UAE Sports Events November and December 2026: The Calendar, and Where Betting Is (and Isn't) Legal

Last updated: 11 November 2026

The big UAE sports events in November and December 2026 are the Abu Dhabi T10 (to 20 November), the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai (12–15 November), the DP World ILT20 (21 November–20 December), the UAE President Cup at Abu Dhabi Turf Club (12 December), the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (4–6 December) and regular race meetings at Meydan and Abu Dhabi. Whether you can legally bet on any of them depends on where you are standing, not where the event is held. The UAE's one licensed online sportsbook operator says its Play971 site works "within the UAE only, except Dubai", and every unlicensed bet is a crime under the Penal Code.

Key takeaways

• Seven headline events fall between 11 November and 20 December, across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
• Unlicensed betting is illegal everywhere in the UAE: up to two years' incarceration or a fine of up to Dh50,000 (Penal Code, Article 461).
• The only GCGRA-licensed internet gaming and sports wagering company is Coin Technology Projects LLC. It runs Play971, which is 21+ and not available in Dubai.
• So a fan in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah has a licensed option, while a fan in Dubai has none, whichever emirate the match is played in.
• Promoting unlicensed betting online, including tipster channels, carries imprisonment and/or a fine of Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 (Cybercrimes Law, Article 38).

What are the major sports events in the UAE in November and December 2026?

The table below lists the confirmed dates, the host emirate, and whether the licensed online operator can be used in that emirate. The last column describes access in that emirate. It does not mean the operator lists markets on the event. For several events we have not confirmed that it does.

Event — Dates — Venue — Licensed access in host emirate?

• Abu Dhabi T10 (cricket) — 7–20 Nov — Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi — Yes (Abu Dhabi)
• DP World Tour Championship (golf) — 12–15 Nov — Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai — No (Dubai)
• Dubai Racing Carnival (racing) — from 6 Nov; Festive Friday 18 Dec — Meydan, Dubai — No (Dubai)
• Sunset at the Turf (racing) — Thursday evenings — Abu Dhabi Turf Club — Yes (Abu Dhabi)
• DP World ILT20 Season 5 (cricket) — 21 Nov–20 Dec — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah — Dubai no; Abu Dhabi and Sharjah yes
• F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — 4–6 Dec — Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi — Yes (Abu Dhabi)
• UAE President Cup (racing) — 12 Dec — Abu Dhabi Turf Club — Yes (Abu Dhabi)

Golf's Abu Dhabi Championship (5–8 November) has already finished.

Cricket: Abu Dhabi T10 and ILT20

The Abu Dhabi T10 runs until Friday 20 November. All 32 matches are at Zayed Cricket Stadium, and the qualifier (4:30pm) and final (6:45pm GST) are both played on the last day. Six teams take part. Fixtures, squads and the legal position are in our Abu Dhabi T10 2026 guide.

The DP World ILT20 Season 5 starts the next day, Saturday 21 November, when defending champions Desert Vipers play MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium at 6:30pm. It has 34 matches: 15 in Dubai, 11 at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and 8 in Sharjah. The final is in Dubai on Sunday 20 December. Organisers originally announced a 22 November start in April, but the schedule released on 7 October brought it forward a day.

Cricket shows how location decides the answer: the ILT20 final is in Dubai, where the licensed site cannot be used, and a T10 match watched from Dubai is no different. How the licensed operator's second brand treats this cricket season is covered in our TrueWin cricket betting guide.

Golf: the DP World Tour Championship

The season-ending DP World Tour Championship is at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 November, and decides the Race to Dubai. Schedule listings name the Earth Course and give a US$10 million purse. It is played in Dubai, and Play971 is blocked in Dubai, so nobody watching on the course has a licensed betting option. Details are in our DP World Tour Championship guide.

Horse racing: Meydan, Abu Dhabi and the President Cup

The 2026-27 Emirates Racing Authority season has 64 meetings on five racecourses: Meydan 17, Abu Dhabi Turf Club 16, Al Ain 14, Jebel Ali 11 and Sharjah 6. The highlights in this window:

• Dubai Racing Carnival. It opened at Meydan on Friday 6 November, and Dubai Racing Club's Festive Friday is on 18 December. Our Dubai Racing Carnival 2026-27 guide has the full season.
• Sunset at the Turf. Abu Dhabi Turf Club is running 14 Thursday-evening meetings from 22 October, with seven races from 5pm to 8pm. The club also runs a free-to-enter "pick and win" prediction game.
• UAE President Cup. Saturday 12 December at Abu Dhabi Turf Club, worth AED 8 million according to the ERA.

Racing is the one sport where the licensed site has its own section: Play971's navigation shows a "Racing" tab alongside Casino and Sports. It is still blocked at Meydan, because Meydan is in Dubai. Our explainer on horse racing betting in the UAE this season goes into more detail.

Formula 1: the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is listed on formula1.com as round 23, from 4 to 6 December. It is the last race on the 2026 calendar, and Yas Marina Circuit is promoting it with tickets on sale. We will cover betting on the race separately closer to the weekend.

Is betting on UAE sports events legal?

Only through the licensed operator, and only from a location it allows. The Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) defines gambling in Article 460, and Article 461 punishes it with "incarceration for a period not exceeding (2) two years or a fine not exceeding (50,000) fifty thousand AED". Anyone who runs a gambling venue, or organises gambling in a public place or a place prepared for it, faces up to 10 years and a fine of at least Dh100,000 under Article 462. Everyone who stakes money in an office pool or a WhatsApp book is gambling under Article 461.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is the exception. Its register lists one internet gaming and sports wagering licensee, Coin Technology Projects LLC, the company behind Play971 and TrueWin. Play971's help centre says: "Play971 is accessible within the UAE only, except Dubai. Access is not available in Dubai or outside the UAE." It requires users to be 21 or older and checks device location, so a VPN does not make access lawful. Our guide to whether Play971 is legal and usable in Dubai explains the details.

Offshore sportsbooks are not on the GCGRA register. Betting with them falls under Article 461, and promoting them falls under Article 38 of the Cybercrimes Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021.

Does the venue's emirate matter, or yours?

Yours. The licensed site's location check looks at where your device is when you bet, not where the match is played. In practice:

• In Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or the northern emirates: you are in a permitted area, subject to the operator's own restricted zones. You must be 21+ and complete verification.
• In Dubai: there is no licensed option for any event, including those staged in Abu Dhabi.
• Visiting from abroad: the same law applies to you. Khaleej Times reported that Play971 sign-up requires an Emirates ID, so most short-stay tourists cannot verify an account.

Where to get help

Two months of near-daily cricket, racing and golf is a lot of temptation. The licensed site offers player controls; unlicensed sites offer none. Confidential UAE support options are in our responsible gambling help guide.

FAQ

What sports events are on in the UAE in November 2026? The Abu Dhabi T10 (7–20 November), the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai (12–15 November), the start of ILT20 Season 5 (21 November), and racing at Meydan and Abu Dhabi Turf Club.

What sports events are on in the UAE in December 2026? The F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (4–6 December), the UAE President Cup (12 December), Dubai Racing Club's Festive Friday (18 December) and the ILT20 final in Dubai (20 December).

Can I bet on sports in Dubai? No. The only licensed operator's site is not available in Dubai, and unlicensed betting is an offence under Article 461 of the Penal Code.

Can I bet on sports in Abu Dhabi? Only through the GCGRA-licensed operator, if you are 21 or over and pass its identity and location checks. Any other bet is illegal.

Is it legal to share betting tips online in the UAE? Promoting unlicensed gambling through a website or social media is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine of Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 under Article 38 of the Cybercrimes Law.

Further reading

• Abu Dhabi T10 2026: dates, teams and the betting law
• DP World Tour Championship 2026 and golf betting in Dubai
• Dubai Racing Carnival 2026-27 guide
• TrueWin cricket betting this season: T10 and ILT20
• UAE horse racing season 2026-27 dates

Sources

• Devdiscourse/ANI, "Pollard's UAE Bulls to face Holder's Yas Lions in Abu Dhabi T10 2026 opener" (16 October 2026): https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3993452-pollards-uae-bulls-to-face-holders-yas-lions-in-abu-dhabi-t10-2026-opener
• Gulf News, "ILT20 Season 5 schedule release: Dubai to host final" (7 October 2026): https://gulfnews.com/sport/ilt20-season-5-schedule-release-dubai-to-host-final-1.500701663
• Khaleej Times, "Desert Vipers face MI Emirates in ILT20 Season 5 opener" (7 October 2026): https://www.khaleejtimes.com/sports/cricket/desert-vipers-face-mi-emirates-in-ilt20-season-5-opener
• Gulf News, "DP World ILT20 Season 5 set for Nov 22–Dec 20" (April 2026): https://gulfnews.com/sport/dp-world-ilt20-season-5-set-for-nov-22dec-20-1.500505289
• Dubai Media Office, "DP World Tour announces its 2026 global tournament schedule" (11 September 2025): https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/september/11-09/dp-world-tour-announces-its-2026-global-tournament-schedule
• The Golf News Net, "2026 DP World Tour schedule" (14 January 2026): https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2026/01/14/2026-dp-world-tour-schedule-tournaments-dates-purses-and-venues-138581/
• Emirates Racing Authority, "Official schedule for the 2026-2027 UAE horse racing season" (4 June 2026): https://emiratesracing.com/news/the-emirates-racing-authority-era-has-announced-the-official-schedule-for-the-2026-2027-uae-horse-racing-season
• Dubai Racing Club, "Racing is back and Meydan is ready to celebrate" (26 October 2026): https://dubairacingclub.com/press-releases/racing-is-back-and-meydan-is-ready-to-celebrate/
• Gulf Today, "DRC announces dates for Carnival and 31st edition of Dubai World Cup" (9 June 2026): https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/06/09/drc-announces-dates-for-carnival-and-31st-edition-of-dubai-world-cup
• Gulf Today, "Abu Dhabi Turf Club introduces Sunset at the Turf for 2026-2027 racing season" (17 October 2026): https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/10/17/abu-dhabi-turf-club-introduces-sunset-at-the-turf-for-20262027-racing-season
• Formula 1, "2026 F1 schedule": https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2026
• UAE Legislation, Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 and No. 34 of 2021: https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1529 and https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1526
• Play971 Help Centre, "Why am I receiving an error message 'Your location appears to be close to a restricted area'?" (accessed 4 November 2026): https://help.play971.ae/s/article/Why-am-I-receiving-an-error-message-Your-location-appears-to-be-close-to-a-restricted-area
• Khaleej Times, "Play971 UAE: Full guide to access, sports wagering and restrictions" (6 June 2026): https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/play971-uae-full-guide-to-access-sports-wagering-and-restrictions