UAE Events

The immaculate green course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club is the setting for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. The tournament, sanctioned by the European Tour and the UAE Golf Association, has a US$2-million prize fund.

A starting field of 120 players will battle it out to take the 'Falcon' trophy away from current champion Paul Casey, from England. The championship is played in 4 rounds over 72 holes.

The spectator village offers distractions for kids such as bouncy castles and miniature golf, while adults can try their hand at the golf simulator and take advantage of free lessons.

Tickets can be bought online from the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship website.

The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at the Yas Marina Circuit, is the final race of the Formula One season. Watch cars race at 200mph around the floodlit track.

Built at a cost of more than US$1bn, the Yas Marina Circuit was opened in 2009 and is one of the most state-of-the-art circuits on the racing calendar. Rising out of the sands of the Arabian desert, it is a truly atmospheric setting to watch Formula One motor racing.

Formula One is one of the most glamorous sports on Earth. State-of-the-art cars costing millions race at speeds of up to 200mph (320kmh), and teams are followed all over the world by a faithful band of rich and famous jetsetters.

Other highlights of the racing calendar include the Monaco Grand Prix, set on the roads of Monte Carlo, and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where you can expect passionate support from Ferrari's fanatical fans (known as tifosi).

Horse racing fills Dubai's Nad Al Sheba Racecourse to the brim most Thursday and Friday evenings during the winter months. The season comprises the Winter Racing Challenge, the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the Dubai World Cup.

The WRC starts in November and ends in early March. Horses compete in 1.2km, 1.6km and 2km races and earn points according to finishing positions, winners taking Dh300,000 back to the stables.

The DIRC runs from the middle of January to the beginning of March and the prize money for these races surpasses the million dollar mark. Not surprisingly, some of the best horses in the world come to race for this prize. The season climaxes with the Dubai World Cup meeting, the world's richest race day, at the end of March. Horses speed towards the US$6 million prize, which was won in 2009 by American-trained Well Armed.

Money making is only for the horses as betting is illegal in the UAE, but spectators can participate in various games organised by the racecourse, such as Pick Seven, Tricast, Horseplay and the Car Raffle.

Join AC Milan, Arsenal, Olympiacos and other professional clubs, along with 3000 players and 300 amateur teams, at 7he Sevens for Dubai Football 7s. It's football like you've never seen it before say the organisers.

This festival of football brings together a massive cross-section of athletes, with Rush, Steve McManaman, Michael Thomas and a host of other stars lined up to play on the same pitches as eight-year-old wannabe footballers.

In addition to seeing the stars in action, there are competitions for various age groups and an amateur tournament, drawing both men and women players.