Venue
Dubai to Al Ain Road (E66) at the Jebel Ali to Lehbab Road (E77), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Emirates Dubai 7s guide
Rugby sevens and fancy dress in the desert.
In short
The Emirates Dubai 7s usually runs from the last Friday to Sunday of November or the first weekend of December, as the Dubai round of the HSBC SVNS Series. International matches share three days with amateur competitions, family zones and evening concerts. It suits sports fans and groups; costumes in the stands are part of the tradition.
The Emirates Dubai 7s is a three-day festival of rugby sevens built around the Dubai round of the HSBC SVNS Series, held at a purpose-built stadium in the desert outside the city. Amateur competitions, family zones and evening concerts run alongside the international matches, and fancy dress in the stands is a long tradition.
Away from the main pitch, school and club teams compete in rugby, netball, cricket and fitness events on the outer fields. More than 88,000 people came through the gates in 2025, and the mix of serious sport and festival makes it work for families as well as groups of friends. You do not need to know the rules to enjoy it.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Sunday, 29 November 2026
Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Venue: The Sevens Stadium
Held: Every year
Type of event: Sporting Events, Musical Events, Social Festivals
Nearest airport: Dubai (DXB) · 3 flight routes
Currency: UAE dirham (AED)
Time zone: UTC+4, no daylight saving
Language: Arabic; English widely spoken
Map
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Sun protection and a jacket for the evening
Late November sun is still strong at midday on open pitches. Bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and wear shoes you can walk in all day, because the site spreads across eight pitches and several themed areas. The desert cools quickly once the sun sets, so carry a light jacket for the concerts.
Fancy dress is welcome on any day and expected by many on Saturday. Keep costumes practical: you will be on your feet for hours, and bags go through a scanner at the gate.
App tickets, bag checks and no lockers
- Tickets exist only in the official app. Printed copies and screenshots will not scan, so charge your phone and bring a power bank.
- Backpacks are allowed but are scanned; use the lanes marked for bags.
- There are no lockers or cloakrooms. Bring only what you will carry all day.
- Free water stations are spread across the festival site.
- Food outlets display the 12 most common allergens, but cross-contamination is possible.
- Dogs are not admitted, apart from service dogs.
Facilities for families with children
There is no drop-off crèche in 2026. An indoor, supervised soft-play area is available instead, and parents must stay with their children throughout.
The organisers promise the largest inflatable play zone in the country, along with a Ferris wheel and a zip line, so build in time away from the stands. Ear protection helps near the music stages, and a meeting point agreed in advance saves panic in the crowds around the main pitch.
What happens on the day
- Friday
Pool games and community sport
The quietest and cheapest day. Pool matches on the main pitch, amateur competitions on the fields around it.
- Saturday
Knockouts
The quarter-finals begin and the crowd peaks; this is the loudest day in the stands.
- Sunday
Finals day
The medal matches for the men's and women's series are played through the afternoon.
- Evening
Music on the Beats on 2 stage
Each day closes with concerts beside the pitches, so plan dinner on site.
Choosing between the Friday and weekend passes
Pick the day before the ticket. Friday is the light, cheap option, from about Dh75, with pool matches on the main pitch and amateur games on the fields around it. Saturday and Sunday day passes cost around Dh455 and carry the knockout rounds and the finals, while a three-day pass starts near Dh595. Those prices have held for three seasons. Everything is sold through the official website and app, and the ticket sits in the app, whose wallet doubles as a discounted way to pay at the bars and food stalls.
For a more comfortable weekend, the Beats on 2 music area sells two upgrades on Saturday and Sunday, each on top of an entry ticket: a Fast Pass at AED275 a day with its own entry lane and a welcome drink, and a VIP Lounge at AED550 with reserved seats and table service.
JA Resorts & Hotels is the official hotel partner for 2026. Our Emirates travel overview covers the rest of the country if you want to stay on after the final whistle.
The tournament's history and move to The Sevens in 2008
Before the stadium existed, the tournament was played at the Dubai Exiles rugby ground. In November 2008 it moved to The Sevens, a purpose-built site in the desert owned by Emirates, and more than 50,000 fans came on the first day, then a single-day record for the World Series. South Africa has won the men's title more than anyone, 11 times. In 2025 New Zealand beat Australia 26-22 in the final.
The international rugby is only part of it. Six competitions run side by side, including invitational rugby, netball and Cricket 7s, plus the WODON3 fitness contest and padel. Gaelic football is new for 2026.
The stands have their own culture. Fancy dress is actively encouraged, and the organisers set an official theme for 2026 that is announced nearer the date. Around the pitches the site splits into themed areas: the Backyard has country singers, line dancing and a mechanical bull; Rugby Rocks has live music and a zip line; The Village has a market and a silent disco; and the Cricket Zone is the quiet corner for picnics beside the cricket fields. Food stalls range from Vietnam Foode and Pasta della Nonna to Slim Chickens.
Getting there
Flying in
Dubai International Airport is about 28 minutes' drive from the stadium, according to the organisers. The Red Line metro runs from Terminals 1 and 3 into the city in 15 to 20 minutes. Travelling on a Bangladeshi passport? See our UAE visa page; regional flights include Dhaka to Dubai and Bangkok to Dubai.
To the stadium
There is no metro to the gate. Taxis and ride-hailing cars use a dedicated drop-off point.
Free buses home
On all three nights free shuttles leave every 15 minutes from 19:00 to 01:30 for DMCC and Financial Centre metro stations, Studio City, Sports City and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Turn left through the arch at the main exit for the buses, right for the official RTA taxi rank.
Beating the queues
Both the bus and taxi queues build fast after the headliner. Leave during the encore or wait out the first rush.
Where to stay during the festival
The organisers quote drive times of 27 minutes from Jebel Ali, 28 from Motor City, 29 from Business Bay and 35 from Dubai Marina, so the south-western suburbs make the easiest base for three days of to-ing and fro-ing.
Book early: the tournament falls just before the National Day long weekend, one of the busiest stretches of the year for Dubai hotels.
Dubai
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$1,600.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
7 Rooms available
Book Now
Dubai
Rove Downtown3-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$81.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
3 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
Late November is the start of Dubai's comfortable season. Highs average about 31°C and lows about 21°C, and rain is rare, around 6 mm on fewer than two days in the month (Dubai International Airport, 1991-2020 normals).
The stands get little shade in the afternoon sun, and the desert cools quickly after dark.
Worth packing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for the afternoon sessions
- A light layer for the evening concerts
- Photo ID if you plan to buy alcohol
- Your costume, if you are joining in the fancy dress
Flights to Dubai for Emirates Dubai 7s
The busiest routes into Dubai (DXB).
FromTo DAC DXB DhakaDubai FromTo CGP DXB ChattogramDubai FromTo ZYL DXB SylhetDubai Available airlines1 airline- Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Car hire in Dubai
Airport transfer to Emirates Dubai 7s
Met at arrivals at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and driven door to door to The Sevens Stadium.
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) → The Sevens Stadium
- 40 km · 35 min
Restaurants and food in United Arab Emirates
Places to eat in United Arab Emirates before or after the celebrations.
Erth
Al Hosn, Al Hosn Cultural District, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine:EmiratiModern Middle Eastern
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
At.mosphere
Level 122, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine:Modern EuropeanFrench-inspired
- Dine-in
- Bar
Ravi Restaurant
Shop 245, 9th Street, opposite Union Cooperative Society, near Al Satwa Roundabout, Al Satwa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine:PakistaniPunjabi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Outdoor seating
Al Ustad Special Kabab
Al Musalla Road, near Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine:IranianPersian
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
Trèsind Studio
St. Regis Gardens, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine:Progressive IndianTasting menu
- Dine-in
- Counter seating
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Timing & weather
The tournament runs over the last weekend of November, Friday to Sunday, with knockouts and finals on the last two days. Detailed match times come out a few weeks beforehand.
Booking
Under-4s go free. Children aged 4 to 9 pay AED40, and those aged 10 to 14 pay AED115 for the weekend; anyone older needs an adult ticket. Family weekend tickets for two adults and two children are also sold.
Yes, and plenty of it: around 15,000 spaces for ticket holders. A dedicated drop-off point serves taxis, so passengers are not left on the main road.
General
No. All food and drink must be bought on site, with baby food the only exception. Water stations are free, and the app wallet gives discounts at the outlets.
Yes, during the day, by scanning your digital ticket again. Last entry is at 8pm, and once 9pm passes there is no re-entry on any day.
Jax Jones headlines on Saturday night and Melanie C plays a DJ set on Sunday. One more act was still to be announced in October.
Costumes appear all weekend, but the official fancy dress contest is held on Saturday, the busiest day. Watch the event's social channels for the theme and prizes.
South Africa leads the men's roll of honour with 11 titles. New Zealand are the latest champions, having beaten Australia in the 2025 final.
Yes. Invitational sections cover rugby, netball and cricket, and registrations are open for the WODON3 fitness contest and Rebound padel teams. Individual players without a team can join a pool.
Visa & documents
You do not need ID to get in, but you must show it if you want to buy alcohol anywhere on the site.