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Sports are important to the citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The most popular sport in Dubai is football, but Dubai natives also enjoy a range of sports including cricket, motorsports and even camel racing.
If you're planning a visit to Dubai and you want a fully rounded travel experience, be sure to check out these essential sporting activities while you're there.
Football
Established in 1971, the UAE Football Association is dedicated to supporting and improving not only players but the officials and coaches involved with its regional teams.
A great way to enjoy some football while you're in Dubai is to set up camp in a sports bar that is also frequented by locals, so that you can soak up the atmosphere. Barrel 12 has been popular with locals for years, and it offers good deals and a menu of pub classics. Another popular choice is Goodfella's, the fan pub for the Dubai Reds (Liverpool FC fans in Dubai). Featuring loads of screens, retro memorabilia and free-to-play pool tables, Goodfella's is a great choice for an afternoon out.
Cricket
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the UAE, mostly due to the large expatriate population from Southeast Asia. There are several cricket stadiums in Dubai including:
- The Dubai Cricket Stadium. Built in 2009, it has a capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 people, and was most recently host to the Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand in 2018.
- Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. The most memorable match held here was the Friendship ODI series between India and Pakistan following a huge earthquake in Pakistan.
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Established in 1982, this is the Middle East's oldest cricket stadium.
If you are lucky enough to schedule your trip to coincide with a Test match and you want to place a bet, then you can do this through an online sportsbook, which provides you a convenient way to place bets on matches online.
Camel Racing
Camel racing season runs between October and April and races take place early in the morning on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a high-stakes sport, with participants coming all the way from neighbouring Oman and Saudi Arabia to take part, and the winners receiving huge sums of money. It's incredibly popular with tourists too, who watch it either on large screens in stadiums, or book a place on a tour bus which will drive adjacent to the track.
The races are free to attend, but places fill up so be sure to book your place in advance to avoid missing out.
Motorsport
Dubai is well known for hosting the Grand Prix, but for an experience that is truly unique, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a must. The cross-country rally event was founded in 1991, and since then has evolved into a route that takes in Abu Dhabi's breathtaking desert. The challenge is taken seriously, with participants undertaking two days of careful scrutiny before spending five days racing through the Liwa desert.
Falconry
Falconry is an important part of the cultural heritage of the UAE. You can marry viewing a falconry display with a visit to the desert and dinner in a Bedouin-style camp, ticking off a few items on the Dubai bucket list in one go.
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