The United Arab Emirates, the place to go for sunshine, luxurious holidays, beaches, shopping malls, outdoor adventures and in the cooler winter months, some of the best sports events the world has to offer. When visiting the UAE, and, if you can pull yourself away from the swim-up bar, drag yourself out of the mall and sweep the sand off your feet here are the top 5 sports events to attend in the UAE this autumn.
Top 5 Sports Events to Attend in the UAE this Autumn
Women's T20 World Cup
October 3rd - 20th
The women's T20 World Cup is a late added bonus to the UAE's upcoming sporting highlights as Bangladesh were due to host the tournament originally. It was announced in August however that it would be moved to the United Arab Emirates due to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh.
Ten nations will complete with Australia being the defending champions. Most of the world's cricketing powerhouses will be there including England, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka Pakistan and the West Indies as well as Scotland and New Zealand.
Two venues will be used across the UAE to host the matches; they are Dubai's International Cricket Stadium which is located in the city's Sports City and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in the neighbouring Emirate to Dubai.
Tickets to the Women's T20 World Cup
Tickets have yet to be officially released but check back here soon for the latest news.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
November 7th - 10th
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has historically taken place in January and has acted as the first big tournament of a new DP World Tour season. In 2024 however, the tournament will begin its new life as the penultimate tournament on the Tour before the DP World Tour finale the following week in Dubai.
The change in dates means it will be a brilliant two-week golfing festival across the UAE with the very best players on Tour battling it out for the final two weeks of the season.
Once again the tournament will be staged at Yas Links on Yas Island, which is literally over the road from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport and a wonderful location to play and watch golf. (If golf doesn't keep you interested all day long, it's a great place to take part in some plane spotting also - just thought I'd mention that).
Yas Links is nestled into the shores of Yas Island and is surrounded with mangrove lined waterways. It's a tournament and setting that never disappoints. From its hugely entertaining championship village to excellent viewing areas around the 18 holes it's a feast for the eyes and if it's sport in general you love, you'll even get a glimpse of Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which is just the other side of the road from the golf course.
Tickets to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
The best news about the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is tickets are free! It won't cost you anything to attend on a General Admission ticket. That will give you access to all the public areas from the championship village to around the golf course.
If you want to enhance your experience a little, you can opt for the Ticket + option which is a new ticketing type being rolled out across DP World Tour events. In Abu Dhabi the Ticket + ticket will get you onto the private terrace overlooking the 9th green with premium seating. The cheapest days for the Ticket + option are Thursday and Friday with prices rising slightly for Saturday and Sunday.
To enhance even further, Championship Chalet tickets are still available. As you would expect, this includes all the bells and whistles from fast-track entry, priority parking, VIP admission, meals throughout the day, drinks and more.
You can book your tickets here and select how many tickets you want as well as the category. If I were you, I'd get a Ticket + ticket. It's affordable and the shade and seating goes a long way when walking around the golf course all day!
DP World Tour Championship
November 14th - 17th
The culmination of another frantic year on Tour, the very best players will be performing on the Earth Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates in their quest to not only lift the tournament trophy but also the Harry Vardon trophy.
I've been lucky enough to attend (in a working capacity) the DP World Tour Championship for many years now and take it from me, it keeps getting better. The location alone is a superb sight and a delight to walk, whilst the fan areas around the driving range and 1st tee offer a huge selection of entertainment, activities, food and drinks.
The parties in the championship village after each day's play are always great fun there's great access to the players. You'll be as up close as you like around the whole golf course.
Tickets to the DP World Tour Championship
Much like in Abu Dhabi, the DP World Tour Championship offers free General Admission as well, but this time only for Thursday and Friday. On the Saturday and Sunday General Admission will cost AED95 (£20). For those 17 and under, admission is free throughout the weekend but a youth ticket must be purchased.
The Ticket + option is also available for the tournament and for this event, it is located in a superb position. Named The Greatest Bar on Earth, I for one can testify it is a brilliant place to watch golf from as well as enjoy the lively atmosphere. You'll be yards from the players, overlooking the 17th green and have plenty of room to roam around during the day. Ticket + prices start from AED160 (£32) and also includes priority access to selected food counters.
The top tier options for the DP World Tour Championship include the Earth Lounge and Championship Chalet with prices starting at AED1000 (£200) for the former and AED2000 (£400) for the latter. Each option is similar other than the Earth Lounge will be overlooking the 16th green whilst the Championship Chalet will overlook the 18th green.
Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 29th - December 1st
If there is a sporting event you have to visit once in your life, it's the Dubai Rugby Sevens. It not only provides a sensational festival of rugby, but the weekend coincides with the United Arab Emirates celebrating it's National Day, so it's party-time whichever corner you turn.
Even if you aren't the biggest of rugby fans, this sporting event does a great job in making sure you'll still have a brilliant time. From it's array of musical performances, activations around the grounds and all-round intoxicating atmosphere you'll wonder why you haven't visited before.
The main pitch is surrounded by temporary scaffolding grandstands that hold thousands of fans, whilst the areas around have room for thousands more. It's one of the UAE's biggest-attended events and also includes other sports taking place at the same time such as Netball, so there's plenty to watch.
If you caught of of the Paris Olympics, and witnessed the carnival like atmosphere around the city, the Dubai Rugby Sevens provides a very similar feel.
The professional teams for both the men and women play across two days of the three day carnival, on Friday and Saturday but Thursday is still a huge day with amateur teams battling it out. Plus, the event always does a good job at finding the perfect musical performers for the evening party.
Tickets to the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens
Tickets to the Dubai Rugby Sevens are wildly sought after each year and even though the event is still 3 months away, there is no time to wait as tickets do sell-out. When purchasing tickets, don't forget the ticket does include all three days.
The minimum amount of tickets you can buy at this stage is six and each ticket is priced at AED468 (£96), so it's all about the planning and making sure you can get a group of six together. That price is for a General Admission ticket which gets you access pretty much anywhere other than hospitality areas. It is well worth going in a group as it really is a mix of great sporting action together with a night out sort of vibe.
You can book tickets here for the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens, it's well worth it!
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
December 6th - 8th
Quite possibly the UAE's biggest sporting event, certainly the one that has much of the world watching. The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been on the F1 calendar since 2009 and it has grown to be one of the sport's stand out events. It mixes high sporting drama with huge parties that rival Monaco, massive concerts that rival the biggest of festivals and a carnival like atmosphere that is similar to that of Silverstone.
Yas Marina Circuit is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is located on Yas Island. It itself a sporting destination not to be sniffed at. Across the road from the circuit you'll find Yas Links, home of the earlier mentioned Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Etihad Arena close by is home to countless NBA, tennis and other sporting events and Ferarri World is right next to the circuit.
If you ever needed a reason for attending the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, perhaps this being Lewis Hamilton's last race for Mercedes will be enough. If it isn't there's a heap more to enjoy and entice you to the event as you'll see in my ticket breakdown below. Strap yourselves in (thank you, I was proud of that too), there's a lot to choose from.
Tickets to the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
At this late stage, many of the cheaper options for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have already sold out but that doesn't stop you having a brilliant time enjoying the buzz around the circuit on some of the other days. And it is worth pointing out, one thing the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has always been so good at doing is providing a huge variety of ticket categories, all of which come with some superb perks. Here's the best of the bunch still available.
Thursday - Friday General Admission ticket options:
Roaming - (AED525 / £108) This ticket includes entry to Yas Marina Circuit for both Thursday and Friday but also to Wednesday's World Supercross Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Etihad Arena. It'll be a thrilling encounter watching these bikes up close. You'll also get access to all Oasis fanzone areas around Yas Marina Circuit, each of them with their own food and drinks options, entertainment and F1 merchandise stores. And furthermore, you'll also get access to the after-race concerts on both Thursday and Friday. If that wasn't enough, your ticket will also enable you to attend the Gulf 12 Hours, which is the Gulf regions only endurance motorsport race. It takes place on the 14th and 15th December.
So, even though you won't get to see qualifying (Saturday) or the race (Sunday), you will get to be there whilst the practice sessions on Friday take place (although please note that you don't get to see the track other than on the big big screens from the Oasis areas) as well as all of the above, which is a great way to spend a few days.
This ticket is ideal for families with children who perhaps want to experience what all the fuss is about when it comes to F1. Think of it as a great 'starter-kit' experience.
Deck at Two - (AED2,235 / £461) The price rises quite a bit for this next option, but the experience does too. Deck at Two is a new ticket category at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and is cleverly located at Turn Two, which provides outstanding views as the cars exit Turn One and accelerate up the hill.
Whilst this ticket is for Thursday and Friday it is only on Friday when their is on-track action, but the experience offers a lot more than that. Similar to above, you'll also have entry to Wednesday's Supercross event at Etihad Arena, and access to both after-race concerts on Thursday and Friday. Friday even includes a Golden Circle upgrade. Whilst enjoying yourself on Deck at Two you'll have a feast of fine dining and drinks to enjoy as well as free-flowing champagne and of course you'll get those tickets to the Gulf 12 Hours as well.
This is a great experience to opt for if you want to experience the glitz and glamour of an F1 weekend in one of the best locations around the circuit at a reasonable cost.
Now for some slightly more expensive options...
Thursday - Sunday ticket options:
Deck at Two - (AED13,250 / £2,735) - As we have just spoken about Deck at Two let's now revisit it but with a ticket that includes the whole weekend, and a whole lot more hence the price difference!
On top of the perks mentioned above such as a free-flowing champagne, the incredible location on track and the fine dining you'll also get a one-day complimentary pass to either Abu Dhabi's brilliant museum choices that include the Louvre or one of Yas Island's theme parks that include Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World and SeaWorld on Thursday. Thursday doesn't stop there though as you'll also be able to enjoy the Pitlane Walk as each team gets set for the weekend of racing. It goes without saying that this ticket also includes all of the after-race concerts.
All of that on top of being track-side for Practice on Friday, Qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
It is an expensive option, but considering what is included and the location to watch the on-track action, this is a really good option if you want to splash out on the ultimate F1 weekend.
Luna Lounge - (AED15,990 / £3,305) The most expensive ticket still available for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but one that packs a punch across the whole 4 days.
The Luna Lounge is a rooftop lounge which sites above Yas Marinca Circuit's Media Centre. You're very central within the circuit and the vantage point gives you great views of the Marina and W Hotel - which is the one that straddles the circuit. Like with other premium ticket options, your ticket includes what is being billed as 'Super Thursday' which is access to your choice of either an Abu Dhabi museum or Yas Island theme park and the Pitlane Walk. The ticket of courser also includes access to all After-Race concerts and you'll see all the action on the circuit from Friday - Sunday.
What Luna Lounge ticket holders will get on top of other ticket options is premium dining by Ce La Vi, including an open bar and drop off provided by the W Hotel. Upon drop-off at the hotel, you will just walk over the footbridge and straight into Luna Lounge.
There's no doubting this will be an experience to remember and an incredible way to enjoy all 4 days at Yas Marina Circuit, but if you'd like my choice? I'd have to opt for Deck at Two. For me it's the best location to be at out of all the remaining ticketing options. Lune Lounge is a brilliant spot with panoramic views, but you don't feel as close to the track, and you don't get to see much in the way of high-speed racing as the cars weave through the final corners before the start/finish straight where as Deck at Two is located just as the cars accelerate to thunderous speeds.
Of course, that is only my opinion and you can have a look around to see what suits you best for last-minute Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets here.
If you have a trip planned to the UAE this Autumn then you're in for a real treat when it comes to sport. From free tickets to premium experiences, I hope this article has helped you decide what you want to attend. Take it from me, the atmosphere, sport and locations of all the above mentioned are of the highest standard.
Let me know below what you choose to do below and thanks for reading!
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