#360Fans: Where to watch EPL in UAE

Sport360 staff 01:50 13/08/2016
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  • Where to watch your favourite Premier League team

    The Premier League is followed fanatically in the UAE so to help residents and visitors alike find fellow fans to watch the 2016-17 season, Sport360 has compiled the ultimate guide to the EPL’s UAE Supporters’ Clubs.

    N.B. For fans of Leicester, Hull and Watford, we’re afraid that UAE Supporters’ Clubs do not yet exist or have gone into hiding. There’s a gap in the market though!


    AFCB DUBAI – BOURNEMOUTH SUPPORTERS’ CLUB IN DUBAI

    Cherries still looking out for the perfect spot

    About the club: AFCB Dubai is a relatively new supporters’ club and was formed in early 2016 when two lifelong Bournemouth fans and long term Dubai residents Ian Harper and Darren Birmingham wondered how many other Cherries supporters there were n Dubai.

    Where they watch games: No official venue yet, AFCB are still trawling the bars from the Trade Centre to the Marina and seeing who else cheers when the Cherries score.

    Facebook: AFCB Dubai

    ARSENAL UAE 

    Velocity Bar in JW Marquis Marriott is the official home of Arsenal in UAE.

    Velocity Bar in JW Marquis Marriott is the official home of Arsenal in UAE.

    About the club: At the start of the 2009-10 season, Arsenal fan David Price wondered just how many other Gunners supporters could be living and working in Dubai. After the club informed him that two other supporters had asked about setting up a group, David and his newly-formed committee began to visit bars looking out for fellow fans. This went on for around a year before the Gunners finally gave official status: in September, 2010, Arsenal UAE was born.

    Where they watch games: Velocity Bar in JW Marquis Marriott, Business Bay is the official home of Arsenal UAE’s Dubai Branch. The Arsenal UAE Abu Dhabi branch’s official home is at Harvester’s Bar at at Holiday Inn, Electra Street.

    Twitter: @AFCUAE
    Facebook: Arsenal UAE

    DUBAI CLARETS – BURNLEY SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    The Underground Pub has been a popular venue for Burnley fans

    The Underground Pub has been a popular venue for Burnley fans

    About the club: Conceived at Nelsons in Tecom in 2013 when Burnley fan Neil Broadbent advertised on the Clarets Mad fan message board that he was watching the Lancashire derby against Blackburn at the venue.

    The fans kept in touch until the start of 2014-2015 when Burnley were promoted back to the Premier League again and so Dubai Clarets were formed and a “We are Premier League” Facebook page set up to attract more fans. The group was also advertised in the Burnley Matchday Programme.

    Where they watch games: Dubai Clarets started to watch the games at Bidi Bondi on The Palm but due to inconsistency with the games being shown we moved to The Underground at Habtoor Grand JBR. In that time we have had the pleasure of Burnley’s chairman John Banaszkiewicz join us to watch a couple of games (not many groups can say that).

    Facebook: Dubai Clarets “We are Premier League”

    CHELSEA UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa plays host to Chelsea fans.

    Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa plays host to Chelsea fans.

    About the club: The club was formed in 2001 by 16 intrepid souls hopping from venue to venue on a Saturday afternoon. Initially only the official supporters’ club for Dubai, the group’s success saw Chelsea expand the mandate to cover the whole of the UAE. As the years rolled on, the club grew and there are now close to 1,000 known Chelsea fans in the UAE.

    Where they watch games: Loca in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa in Jumeirah 1.

    Twitter: @UAECSC
    Facebook: UAECSC

    CPFC DUBAI SUPPORTERS CLUB – CRYSTAL PALACE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Palace fans catch the action at Loca Restaurant and Bar at Souk Al Bahar

    Palace fans catch the action at Loca Restaurant and Bar at Souk Al Bahar

    About the club: CPFC Dubai Supporters Club was formed in 2012 by Ben McBride, the manager of Loca Restaurant and Bar. Since then the club has grown significantly to over 230 fans in UAE and they always make a big noise on gameday. When Ben opened a new Loca venue in Souk Al Bahar, the Dubai Eagles had a new permanent home.

    Where they watch games: Loca Restaurant and Bar at Souk Al Bahar.
    Facebook: CPFCDubai
    Twitter: @dubaieagles
    Instagram:
    @dubaieagles

    EVERTON FANS DUBAI

    Perry and Blackwelder

    Perry and Blackwelder

    About the club: Original group was formed in “the players lounge” which is now in The Country Club Hotel, Bur Dubai. A group of miserable blokes starting recognising the same faces watching the Blues and it’s gone on from there. This was around 2005/06. Official affiliation with Everton came about four seasons ago.

    Where they watch games: Perry and Blackwelder, Souk Madinat, Dubai.

    Twitter: Everton_Dubai

    DUBAI REDS – LIVERPOOL UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Gameday for the Dubai Reds at Goodfellas.

    Gameday for the Dubai Reds at Goodfellas.

    About the club: The Dubai arm of the Official Liverpool Supporters’ Club came into existence in 2006 thanks to the hard work, persistence and dedication of Bob Kabli and Russell Overy.

    Official affiliation came in late 2006 and within a short time the club went from strength to strength and a website was set up, in addition to a more formal membership scheme. The club is now well established.

    Where they watch games: Goodfellas Sports Bar, Ramee Rose Hotel, Tecom, Dubai.

    Twitter: @dubaireds
    Facebook: Dubai Reds

    MANCHESTER CITY ABU DHABI BLUES – MCFC UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB 

    The Citizens gather at Mcgettigans, in Abu Dhabi.

    The Citizens gather at Mcgettigans, in Abu Dhabi.

    About the club: Dhabi Blues was founded in 2009 after Darren Ball relocated to UAE from Rotterdam – where he was part of the official supporters club there too. Darren saw the formulation of the club as the normal thing to do given that he is from Manchester and new of a few Blues already in the area. 

    Where they watch games: Mcgettigans, Khalifa City A. They also do “away games” at other supporters club bars around Abu Dhabi – announced through the club’s Facebook.

    Facebook: Manchester City Abu Dhabi  Blues

    MUSC UAE  – MANCHESTER UNITED UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    It's always a packed house for Manchester United games in UAE.

    It’s always a packed house for Manchester United games in UAE.

    About the club: MUSC UAE was formed back in 2006 by a couple of fans who wanted to watch games together and became officially recognised by Manchester United in 2010.

    Where they watch games: Harvesters Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. For United fans in Abu Dhabi, it is Coopers Bar at the Park Rotana. The club is also working on another option in Dubai that will cater to fans under 21.

    Twitter: @MUSC_UAE
    Facebook: MUSCUAE
    Instagram:
    @MUSCUAE

    BORO IN DUBAI – MIDDLESBROUGH SUPPORTERS’ CLUB IN DUBAI

    Ramada Chelsea Al Barsha

    Ramada Chelsea Al Barsha

    About the club: Boro in Dubai (Smoggy’s on Tour) Facebook page was founded in September 2011 as a place where Boro news and banter could be shared.

    Where they watch games: On match days, Boro fans can normally be found in Barrel 12 on the Palm, or Centre Circle at the Ramada Chelsea in Al Barsha.

    Facebook: Boro in Dubai 

    DUBAI SAINTS – SOUTHAMPTON UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Barasti Beach Bar houses the Dubai Saints Southampton fans.

    Barasti Beach Bar houses the Dubai Saints Southampton fans.

    About the club:  Three Southampton fans were independently wearing Saints’ 125th anniversary shirts at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2010. The trio met randomly, had a drink, and became Dubai Saints.

    Where they watch games: Barasti Beach Bar is Dubai Saints’ home pub; the Francis Benali Stand.

    Twitter: @dubaisaints
    Facebook: Dubai Saints

    SUNDERLAND AFC SUPPORTERS’ CLUB UAE

    Sunderland supporters at Champs Bar in Tecom.

    Sunderland supporters at Champs Bar in Tecom.

    About the club: This supporters’ group caters for all Sunderland fans in the Arabian peninsula with members in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. As well as watching the matches they run a Facebook page for general Sunderland news and banter.

    Where they watch games: Champs Bar, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom for all Saturday and Sunday games.

    Facebook: Sunderland AFC Supporters Club UAE

    DUBAI POTTERS – STOKE CITY SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Potters plan to meet up at Perry and Blackwelder

    Potters plan to meet up at Perry and Blackwelder

    About the club: Early stages of forming and the first game of this season will be the first chance to meet, watch the match and have a few pints with a few fellow Stokies that are living here in Dubai.

    Where they watch games: Meeting at the Perry and Blackwelder, Madinat for the games.

    Contact: Aaron Sargeant| [email protected]

    DUBAI SWANS – SWANSEA CITY SUPPORTERS’ CLUB IN DUBAI

    Dubai Swans head to Barasti Beach Bar for the games.

    Dubai Swans head to Barasti Beach Bar for the games.

    About the club: The group started in 2015 with the aim to help Dubai based Swansea City fans congregate to watch the games together.

    Where they watch games: We settled on Barasti as our base, as it ticked all the right boxes in terms of giant screens and atmosphere.

    Facebook: Dubai Swans

    UAE SPURS – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Spurs fans head to Golden Tulip

    Spurs fans head to Golden Tulip

    About the club: Founding member Raad Jaboori arrived in Dubai in 2002 and used to watch Tottenham games at the Boston Bar (Jumeirah Rotana Hotel) with one other fan. It wasn’t until 2009 that a group of Spurs fans started organising meet-ups to watch games in the Marina and JBR areas.

    Unbeknown to them, there was another group of supporters watching the games at the Crown & Anchor (Jumeirah Beach Hotel). They merged and have been growing in numbers ever since.

    Where they watch games: Locker Room bar (home of the official UAE Spurs supporters club), Golden Tulip hotel, Al-Barsha, Dubai.

    Facebook: UAESpurs
    Website: UAE Spurs

    WEST BROM IN DUBAI – WBA DUBAI SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Where the Baggies catch up

    Where the Baggies catch up

    How they were founded: The group was founded in August of 2012 as prior to this it was just father and son Trevor Mais and Trevor Mais Sr watching the games together at home.

    Before living in Dubai, Trevor Sr had an influential role in the WBA Supporters’ Club in Northampton and would travel down on weekends with the group to watch the games with his season ticket. It was because of the joy and friendship that following Albion created for him that he decided to properly attempt to put a group together in Dubai. 

    Where they watch games:  For a short period, West Brom In Dubai watched games at the Byblos hotel in Tecom as there was also a Birmingham supporters club there and so a friendly rivalry began at the bar. Following Birmingham’s relegation we decided to move to the Chelsea Ramada hotel in Al Barsha because geographically that was the best position for all of the supporters.

    Twitter: @westbromindubai

    DUBAI HAMMERS – WEST HAM UAE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

    Hammer fans catch up at Nelson's

    Hammer fans catch up at Nelson’s

    About the club: Although there have been smaller, non-official Dubai Hammers groups spread around for many years, the official supporters club formed in May 2012 for the Championship Play-off final and has been around ever since.

    Where they watch games: Dubai Hammers have renewed their partnership with Nelson’s Bar in the Media Rotana Dubai and will be offering membership packages that includes discounted F&B throughout the season, weekly competitions and a brand new unique club t-shirt design.

    Twitter: @DubaiHammers
    Facebook: DubaiHammers 

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