Events calendar United Arab Emirates

Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashin al Maktoum launched the initiative to encourage all residents, regardless of age or fitness level, to practice a sport for 30 minutes a day for 30 days and record the results in an app called Dubai Fitness Challenge. Free fitness classes on the beach, yoga sessions for several hundred people, running races for all. Dozens of sporting events are organised throughout the city and even in some shopping centres.

Was it the Portuguese navigators of the 16th century or the Moorish travellers from Spain? The principle is to make the opposing bull move backwards out of the defined circle, like a boxer is expelled from the ring, in less than 3 minutes. When the 5 minutes are exceeded, the bulls are considered as dragons. The winner is shouted in Arabic into a megaphone. The crowd shouts, calls out to each other, gets animated at the height of the confrontation and is petrified with horror when one of the bulls pretends to run into the audience.

This international rugby sevens tournament sees men's and women's teams from different nations compete in a weekend that marks the first of the IRB World Series season. It attracts around 60,000 spectators over the two days, with a demountable stadium that can hold up to 40,000 spectators and a vibrant atmosphere. It is the English fans who turn out in huge numbers, but the French community also come to support the French team, for whom this tournament has often brought good luck.

The Al Dhafra festival is located on the turquoise waters of Al Mirfa beach on the edge of the ochre dunes of Rub al-Khali. It is in a paradisiacal setting that these 10 days take place where specialists from all over the world compete in specialties such as kite, windsurfing, water skiing, regattas and beach volleyball. Campers, local families and visitors who love water sports come together in this small town. Small market where local handicrafts and culinary specialties are sold.