International Cricket
The 25,000 capacity Sheikh Zayed Stadium and adjoining international ovals form the nucleus of the Abu Dhabi Cricket complex. The eye-catching grounds have welcomed numerous prestigious teams and events over the years, recently playing host to the 2019 Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10, the 2019 ICC World T20 Qualifiers, and the 2018 Asia Cup. The stadium has proudly served as a “home away from home” for Pakistan’s national cricket team since 2009.
Our current international flagship event is the Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10. Bringing together over 120 of the biggest names in world cricket to compete in this fast-paced version of the game, the 2019 edition saw over 125,000 fans walk through the gates across the 10-day event. The 2021 edition takes place in January and promises to be another spectacular advertisement for Abu Dhabi and the thrilling game of T10 cricket.
In addition to international fixtures and tournaments, Abu Dhabi Cricket also regularly serves as a leading training venue for international clubs and associations from across the globe. The likes of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) England Lions, the Afghanistan National Team, and numerous English County Cricket Clubs have all graced the turf for training camps over recent years.
International Football
Abu Dhabi Cricket has established itself as a premier footballing destination for teams from around the world. Our five natural grass pitches and adjoining facilities have hosted over 25 international teams over the last three years, including teams like Iran, Korea Republic, and German Bundesliga powerhouses VFL Wolfsburg. During the busy January-February winter training period you can regularly find elite clubs from some of the world’s strongest leagues out on the grass participating in pre-season or pre-tournament training camps.
In 2019, Abu Dhabi Cricket was proud to serve as an official training venue for the AFC Asian Cup, hosting 10 of Asia’s finest footballing nations throughout the build-up and duration of the tournament. Runners-up Japan even chose to return to Abu Dhabi Cricket for their preparations before the final match against Qatar.
“Thank you for helping us create our home away from home” – Paulo Bento | Head Coach, Korea Republic
International Rugby
For the past three years Abu Dhabi Cricket has proudly hosted both the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens rugby teams ahead of the annual Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament. Over their week-long training camps, the rugby powerhouses from New Zealand are put through their paces on our international-standard grass pitches and inside our newly opened Bodyline Gym. Outside of their rigorous training schedules, the reigning HSBC World Sevens Series champions have also graciously offered their time to the local rugby community, hosting open training and autograph sessions to the delight of fans both young and old. We look forward to welcoming the teams back again next year!
International School Sport
From elite athletes to those aspiring to follow in their footsteps, Abu Dhabi Cricket regularly welcomes a wide variety of international school sports teams for training camps and tournaments. Among the regular highlights include the annual Arch Cup and Trophy – an international school’s cricket tournament hosted by Abu Dhabi Cricket for the past six years featuring teams from over seven countries – and the BSME netball games which welcomes teams from all across the Middle East.
