Dubai unveils a sports season packed with more than 500 events

Quick summary

Dubai’s sporting schedule stretches from major international competitions to fitness activities and traditional sailing. Rather than focusing on a single discipline, the new calendar gathers a broad selection of events into a shared information resource for people attending, participating or following the season.

Developed with the Dubai Digital Authority, the calendar will be accessible without charge through the DubaiNow application. An accompanying website will carry detailed information throughout the season. The digital service is intended to help users discover competitions, keep track of favourite athletes and teams, and find out how to register for events.

November brings a busy opening run

The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs from 31 October to 29 November, alongside a packed November competition schedule. The Dubai International Rally takes place from 5 to 8 November, while the FIBA 3X3 World Tour follows on 6 and 7 November. Padel joins the programme through the Dubai Premier Padel P1 Championship, running from 8 to 15 November.

Several headline competitions overlap in the middle of the month. The DP World Tour Championship is scheduled for 12 to 15 November, the T100 Triathlon for 13 to 15 November, and the Professional Fighters League Dubai Championship for 14 November.

Later dates include the Emirates Dubai Sailing Grand Prix on 21 and 22 November and the HYROX Championship on 27 and 28 November. Together, these fixtures give followers of golf, endurance sport, basketball, motorsport and sailing plenty of dates to track.

December and January keep the calendar moving

Al Mamzar Beach Park will host the 2026 World Triathlon Women’s Cup Dubai on 6 December. Later that month, the World Sports Summit takes place on 28 and 29 December, bringing sports stars, industry specialists and decision-makers together to discuss developments in international sport.

January 2027 starts with the Michelin 24H Dubai endurance race from 8 to 10 January. The Dubai Marathon follows on 17 January, ahead of the Dubai leg of the Beach Volleyball World Pro Tour on 20 January.

Golf returns with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from 21 to 24 January at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club. The Silver Polo Cup is scheduled for 23 January, with the Burj2Burj Half Marathon taking place the following day.

Cycling, tennis and racing lead the later months

February features the UAE Tour Women from 3 to 6 February, followed by the Spinneys 92 Dubai Cycling Race on 7 and 8 February. The women’s tour is the Middle East’s only UCI Women’s WorldTour event. The Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Tour runs from 8 to 28 February.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships occupy 14 to 27 February, while the UAE Tour Men takes place from 15 to 21 February.

March includes the Dubai Games, the Gold Polo Cup from 3 to 20 March and the Dubai Polo Challenge Cup on 6 March. L’Étape du Tour de France follows on 20 and 21 March, before the Dubai World Cup on 27 March. The Al Gaffal Traditional Sailing Race is scheduled for early April, featuring local 60-foot sailing boats.

Why it matters for Dubai

The calendar supports Dubai Sports Council’s ambition to develop the emirate’s sports sector in line with international standards and best practices. It also reinforces the city’s positioning as a destination for major sporting competitions and sports tourism.

Its significance is not limited to the number of fixtures. The programme brings international athletes, supporters, sports professionals and decision-makers into the same wider season, spanning numerous disciplines. Making schedules, venues and participation information easier to find is intended to improve accessibility for Dubai’s diverse resident population and international visitors.

What it means for creators and venues

For creators covering Dubai events, the published dates provide a useful starting point for planning seasonal coverage. The mix of fitness, golf, tennis, cycling and sailing allows for different editorial interests, while the calendar’s venue and participation details can help keep practical information accurate.

Venues considering sports-related Collabs can use the schedule as a planning reference rather than treating every event as an automatic partnership opportunity. The announcement does not specify creator access, venue partnerships or Collabs arrangements. Those details should not be assumed from an event’s inclusion in the calendar.

How to use the new calendar

DubaiNow will be the free access point for the calendar, with information covering where events take place, when they run and what participation requires. Users will also be able to find registration procedures, while the website will provide further detail across the season.

Free access refers to the calendar itself. The announcement does not establish free admission to the listed competitions or provide individual ticket prices. Anyone planning to attend or take part should use the event-specific information to check the relevant arrangements.

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