A Pro Sport Tour Of The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is becoming increasingly known worldwide because of its sports scene. This small country has slowly grown and made a name for itself – as well as global headlines – for its inspirational athletes, world-class competitions and state-of-the-art sporting venues. All sport enthusiasts everywhere should become familiarized with the UAE’s world of pro sports.

Football

Emirati people simply love football! The country has stadiums in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, as well as several different local clubs that have made names for themselves in the region. The country’s national team has played games with some of the biggest teams in the world, such as Brazil in 2005. Although the team is still establishing itself in the world of football, it has participated and even won some major regional competitions, such as the Gulf Cup of Nations.

Al Ain FC

Al Ain FC was founded in 1968 and is an Abu Dhabi based football club. They participate in the UAE Pro League, currently sitting in fourth place. The team’s top player is an Emirati, Ahmed Abdullah, who has scored 180 goals. Al Ain FC has three different home stadiums, making themselves a household name on the local football scene.

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC

This Dubai football club is considered one of the strongest in the whole of the UAE. Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC was founded in 1958 and has its home stadium based in Dubai. Previously known as three clubs, Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Dubai Club have just merged into one and became Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC, making themselves even stronger than before. The team currently holds third place in the UAE Pro League.

Cricket

The cricket scene in Dubai is extremely popular, with the International Cricket Council having moved its headquarters to the city and its own regional teams, such as the Wombats Cricket Club, the largest team in Dubai. The city also has its own cricket stadiums, the most popular being the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which opened doors in 2009 and has held some famous international competitions with national teams from Pakistan, Australia, India and more.

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road,Dubai Sports City, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 425 1111

Tennis

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships have become known in every corner of the world by the lovers of this sport. The competition has been taking place in the city for 25 years and gathers some of the biggest names in tennis, having hosted Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Venus Williams. The tennis tournament takes place every year at The Aviation Club while parties take place at The Irish Village. The Dubai Tennis Championship’s most recent winners are Andy Murray for men’s singles and Elina Svitolina for women’s singles.

Aviation Club, Deira, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 230 8560

1. Rugby

Stadium

The Emirates Airlines Rugby Sevens take place annually in Dubai and have become a vastly popular event. The event has been held for nearly 20 years and brings together rugby fans to watch their favorite teams from across the globe. The sporting competition is part of the World Rugby Sevens Series. The Dubai Rugby Sevens’ most recent winner was South Africa and the next event will take place in November-December 2017.

Dubai Hurricanes

The Dubai Hurricanes were founded in 1999. The club won the first ever Grand Slam in the Middle East in 2010-2011. This included winning the UAE League, the Gulf Top 6 League and the West Asia Championship Final. In the years of 2015-2016, the ladies squad also got a chance to participate in the Grand Slam. The club has made a name for itself in the region and is an affiliate member of UAE Rugby.

Dubai Exiles Rugby Club

The Dubai Exiles Rugby Club were founded in 1966. The club is best known for holding the Dubai Rugby Sevens up until 2017, when the tournament was moved to the Sevens Stadium. The Emirates Airlines Rugby Sevens were previously held in the Dubai Exiles’ stadium, where the competition began to grow popular and helped established rugby in the UAE.

2. Formula 1 Racing

Sports Center

Every year, the Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways Grand Prix takes place at the Yas Marina Circuit. Here, racing enthusiasts can watch some of the most famous Formula 1 drivers in the world compete. Among the biggest names to have visited the circuit are Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso and Adrian Sutil. For the racing lovers who wish to get a thrill, they can rent cars to race down this unique circuit and feel like a true Formula 1 driver. The venue is set to hold its next event in November of 2017.

Weightlifting

An empowering and inspirational woman made headlines all over the UAE and the world in 2016 when she was chosen to carry the country’s flag in the Olympics taking place in Brazil. Aisha Al Balushi is a local weightlifter who participated in the 58kg weight category during the Rio Olympic Games. Although Al Balushi did not bring a medal home, having placed in 16th, she sure brought a lot of pride to her home country where she is now a household name for female empowerment.

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