Sports events United Arab Emirates

In the middle of the dunes, not far from the Wadi Al-Batha, lies the Al-Labsa camel racetrack. During the winter, on Thursday and Friday mornings, the desert comes alive with the frantic gallops and the passion of the spectators. A great moment. The multicolored camels are presented in their most beautiful light. Then it's time for the race, the animals over six years old run around the ten-kilometre ring in eighteen minutes. Ninety percent of the dromedaries are females, reputed to be better runners. The race is followed from a distance by the owners.

Camel racing is part of the country's heritage and is very popular with the royal families and the emirates. Today, robot jockeys have replaced the children who once rode the camels. The owner follows the race in a car on a circuit parallel to the camelodrome and controls either the whip or the tension of the reins from a distance. To attend, don't look for the schedule, it doesn't exist! Go early in the morning on Fridays between November and March!

More than 15 days of automobile passion celebrations: jewelry exhibitions on 4 wheels at the Motor Village (on Meydan), events (like the Grand Parade of Collection Cars), races-demonstrations with big names of the car (Vettel was part of 2014) and happenings of all kinds (including the "Supercar Taxi" which consists of a free service of 10 taxis on some of the most beautiful cars in the world). Everything is completed by the Dubai International Rallye. If you're an aficionado of steaming engines and rounding bodies, this is the perfect time to come to Dubai!

Since 2000, the city of Sharjah has hosted the final race of the Formula One World Championship on the Corniche in late December. The boats, driven individually, are launched at full speed on the waters of the Khalid lagoon, which allows the large crowd that comes every year to watch the competition from the huge corniche, in complete safety. A unique and exciting sporting event despite the decibels of the machines.

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.

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.