It is yet another action-packed week of world-class sport taking place in the UAE, here is Sport360’s run-down of the events and tournaments taking place and how you can be there in person.
PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE
The inaugural Twenty20 extravaganza in the UAE is set for lift-off as some of the biggest stars in world cricket, including Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen, compete in the five-team tournament.
Music stars Ali Zafar and Sean Paul will perform at the competition’s opening ceremony in Dubai and matches will take place there as well as in Sharjah.
The opening contest will see Islamabad United square off against the Quetta Gladiators as each team plays eight matches, with the top four teams from the round-robin stage qualifying for the play-offs, before the championship-ending game.
Tickets are still available via the link below.
VENUE: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
WEBSITE: www.pakistansuperleague.com.pk
#KevinPietersen can destroy opposition with his batting prowess! 3 days left! @TeamQuetta #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/7NAyIZdEAQ
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 1, 2016DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC
Thursday, 4th February – Sunday, 7th February 2016
World No.3 Rory Mcilroy is back in the UAE to defend his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title – the tournament commonly referred to as the ‘Major of the Middle East due to the fact it is the longest-running European Tour event in the region.
The Northern Ireland star is part of a world-class field for the Emirates Golf Club event which will also see Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell compete in the heart of Dubai.
Tickets are still available for the tournament which is held under the patronage of HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
VENUE: The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai
WEBSITE: www.dubaidesertclassic.com
Nowhere in the world gives you a backdrop like this!! @OmegaDDC @golffile @RSMUSLLP @ConteofFlorence @EuropeanTour pic.twitter.com/rnE7lIxbPE
— Andy Sullivan (@andysulligolf) February 1, 2016DUBAI TOUR
Wednesday, 3rd February – Saturday, 6th February 2016
Reigning champion Mark Cavendish will lead a star-studded peloton that also includes fellow Briton Sir Bradley Wiggins when the Dubai Tour gets underway this week.
There will be plenty of big names coming to the UAE for the Tour, which starts on Wednesday and finishes on Saturday, including Philippe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara, Tony Martin, Elia Viviani and Marcel Kittel.
The four-stage race includes Dubai Silicon Oasis, Nakheel, Business Bay and The Westin, with new features for 2016 including the first finish in the Fujairah Emirate (Dubai Silicon Oasis stage) and a new venue for the last sprint at Business Bay district.
Cavendish won the Dubai Tour last year following a dominant sprint finish on the final day.
Entry is free to the fan village for the event at the Dubai International Marine Club.
VENUE: Dubai International Marine Club
WEBSITE: www.dubaitour.com
The third Dubai Tour is ready to go! Find out more information on the events planned for the week here: https://t.co/S2GFgQzPDD
— Dubai Tour (@dubaitour) February 1, 2016DAMAN HERCULES TROPHY
Saturday, 6th February 2016
Work colleagues in Dubai and the nation’s capital are set to unite and contest the popular Daman Hercules Trophy.
The event debuts in Abu Dhabi at Zayed Sports City later this month on February 13, but taking place first at 7he Sevens in Dubai is an array of fun and testing challenges for participants across the region to compete in.
The event’s organisers are expecting more than 100 teams to take part in the team-building day, typically from businesses, offices and other organisations, which will now also move to the UAE capital.
Gather your colleagues and put your teamwork to the test at the Hercules Trophy.
VENUE: 7he Sevens Stadium
WEBSITE: www.herculestrophy.com
The COOLEST Team competition is in full swing! Leading the charge is the Canpack Middle East LLC TITANS! pic.twitter.com/HRCoFucO1r
— Hercules Trophy UAE (@HerculesUAE) February 1, 2016NATIONAL SCHOOL LEAGUE FINALS (NSL)
Saturday, 6th February 2016
Former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre will be the guest of honour as the eagerly-anticipated Emirates Islamic National School League (NSL) Finals take place at 7he Sevens.
Come and watch young football stars in the U-14 and U-16 categories battle for glory!
VENUE: 7he Sevens Stadium
WEBSITE: www.sport360.com
The @emiratesislamic NSL Football Finals are this Saturday @SevensStadium #Dubai. Who will lift the trophy? #NSL360 pic.twitter.com/hcOG8RV3vA
— Sport360° (@Sport360) February 1, 2016