temperatures are comfortable for players and spectators alike. The timing below is typical and can shift from year to year, so always check the listing for exact dates.
- Autumn: the DP World Tour golf season usually reaches its finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, and the Dubai Fitness Challenge brings free mass runs and rides to the city streets. Half marathons, neon runs and padel tournaments start to fill the weekends.
- Late November or early December: the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, usually the last race of the season. The Emirates Dubai 7s rugby festival and a sailing grand prix off the Dubai coast usually take place around the same weeks.
- Winter: ILT20 franchise cricket at stadiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic golf at Emirates Golf Club and the Dubai Marathon, usually in the cooler weeks of the new year.
- Late January and February: professional tennis, with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open followed by the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at the Aviation Club in Garhoud, plus the UAE Tour cycling race across several emirates.
- Late March or early April: the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, the culmination of the winter horse racing season.
Cricket, football, rugby and basketball
Cricket has a huge following here. The ILT20 league brings six franchise teams and international stars to Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, usually in the winter months, and the UAE regularly hosts international series and Asian tournaments too. Evening matches under floodlights are the most comfortable to watch, and league games are a relaxed way to try live cricket for the first time.
Football runs through most of the year. UAE Pro League clubs such as Al Ain, Al Wahda and Shabab Al Ahli play in stadiums across the country, and continental nights in the AFC Champions League bring a lively, flag-waving crowd. Tickets for league games are usually easy to get on the day, while cup finals and big continental fixtures sell faster.
Rugby fans circle the Emirates Dubai 7s, a festival weekend that mixes international sevens with hundreds of amateur and school teams. Indoors, Dubai Basketball plays its EuroLeague home games at Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk, giving the city regular top-level fixtures through the European season.
Motorsport, golf and tennis
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the headline motorsport weekend, a twilight race with grandstands, hospitality areas and, usually, after-race concerts included with race tickets. Beyond Formula 1, Dubai Autodrome in Motor City and Yas Marina Circuit run endurance races, club racing, track days and karting through the cooler months, and watching club events is often free or low cost.
Golf in the UAE is played on immaculate desert courses, and tour events welcome spectators with grandstands, fan zones and food trucks. Tennis is compact and close: the Aviation Club stadium in Garhoud puts even general seats near the court, and it is about a five-minute walk from GGICO Metro station on the Green Line.
Fight nights and indoor sport
Not everything waits for the cooler months. Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and Etihad Arena on Yas Island host boxing, mixed martial arts and freestyle wrestling, and Abu Dhabi has become a regular stop for major international MMA cards. Smaller fight nights also take place in hotel ballrooms and beach venues.
Fight nights usually run late, with undercard bouts first and the main event near the end of the evening, so check the start time of the main card if that is what you have come to see. Most set a minimum age, which is printed on the official event page. Ice hockey tournaments, padel and climbing keep things moving indoors through the summer, when many local leagues switch to air-conditioned venues.
Runs, padel and time on the water
The UAE is full of mass-participation events for every level. The Dubai Marathon, half marathons, neon night runs, community fun runs, triathlons, open water swims and cycling sportives happen most weekends from October to April. The Dubai Fitness Challenge, usually held across late October and November, closes Sheikh Zayed Road to traffic for free runs and rides open to all ages. Registration nearly always closes before race day, and early entries are often cheaper.
Padel has boomed, with courts in malls, hotels and sports clubs across every emirate. Professional tour events now visit Dubai, and amateur tournaments, including women’s and mixed categories, run through the season. Sailing fans can watch high-speed catamaran racing off the Dubai coast, while traditional dhow sailing races keep the UAE’s maritime heritage alive. Hatta and the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah are popular for trail running and mountain biking. If you are new to the country, our new to the UAE guide has tips on finding clubs and communities.
The main venues and what to expect
- Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi: grandstands, hospitality areas and a festival atmosphere on race weekend, with good access from Yas Island hotels.
- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sports City: a floodlit ground for franchise and international cricket, alongside Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
- The Sevens Stadium, Al Ain Road: a multi-pitch complex on the edge of the city, best known for the rugby sevens festival.
- Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk and Etihad Arena, Yas Island: fully air-conditioned arenas for basketball, boxing and MMA, with food outlets and clear sightlines.
- Aviation Club, Garhoud: an intimate tennis stadium with restaurants and bars around the grounds.
- Meydan Racecourse, Nad Al Sheba: a huge grandstand with general admission and premium areas, where smart dress is expected in many enclosures.
Game-day tips we rely on
- Buy from official sellers. Our listings link to the organiser or an authorised ticketing partner. Tickets from unofficial resellers may be cancelled or refused at the gate.
- Dress for the sun and the evening. Day sessions can be hot even in winter, so bring a hat and sunscreen, and pack a light layer for evening events.
- Check the bag and entry rules. Large events often restrict bag sizes, outside food and drinks, and items such as umbrellas and professional cameras.
- Plan your transport. Many venues sit outside the Metro network, so allow extra time for taxis after the final whistle and look out for official shuttle buses.
- Read the age policy. Some events offer free entry for younger children, while others, especially fight nights and venues with bars, set a minimum age.
- Respect local customs. Cheer loudly, but keep chants and clothing respectful, and drink only in licensed areas.
Sport across the emirates
Abu Dhabi hosts many of the country’s biggest events, from Formula 1 to tennis and top-level combat sports, and our guide to things to do in Abu Dhabi helps you plan the rest of the weekend. Sharjah has a historic cricket ground that has hosted international matches for decades; see things to do in Sharjah. Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah add fun runs, trail races and endurance events, while Fujairah’s coast suits water sports and open water swims.
Big sporting events pair well with the rest of the UAE’s winter calendar. Grand Prix weekend comes with concerts on Yas Island, so take a look at our concerts in Dubai and the UAE page too. A rugby weekend or a day at the cricket often ends with a meal out, and our dinner and brunch ideas help with that. For a quick view of everything else on, try things to do this weekend.
Organising a race, tournament or match in the UAE? Submit an event and we will list it once we have checked the details with you.