Sports in UAE

If you are tired of lying around the pool or in bed and want to engage in some physical activity if you wish to play the sports then don’t worry as there are a lot of sporting and recreational activities conducted by a lot of tour companies for the tourists. Don’t miss taking part in the Dubai Marathon if you are up for it!

Horse Racing
Horse racing is one of the more popular sports but there are also several camel racing enthusiasts in the UAE. Horse racing can be enjoyed at most of the major clubs and the essential equipment is provided on request. Also, there are lessons conducted for the interested. The Dubai World Cup horse race has the world’s largest prize pool. The Abu Dhabi Tourist Club, Abu Dhabi Hunting & Equestrian Club, Ajman Equestrian Club, Club Joumana, Jebel Ali Equestrian Club, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club and the Umm al-Qaiwain Marine Club and Riding Centre are a few of the horse racing clubs located in UAE. Have an exclusive look of the Meydan Race Course City which was inaugurated during the 2010 World Cup.

Football
Football or soccer is one of the most popular sports in the Middle East, and Dubai has its own share of fans. You will find a lot of stadiums across the UAE. Zayed Sports City is the largest sports complex in the country.

Cricket
As so much of the expatriate population of the UAE comes from the Indian sub-continent, cricket has become a popular sport in the country. The Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosts annual matches for the cricket world cup.

Camel Racing

Credit: Flickr / Lars Plougmann / CC BY-SA 2.0

Generally takes place on weekend’s mornings in winter, Camel racing is a unique sport and has been an essential part of UAE traditions. The races take place on special tracks during public holidays and the ambience is extremely enthusiastic. Al Wathba Racetrack, Al Ain Racetrack and Nad al-Sheba camel track are a few of the racetracks located in UAE.

Golf
UAE has many golf courses and three of them are PGA championship golf courses. Almost all of the courses are managed by the UAE Golf Association and most of them are also found in the major hotels of the country. Dubai Desert Classic event takes place in Dubai and is marked by the world’s best golf players.

Tennis
The popularity of Tennis is taking its pitch high up and there are a lot of private clubs and hotels hosting their own tennis courts. The annual Dubai Tennis Championships is hosted in Dubai and is a WTA and ATP event in which the top tennis players compete.

Car Rallying
Most of the cars rallying events in UAE are organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation. The Desert Challenge is always held in the first week of December.

Polo
Dubai Polo Club has top-notch facilities and they also provide all the equipment you might need on rent. The polo season is from Mid-October to April.

Rugby
Rugby fans can play and enjoy watching rugby matches held throughout the year across UAE. Dubai hosts Six Nations Rugby Tournament in April and Dubai Rugby Sevens in November and December.

Rock Climbing
There are some interesting rock-climbing opportunities in the UAE Mountains. But you can also try it indoors at the Pharaoh's Club, Qud al-Mehta and Pyramids in Dubai.

Sailing
There are a lot of beach clubs and hotels offering an option to sail through the waters of the Gulf. For a truly magical experience, you can embark on sailing dhows or wooden crafts swaying across the Indian Ocean. Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, Abu Dhabi Catamaran Association, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai International Marine Club and the UAE Tourist Club provide sailing equipment for those interested.

Ice-Skating
You can enjoy ice-skating when the sun always shines in the country. The Abu Dhabi Tourist Club has got a big ice-skating rink with floodlights and TV screens. Dubai has got two ice rinks, one at the Hyatt Regency Galleria and the other at Al Nasr Leisureland.

Other Sports
Besides the common sports, you can enjoy bowling, canoeing, athletics, chess, archery and so much more. Popular water sports include boat racing, powerboat racing and jet skiing.