Best stadiums in Abu Dhabi
Whether it is football, cricket, jiu-jitsu or gymnastics – sports enthusiasts in Abu Dhabi have plenty of options to watch and play their favourite games. There are stadiums in Abu Dhabi dedicated to football and cricket – hosting games all year round for spectators to watch and enjoy.
CRICKET STADIUMS IN ABU DHABI
There is one grand cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi that is known for hosting tournaments between well-known South Asian cricketing giants, including Pakistan.
SHEIKH ZAYED CRICKET STADIUM
A popular modern cricketing destination, the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium was inaugurated in 2004. Since then, the esteemed Abu Dhabi cricket stadium has hosted some of the finest matches in Asia Cup and the Nissan Gulf Cup. The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is also called the Abu Dhabi International Stadium and is located near Khalifa City A and can house over 20,000 spectators at a time.
- Location: Al Mabrouk Street, Near Khalifa City A
- Contact: +971-2-558-8331
FOOTBALL STADIUMS IN ABU DHABI
There are a number of football stadiums in Abu Dhabi that host a mixture of local and international games and tournaments. Here’s a list of all the well-known football facilities in Abu Dhabi.
HAZZA BIN ZAYED STADIUM
One of the most prominent architectural wonders in Abu Dhabi, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium was inaugurated in 2014. Home to the Al Ain Football Club, this multipurpose Abu Dhabi football stadium has the capacity to seat 25,000 people at a time. The Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium is located in Al Towayya, Al Ain and has hosted a number of national celebrations and entertainment events in Abu Dhabi.
- Location: Al Towayya – Al Ain
- Contact: +971-03-702-1000
MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED STADIUM
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium was previously known as the Al Jazira Stadium. Originally established in 1980, the facility underwent massive renovation between 2006 and 2009 to transform into a multi-purpose football stadium in Abu Dhabi. The stadium has a 42,056 seat capacity and has had the honour of hosting matches for the FIFA World Youth Championship (2003) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2009 and 2010).
- Location: Zone 1E22-02, Sultan Bin Zayed the First Street – Al Nahyan
- Contact: +971-2-445-4455
BANIYAS STADIUM
Located in Baniyas like its name suggests, the Baniyas Stadium is home to the Baniyas Sports and Culture Club. It may be one of the smaller stadiums in the capital, but it is still extremely popular thanks to its modern facilities and conveniences. Purpose-built to host local leagues of football matches, the stadium can seat up to 10,000 people at a time. This stadium was inaugurated in February 2010.
- Location: Al Shamkha – Baniyas
- Contact: +971-2-584-2771
AL NAHYAN STADIUM
The Al Nahyan Stadium serves as the home ground for the Al-Wahda Football Club. This stadium in Abu Dhabi was originally built in 1995 and underwent renovations in 2006. Located near the Al Wahda Mall, the stadium is also often locally referred to as the Al Wahda Stadium. The stadium has a total capacity of 12,000 people and has hosted the World Cup Youth Championship in 2003.
- Location: Zone 1E19 – Al Nahyan
- Contact: +971-2-443-3000
ZAYED SPORTS CITY STADIUM
Known to be the largest stadium in the UAE, the Zayed Sports City Stadium is a multi-purpose sports venue. The stadium is big enough to house 43,000 spectators and built with state-of-the-art facilities that meet the international standards of FIFA games. Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi was inaugurated in the year 2010. The stadium is part of the greater Zayed Sports City project that also houses facilities for tennis, ice hockey, rugby and other sports.
- Location: Zayed Sports City
- Contact: +971-2-403-4200
ARMED FORCES STADIUM
The Armed Forces Stadium in Abu Dhabi is located in the Khor Al Maqta’a area. This football stadium has a 5,000-seat capacity and is part of the Ministry of Defence Sports Complex. The stadium is also called the Officers’ Club Stadium.
- Location: 7th Street – Al Rawdah
That’s all we have for you now. Besides these outdoor sports arenas, there are many indoor sports venues in Abu Dhabi that offer plenty of sports activities for people of all ages.
Sports in the UAE has gained particular prominence over the years. Whether it’s the age old tradition of horse racing or the growing popularity of ice hockey and American football – the country has more than adequate facilities to support young players and athletes.
Just like Abu Dhabi, there are stadiums in Dubai that have hosted a number of iconic local and international sporting events.
The Dubai International Stadium in particular has seen some of the finest performances in the world of cricket, including Saeed Ajmal’s 10-wicket haul against England in 2012 and Azhar Ali’s triple century against West Indies in 2016.
You can also find dedicated football stadiums in Dubai that host local and international matches to promote the game in the country.
Have you ever experienced what it’s like to watch a game in one of these stadiums? If yes, tell us what it was like in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
