The big sports dates this winter run from the DP World Tour Championship golf on 12 to 15 November 2026 to the Dubai World Cup horse race on Saturday 27 March 2027. In between come the ILT20 cricket season from 21 November, the Dubai Run on 22 November, the Emirates Dubai 7s on 27 to 29 November, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 6 December, the marathon on 17 January, the Desert Classic in January and the tennis in February. The table below has every date, and a quiet day on our desert safari fits between events.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
What are the biggest sports events in Dubai in 2026-27?
The DP World Tour Championship golf on 12 to 15 November, the Emirates Dubai 7s on 27 to 29 November, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race on 6 December, the Dubai Marathon on 17 January, the Dubai Desert Classic on 21 to 24 January, the tennis on 14 to 27 February and the Dubai World Cup on 27 March.
This guide also answers:
- When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026?
- When is the Dubai World Cup 2027?
- Is there cricket in Dubai this winter?
Five events worth planning a trip around
#1
Golf: DP World Tour Championship and Dubai Desert Classic
The DP World Tour Championship is played on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 12 to 15 November, with tickets listed by Visit Dubai from AED 55 to AED 2,100. The Dubai Desert Classic follows from 21 to 24 January at Emirates Golf Club, where the official site says there is no public parking and the Metro stops outside the club entrance.
#2
Emirates Dubai 7s, rugby
The festival runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November, with the HSBC SVNS tournament on the Saturday and Sunday and the finals from 7:35 PM on Sunday. Friday is AED 75 and a single weekend day AED 455, and the three-day pass is AED 595. Our Dubai Rugby Sevens guide has the gate rules and the road in.
#3
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The race is on Sunday 6 December, although sources differ on the other days of the weekend, with 3 to 6, 4 to 6 and 4 to 7 December all reported. Reports put tickets from about AED 395. Yas Island is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road from Dubai and the roads fill after the final session, so a night in Abu Dhabi is the calm choice.
#4
Dubai Marathon and Dubai Run
The free Dubai Run offers 5 km and 10 km routes on Sheikh Zayed Road on 22 November, with a 6:30 AM start, and a bib is required. The Dubai Marathon on 17 January has a marathon, a 10 km and a 4 km fun run, with entry from $50 and free grandstand seating at the finish for spectators.
#5
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
The women's WTA 1000 week runs first, from 14 February, with finals on Saturday 20 February, and the men's ATP 500 week follows, with the final on 27 February. The stadium is a five-minute walk from GGICO Metro station. Ticket information for 2027 was not yet published on 2 November. Last year's range was AED 65 to AED 990.
Sports events in Dubai 2026-27: the short answer
From November 2026 to March 2027 Dubai and Abu Dhabi host golf, cricket, rugby, a Grand Prix, a marathon, tennis and horse racing, from the DP World Tour Championship on 12 to 15 November to the Dubai World Cup on Saturday 27 March 2027. The busiest stretch is late November and early December, when the Dubai Run, the ILT20 cricket season, the Dubai 7s and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix all fall within two weeks. After the Grand Prix, the next big dates are the marathon, the golf and the tennis in January and February.
We checked dates against the official event sites, Visit Dubai, Gulf News, Khaleej Times and Emirates 24/7. A few details were still unpublished on 2 November 2026, and we say which. We left out any event for which we could not find a date on an official source. In our checks we did not find a major sports event with a confirmed date in April.
The calendar, in date order
Use the table to see what overlaps. The sections below link to our full guides.
| Date | Event | Where | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-15 November | DP World Tour Championship (golf) | Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates | Tickets listed from AED 55 to AED 2,100 |
| 21 November to 20 December | ILT20 Season 5 (cricket) | Dubai International Stadium, plus Abu Dhabi and Sharjah | Opener on Saturday 21 November; final on Sunday 20 December, both at 6:30 PM |
| Sunday 22 November | Dubai Run | Sheikh Zayed Road | Free; 5 km and 10 km; 6:30 AM start; bib required |
| 27-29 November | Emirates Dubai 7s (rugby) | The Sevens Stadium, Al Ain Road | HSBC SVNS on 28 and 29 November; tickets from AED 75 |
| Race on Sunday 6 December | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi | Sources differ on the other days of the weekend |
| November to March | Dubai Racing Carnival | Meydan Racecourse | The 2026-27 dates are not on the club's page |
| Sunday 17 January | Dubai Marathon | Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah Beach Road | 42.195 km, 10 km and 4 km; start from 5:45 AM |
| 21-24 January | Dubai Desert Classic (golf) | Emirates Golf Club | Tournament Town fan village open 10 AM to 11 PM |
| 14-27 February | Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships | Garhoud | WTA 1000 first week, ATP 500 second week |
| Saturday 27 March | Dubai World Cup | Meydan Racecourse | Date from Visit Dubai |
As of 2 November 2026. Cricket dates are from Gulf News and Khaleej Times; the league site mixes dates from earlier seasons.
Prices in the table and cards are as listed by organisers or Visit Dubai and can change, so check the official site before you buy.
November and December: the busiest weeks
Golf opens the season. The DP World Tour Championship is at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 November, according to Visit Dubai and Emirates 24/7, which also reported a Ladies Day and Family Day programme, free golf clinics and children's entertainment in the Championship Village. The cricket league follows: Gulf News and Khaleej Times report that ILT20 Season 5 opens at Dubai International Stadium on Saturday 21 November with Desert Vipers against MI Emirates at 6:30 PM, and that the final is at the same stadium on Sunday 20 December. Dubai hosts 15 of the 34 matches, with Abu Dhabi 11 and Sharjah 8. Ticket prices were still to be confirmed on the league site.
Then comes the crowded stretch. Our Dubai Run guide covers the free 22 November run on Sheikh Zayed Road, and our Dubai Rugby Sevens guide covers the 27 to 29 November weekend. Both come before UAE National Day on 2 and 3 December and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Our Grand Prix guide explains why the dates differ between sources and why we suggest a night in Abu Dhabi if you hold a ticket.
January and February: marathon, golf and tennis
The Dubai Marathon is on Sunday 17 January 2027, the last day of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Our Dubai Marathon guide has the route, the fees and the spectator advice. Four days later the Dubai Desert Classic starts at Emirates Golf Club, from 21 to 24 January. The official site lists general admission, hospitality and clubhouse tickets without prices, says that Tournament Town is free outdoor fun for families from 10 AM to 11 PM, and says there is no public parking at the club, so use public transport. Our golf guide for visitors covers playing a round yourself.
The tennis follows from 14 to 27 February at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium; see our tennis guide for the schedule and the ticket facts. Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, so the tournament is expected to fall inside it.
March: horse racing and the Dubai World Cup
Visit Dubai lists the Dubai World Cup for Saturday 27 March 2027 at Meydan. The Dubai Racing Club says the meeting is held on the last Saturday of March, which fits that date. The club's page describes the racing carnival as running from November to March, but it lists no dates for 2026-27 yet, so we cannot give you race nights. Our racing carnival and Dubai World Cup guide covers dates, tickets and the dress code as they are announced. Ramadan is expected to begin on 8 February and Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March, so part of the carnival is expected to fall inside Ramadan.
Getting to the events without a car
Most of these events are easier by Metro than by car, but not all. The official sites suggest the Metro for the Desert Classic, the tennis (GGICO station) and the marathon (Mall of the Emirates station, then a walk). The Dubai Run uses World Trade Centre and Emirates Towers stations, based on last year's advice. The Dubai 7s is on the Al Ain Road, and its free shuttles start at 7 PM. Abu Dhabi's Yas Island is a long road journey. Our Dubai Metro guide shows the lines and the fares.
Planning a visit around the sport
Treat a big event as one plan for the day and keep the rest light. A rest day between events is a good time for something that does not need a ticket line: our full-day desert safari is from $45 per person, about 7 hours, with hotel pickup. For the Grand Prix, a quiet weekday in Abu Dhabi outside 2 to 7 December suits our Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45 per person shared. A Burj Khalifa visit is also a good thing to do after a morning at the Dubai Run: our ticket is from $55.
FAQ
What are the biggest sports events in Dubai in 2026-27?
The DP World Tour Championship golf on 12 to 15 November, the Emirates Dubai 7s on 27 to 29 November, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race on 6 December, the Dubai Marathon on 17 January, the Dubai Desert Classic on 21 to 24 January, the tennis on 14 to 27 February and the Dubai World Cup on 27 March.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026?
The race is on Sunday 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit. Sources differ on the other days of the weekend: 3 to 6, 4 to 6 and 4 to 7 December have all been reported, so check the dates on your ticket.
When is the Dubai World Cup 2027?
Saturday 27 March 2027 at Meydan Racecourse, according to Visit Dubai. The Dubai Racing Club says the meeting is held on the last Saturday of March. The racing carnival runs from November to March, but the 2026-27 race nights are not yet on the club's page.
Is there cricket in Dubai this winter?
Yes. ILT20 Season 5 opens at Dubai International Stadium on Saturday 21 November 2026, and the final is there on Sunday 20 December. Dubai hosts 15 of the 34 matches, with the rest in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Ticket prices were still to be confirmed.
Which sports events are free for visitors?
The Dubai Run on 22 November is free, but you must register. The Dubai Marathon has free grandstand seating at the finish, according to its FAQ. The Desert Classic's Tournament Town fan village is described as free outdoor fun, although the golf itself needs a ticket.
Can I combine a sports event with sightseeing?
Yes. Keep the event as the main plan for the day and use the next day for sightseeing. Our full-day desert safari is from $45 per person and our Abu Dhabi city tour is from $45 shared.
Are the dates final?
They are as published by organisers and major news outlets on 2 November 2026. The Grand Prix weekend days, the racing carnival dates and the tennis ticket details were still open. Confirm each date on the official site before you book flights.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
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Photos: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — JiteshJagadish, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).