– Friday 29 November to Sunday 1 December
The countdown is on for the Middle East’s largest sports and entertainment festival, the Emirates Dubai 7s taking place at the end of the month.
Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan, a festival enthusiast, or looking for a fun family weekend over the Eid al Etihad weekend, the Emirates Dubai 7s promises three days of unforgettable entertainment. In its biggest year yet and with so much to pack into the three-day festival, here’s everything you need to know.
Experience A-list Music, Culture & F&B
The Emirates Dubai 7s is not just about sport; it’s also home to an incredible lineup of world-class music performances across three stages —Rugby Rocks, Beats on 2, and Frequency on 8—delivering non-stop live performances across the weekend.
Iconic pop trio Sugababes will bring ‘noughties’ hits and some of their latest tracks to the Rugby Rocks stage at 9:30pm on Saturday; and global award winning artist Stormzy is set to wow the crowd, closing out the weekend as the Sunday headliner on the Frequency on 8 stage, at 9:30pm.
On Saturday on the Beats on 2 stage, BRIT-nominated DJ/producer Nathan Dawe – one of the UK’s biggest breakout dance acts of the last five years – will bring his sunshine-fueled dance anthems to the crowd. On Sunday, Artful Dodger will also return to the Beats on 2 stage for a second year, set to bring his high energy for new and returning 7s fans on day 2 of the festival. Across the weekend, showcasing local favourites, fans can also expect acts such as UAE-based DJ Charlesy, DJ Swanahh and DJ Jevanni, plus classic rock meets RnB band, The Kicks.
When it comes to food and beverage, this year’s festival will host the biggest variety of F&B including Papa Johns, Costa, Vietnamese Foodies, South African Lekker Meat shop, South Asian street food Desi Me Rolling, homegrown and loved by locals burger concept Pickl, Burro Blanco, Mr Toads, Mattar and a whole lot more.
Emirates Dubai 7s is for the first time partnering with leading fresh food retailer Spinneys, who will be bringing their very own ‘Fresher Experience’ chill out zone to keep attendees cool and entertained all weekend. The Kitchen by Spinneys can also be found on site, serving up freshly roasted rotisserie chickens alongside a range Spinney’s favourite fresh salads, sandwiches, juices, and snacks.
Experience World Class Rugby
It wouldn’t be Emirates Dubai 7s without the world-class rugby, and this year the HSBC SVNS 2025 series will kick off its first leg at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai with the 7s teams playing it out for the first time since the Paris Olympics this summer.
Pitch 1 and 2 will host world series matches on Saturday and Sunday, which will see the women’s defending champions, Australia, and men’s defending champions, South Africa seeking to uphold their titles following their triumphs in Dubai 2023.
The invitational rugby tournaments will consist of both local and international team where fans can catch games across all 3 days. In total there will be a record number of 650 games of rugby sevens played at The Sevens Stadium. With the men and women’s HSBC SVNS Cup Finals taking place on Sunday, fans can expect the finals and awards ceremony to conclude by 9pm before catching Stormzy close out the weekend. Don’t forget the iconic Sunday Emirates A380 fly over!
Experience More from Cricket presented by Dulsco Group
Cricket fans can expect even more this year with so much to get involved in at the Emirates Dubai 7s Cricket Zone, such as live entertainment, screens live-streaming the rugby, and new food outlets. Shuttle buggies will also escort fans between the cricket zone and the main festival site for easy transportation across the stadium.
The cricket tournaments promise thrilling competition as amateur teams from across the UAE and the Middle East take on the unique Cricket 7s game format. Adding to the excitement, international professional cricket stars including Dinesh Karthik, Alex Hartley and Georgia Elwis will be joining the festivities and will lead exclusive cricket masterclasses for cricket enthusiasts too.
Ticket holders will also get an exclusive front seat when two of the world’s largest cricket supporter groups – the UK’s Barmy Army and India’s Bharat Army – go head-to-head in a match as part of the Open Competitive Tournament.
Experience All the Sport
Throughout the 3-day festival there is non-stop action for sports fans whether spectating or participating. With over 6,000 athletes competing in more than 30 tournaments across the weekend, there is something for everyone. There will be 6 netball competitions presented by Nakheel Community Management, 32 teams will compete in 2 cricket tournaments presented by Dulsco Group, 6 padel events under the tournament name ‘Rebound’, and the return of WODON3—a team-based strength and fitness workout competition. Registration is still open to join WODON3, the Rebound Padel tournament, and for Rugby Pool Players until the 24th November 2024.
Experience The Biggest Kids’ Zone Yet
The festival kicks off with the ultimate ‘Family Friday’ where entry is free for everyone. Children under four years of age are free all weekend, so there’s no reason to miss it! Entertainment for kids of all ages starts from 9am to 7pm every day and families can expect an extravaganza of activities from sports masterclasses and even DJ masterclasses.
For the little ones, expect interactive games, soft play, inflatables and special appearances from Break Dancing Monkeys and the Butterfly Catcher, plus mesmerizing performances from the Balloon Bender and lots more.
This year, the kids’ zone is also introducing an all-new outdoor cinema between 6-9pm with a favourite kids’ film chosen by the UAE’s mini residents themselves. Kids are invited to pitch up with their popcorn on a bean bag and close the day watching a movie they love.
Friday – Hotel Transylvania
Saturday – Home Alone
Sunday – Inside & Out 2
This year’s kids’ zone theme is ‘jungle’ where mini festival goers are encouraged to dress up in their best ‘jungle’ spirit.
Experience the All-VIP Sunroom or Reserved Seating
Fans looking to enjoy a state-of-the-art hospitality experience can take in the action from the all-new Sunroom, with up to two days of all-inclusive VIP treatment, free-flowing F&B options, and a premium view of Pitch 1 from the North Grandstand. There will also be live commentary and entertainment from Australian rugby podcast ‘Kick Offs & Kick Ons’who will be broadcasting and hanging out in the Sunroom all weekend. Don’t miss out on the perfect spot for entertaining clients, teams, or groups for an end of year treat!
For hardcore rugby fans, premium and standard reserved seating ticket packages are available to make the most of the rugby, with guaranteed seating in the South Grandstand for the duration of the weekend, giving you the best seats in the house for views of Pitch 1 and the trophy presentations. Starting from 9am and running throughout the day, the final matches will take place just ahead of the headline music performances, the perfect place to celebrate the results.
Experience it all in ‘Festival Flair’
Some come for the rugby, others for the entertainment, and some come purely for the theme! This year, the theme is ‘Festival’, so grab your friends, channel your favourite festival looks and unleash your creativity. From Elton John’s iconic sunglasses to the best-dressed vibes of Coachella, unleash your creativity and flaunt your most vibrant festival attire. The best dressed on Saturday and Sunday will be entered into a draw to win US $1 million dollars, thanks to Dubai Duty Free and its Millenium Millionaire ticket competition, so there’s no reason to go subtle on the glitter!
Rugby fans won’t want to miss their chance to bag the SAMURAI Merchandise festival range designed exclusively for this year’s theme. The merchandise will be on sale all weekend at the Stadium, which includes a limited-edition bucket hat and Jersey designed by local artist, FINK22 who will also be hosting a live painting session at the festival too.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets to the weekend of the year are still available via the website. Prices start from AED 425 for a day pass or AED 550 for weekend passes. Friday is free entry for everyone and kids under 4 also go free all weekend! For People of Determination, tickets are AED 325 including a carer. Friday is free for all weekend ticket holders with online registration. New this year is a POD concierge service, designed to ensure the event is accessible and enjoyable for everyone, offering tailored support and assistance throughout the weekend.
Plan Your Itinerary
For full schedule information, directions, F&B outlets, and more, at your fingertips – and to access your tickets – download the Emirates Dubai 7s app from the Apple or Google Play app store.
The Sevens Stadium is located the E66 Dubai Al Ain road; easily accessible from all areas of Dubai and with great links to all other Emirates. Shuttle busses will run across the weekend, and The Sevens Stadium are working with safe driver companies and Careem to offer limited promotions for festivalgoers. There is plenty of parking available, although ridesharing is encouraged where possible. The festival is committed to providing a fully accessible experience, with enhanced facilities for People of Determination, including accessible routes and transport options within the venue, and buggies to help guests move between key areas.
Emirates Dubai 7s is the ultimate weekend of the year for Dubai residents, holidaymakers, and music and sports fans from across the world. Emirates Dubai 7s is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees, with strict health and safety measures in place.
For more information on tickets for this year’s event, visit emiratesdubai7s.com.
