UPDATED:
With the UAE in a football frenzy with the Euro 2016 quarter finals kicking off this week, we’ve updated our list of the best places to catch all the big-match action live.
Best of all, the 15th edition of this international football showdown is being hosted by France, which means that all the matches are convenient evening affairs for fans in the UAE, kicking off at the ideal post-work time slots of 5pm, 8pm and 11pm. With a vast range of venues screening all the games live, you can soak up the action as it happens right here in the UAE. So don’t sit at home and be a boring armchair fan – head out to one of these top 22 footie havens and watch the games with a crowd.
Abu Dhabi
Team: The Sportsman's Arms,
The line-up: Two large drop-down screens and six TVs, with plenty of different seating options. The Sportsman's usual menu is on the gastropub side of things, but things are simpler in terms of football-based deals: a cheesy pizza and drink will set you back Dh99, as will a bucket of five drinks. During the final on July 10, there's a happy "hour" from noon to 2am.
Playing style: A grown-up European sports bar, with a passing influence of the high-table American take on the pub genre. The sports clubs based at Zayed Sports City seem to have particularly notable English and Irish concentrations, so expect those team's Euros matches to be particularly rowdily attended.
Zayed Sports City, www.sportsmanszsc.com (02 403 4235).
Team: The Tavern
The line-up: A giant 100-inch TV, plus six other screens. Unlimited drinks for Dh149 on game days, plus daily raffles and competitions. Food is standard pub grub and sharing platters. Bonus detail: The Tavern's usual closing time of 2am will be extended until the completion of any late-kick-off knockout games that go to extra-time and/or penalties.
Playing style: Uncomplicated. If you like pubs from the era when they didn't get any frivolous addenda, this is where to park yourself for a few matches.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, www.tavernpubabudhabi.com (02 677 3333).
Team: Belgian Beer Cafe
The line-up: The InterCon's Belgian Beer Cafe has screens smattered around its European-style interior, plus daily food specials, and its weekly Monday all-you-can-eat mussels night (Dh155) during the Euros. The Novotel's incarnation, meanwhile, has a host of fun themed promotions: The Red Card (a sandwich and drink for Dh60), The Supporter (a sandwich with a bucket of drinks for Dh139) and The Team (any two starters, two mains and four soft drinks from its Euro 2016 menu for Dh222). There will also be half-time competitions with prizes.
Playing style: It might surprise casual footy fans to know that the top European side in the Fifa world rankings are Belgium – this is surely where their supporters will gather, and you might just see their country pull off a dark-horse victory.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, www.dining-intercontinental-ad.ae (02 666 6888);
Novotel, www.novotel.com (02 508 9999).
Team: Thirty 1st and Hubbly Bubbly Ramadan Tent
The line-up: There are screens aplenty at the Holiday Inn: five apiece in Thirty 1st and Hubbly Bubbly, including a 220-inch behemoth in the latter. For Dh85, you get a chargrilled Wagyu burger, chips and drink, with a choice of geographically themed burger toppings (eg, beef chorizo and cheese for Spain; a "boxty" potato pancake and fried egg for Ireland). It's the same price for a "team-sized" sharing platter.
Playing style: You have a choice of shisha tent chilling at Hubbly Bubbly or high-rise bar life at Thirty 1st, which should suit most tastes. They're open until 1am during Ramadan and midnight afterwards.
Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, www.ihg.com (02 657 4888).
Team: Le Méridien Abu Dhabi
The line-up: Le Méridien lays claim to one of largest big screens in the capital, in the hotel's central garden, plus 14 screens in the adjacent NRG sports bar. Hungry fans can get 20 percent off food if they wear their national team shirt when their team is playing, or get a fifth drink free when they buy a big burger and four drinks.
Playing style: The garden usually enjoys a vibrant atmosphere for big sports events, while you can cool off inside at NRG.
www.lemeridienabudhabi.com (02 644 6666).
Team: McGettigan's (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)
The line-up: All three main McGettigan's branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai boast at least 20 HD screens each, typically covering every corner of the room, plus giant screens in the two Dubai venues.
Playing style: Catering to the true footy faithful, McGettigan's is hosting a TV-style Q&A and pre-tournament analysis from a panel of pundits – ex-Ireland player Jason McAteer and former Germany international Didi Hamann – hosted by BeIn Sports presenter Rob McCaffrey. Catch the special free event tonight at McGettigan's JLT at 8pm. During the competition itself, expect extra levels of mania at the Irish-themed bars on the days when the Republic of Ireland is playing in the "group of death" against Sweden, Belgium and Italy. As an extra-time treat, visit the McGettigan's website to download a Euro 2016 wall chart.
• Al Raha Beach Hotel, Bur Dhabi; Dubai World Trade Centre; and Bonnington, JLT. www.mcgettigans.com (04 37 80800)
Team: European Football FanZone at du Forum
The line-up: With the largest LED TV screen in the capital, at a whopping 10metres x 6metres, Yas Island's indoor concert venue will be transformed for the month into a free-entry football fan zone.
Playing style: Promising a mix of Ramadan atmosphere alongside kids' activities, competitions and prizes, this family-friendly venue will be kitted out like a stadium and will offer live Arabic commentary. Building on the success of a similar concept for the 2014 Fifa World Cup, the zone is a collaboration between Yas Island and promoters Flash Entertainment, in association with the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. Doors will open one hour before the first match each day. General admission is free,
with majlis seating costing Dh50. VIP tables for four people start at Dh500.
• du Forum, Yas Island. Call 055 549 0716 or email info@duforum.ae
Team: Blu Sky Lounge & Grill
The line-up: With five 85-inch and nine 65-inch screens, it is easier to watch the action at Blu Sky than avoid it. The Southern Sun hotel's Kahraman Tent also has a monster 4x3-metre LED screen.
Playing style: Probably the swishiest sports bar in the capital, Blu Sky has pulled off a rare trick in the partisan world of football supporters – although it is officially affiliated with Manchester City, fans of all clubs have taken to the venue. It promises to offer an eclectic mix of nationalities for the Euros.
• Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, www.tsogosun.com/blu-sky-lounge-and-bar (02 818 4888)
Team: Uefa Champions League Experience
The line-up: There are two screens in a cafe area within this Yas Mall store, which also serves a European-style menu of food and soft drinks. For big matches, it will stay open late.
Playing style: It doesn't get much more official than a venue endorsed by Uefa, the football federation behind the European Championships – and this is also a great option for football fans looking for a family-orientated mall option. If you want to get kitted out, the outlet also sells all kinds of shirts and football-related merchandise.
• Yas Mall, www.uclexperience.com (02 565 0663)
Team: Stills
The line-up: With three giant screens (two outdoors and one indoors), plus about 20 HD TVs and a VIP room, Stills is equipped for stadium-sized crowds. There will also be a variety of food-and-drink deals, plus a weekly prize raffle.
Playing style: The outdoor terrace is the place to head – during the World Cup two years ago, it was packed with fans of just about every nationality, with a fittingly charged atmosphere.
• Crowne Plaza Yas Island, www.crowneplaza.com/AbuDhabi(02 656 3061)
Team: Le Méridien Abu Dhabi
The line-up: Le Méridien lays claim to one of the largest screens in the capital in the hotel's central garden, plus 14 screens in the adjacent NRG sports bar. Hungry fans can get 20 per cent off on food if they wear their national team shirt when their team is playing,
or get a fifth drink free when they buy a big burger and four drinks.
Playing style: The garden usually enjoys a vibrant atmosphere for big sports events, while you can cool off inside at NRG if the heat is too much. www.lemeridienabudhabi.com (02 644 6666)
Dubai
Team: Barasti
The line-up: Beachside hangout Barasti is going undercover for summer, with a giant indoor structure taking over the venue's middle-deck, keeping things cool at a steady 22C while all the action is beamed onto 10 42-inch, and two 70-inch LED TVs, plus a 7x4m LED outdoor TV.
Playing style: Anyone who has been in the UAE for a football tournament will tell you this place is among the most reliably rammed for summer sports action.
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, www.barastibeach.com (04 399 3333).
Team: Eurorigami
The line-up: The Nassima Royal Hotel is converting its Origami ballroom into a Euro 2016-themed fan zone called, cleverly enough, Eurorigami (get it?).
Playing style: Advance pictures suggest the otherwise tranquil space will be filled with a jagged futuristic structure which looks like a spaceship crash-landed in the heart of the hotel. The blurb promises "multiple" LCD screens and projectors. Goodie.
Sheikh Zayed Road, www.nassimaroyalhotel.com, 04 308 0000.
Team: Original Wings & Rings
The line-up: Food might high on the agenda at this chicken-themed hangout, but football will be taking centre-stage with 19 TV screens and three HD projectors.
Playing style: Despite sitting in the heart of DIFC, OW&R has a distinctly casual, male-friendly vibe, with recently revamped interior big on wooden furniture and dark cushions. For munch, expect American fare such as burgers, wings, quesadillas, crispy onion rings and nachos.
Level C, Liberty House, DIFC, www.originalwingsandrings.ae (04 359 6900).
Team: The Huddle
The line-up: A veritable platter of viewing options with a "one-of-a-kind" four metre "digital wall", a marginally more humble 2.5 metre "diamond" screen, on top of 23 HD screens (ranging from 1-1.4 metres inches).
Playing style: This is a pure sports bar in the most classic sense, and its basic charms are perennially popular for one key reason; rather reasonable prices. No change for the tournament season, with a menu of pub grub classics starting from just Dh30.
Citymax Al Barsha, www.citymaxhotels.com (04 407 8000).
Team: West Beach Bistro & Sports Lounge
The line-up: The huge central screen is surrounded by comfy beanbags, while there's a healthy portion of smaller TVs dotted in every corner.
Playing style: Of all New Dubai's plethora of male-centric hangouts, it is West Beach which appears among the most consistently competent when it comes to sports, with smart friendly staff, daily drinks deals, and clear views for all.
Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, JBR, www.movenpick.com (04 449 8888).
Team: Harvester's
The line-up: This cosy watering hole boasts a big screen projector and numerous smaller options.
Playing style: Home of the UAE's official Manchester United Supporters's Club, Harvester's is among the emirate's most convincing approximations of an old-school British pub – in all the right ways, and otherwise. They know football, that's for sure. Watch out for special competitions – guess the correct score on Facebook in advance and you might win 50 percent off your bill.
Crowne Plaza Dubai, www.facebook.com/harvesterspubdubai (800 CROWNE).
Team: Media One Hotel
The line-up: A purpose-built footie fortress, ON42 will offer two XL screens and 12 flat screens.
Playing style: This party friendly, multi-venue hotel is well-prepared for the Euro festivities, with an entire empty floor set aside to host a huge fan zone, complete with a three-a-side indoor pitch and VIP area for high-rollers. Meanwhile a "guess the winner" predictor will offer instant prizes of Dh100 F&B vouchers and free hotel stays. www.mediaonehotel.com (04 427 1000).
Team: Emirates Golf Club
The line-up: This popular sports spot has gone all-out for the finals, hosting a purpose-built Fan Zone tent dedicated to football, complete with 22 TVs and two big screens inside and out.
Playing style: Expect a fair amount of football fanaticism here, with the venue offering larger groups of supporters special corporate packages. There is also giant Jenga and floor football to keep groups busy at half-time, plus a "predict the score" contest and a dribble challenge, and competitions to win a table for the final.
For reservations, email football@dubaigolf.com www.dubaigolf.com (04 417 9999).
Team: UBK
The line-up: This JLT venue has been specially renovated for the big tournament. It now offers three new private-viewing areas, in addition to 23 TV screens and two HD projectors if you are slumming with the crowds.
Playing style: Styling itself as a gastropub, food is naturally a big deal here – expect a themed menu of hearty bar classics, including crispy chicken wings, fajitas, hot dog sliders and loaded nachos. There are also new pool tables where you can settle any post-match scores.
• Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, www.facebook.com/ubkdubai (04 438 0000).
Team: Time Café
The line-up: Renowned for its 55 TV screens – plus two huge wall projectors – even at a maximum capacity (of 350), there should rarely
be more than six sets of eyes jostling to share a single screen.
Playing style: This huge, laid-back, cavernous spot lives and breathes sport, with all sorts of paraphernalia lining the walls and a joyously rowdy crowd. For atmosphere, Time can be hard to beat.
• Ramee Royal Hotel, Karama, www.rameehotels.com (04 334 4088)
Team: Football Fanfest Dxb
The line-up: Held at Dubai Sports City's Sports Village, Football Fanfest DXB is all about evoking a vibrant atmosphere. Five 5m x 11m screens will be available for public viewing, while another 28 screens (also 60 inches) are available in private booths accommodating up to 12 people.
Playing style: Action packed. As well as the football on the screen, crowds can take part in raffle draws, while enjoying a range of regional and international cuisine. Retail outlets are also set to make pop-up appearances during the month.
• Tickets begin at Dh60 per head (including a Dh50 voucher for food and drinks). Dubai Sports Village at Dubai Sports City. www.footballfanfestdxb.com
Get all the build-up to Euro 2016, plus group guides, TV times and predictions, at our sports team’s dedicated microsite
