Abu Dhabi GP, Dubai Sevens, Asia Cup: UAE and the region's biggest sporting spectacles

The ICC reckon the T20 World Cup, which starts on Sunday, is going to be “the biggest sporting spectacle to have ever taken place in the region”.

Forty-five matches will take place across Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai between October 17 and November 14.

UAE in particular seems a fitting host for the T20 showpiece – especially given it is the first time it will be hosted outside of the elite Test-playing nations.

After all, the final will be played at the Dubai International Stadium, which has already hosted more T20 internationals than any other venue in the world.

When tickets went on sale last week, queues on the online site stretched into the tens of thousands – with most of the logjam caused by fans wanting to see the meeting between India and Pakistan on October 24.

But is calling it the region’s biggest ever sporting spectacle an open and shut case? Not exactly.

Here is a selection of events from the past which would rival it.

Club World Cup, 2009, Abu Dhabi

Lionel Messi scored an extra-time winner as Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 in front of 43,000 in Zayed Sports City. Pep Guardiola managed the winning team. Juan Sebastian Veron, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol and Xavi all played, too. Which is about as good as it gets.

Club World Cup, 2017, Abu Dhabi

You cannot claim to be the GOAT until you have won a Club World Cup final for your team in a final in Abu Dhabi. Those are the rules. Where Messi led, Cristiano Ronaldo followed by scoring the winner for Real Madrid against Gremio, with 41,000 watching on in the capital. Madrid defended their title at the same venue a year later.

Asian Cup, 1996, UAE

At the culmination of 26 matches, Saudi Arabia lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out win over hosts UAE in front of 60,000 in Abu Dhabi. According to official statistics, 448,000 spectators attended over the course of the competition, an average of over 17,000 per game.

Asian Cup, 2019, UAE

The continental competition – which is the second oldest in the world after the Copa America – returned to the Emirates in 2019. The expanded competition attracted over 644,000 spectators across 51 matches, with Qatar winning the final against Japan.

Andy Ruiz v Anthony Joshua II, 2019, Saudi Arabia

One of history’s largest ever boxing bouts was all due for this summer in Saudi Arabia. But then a court ruled Tyson Fury had to complete his trilogy with Deontay Wilder instead, and Anthony Joshua – his scheduled opponent - went and lost to Oleksandr Usyk. Still, the “Clash on the Dunes” between Joshua and Ruiz in Diriyah was a huge event, too.

Fans cheer Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders during their opening IPL match in Abu Dhabi in April 2014. Ravindranath K / The National
Glenn Maxwell in action for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Part of the 2014 edition was held in the UAE as India was in the midst of elections. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal became a star with Royal Challengers Bangalore before making a name for himself as an India player. Pawan Singh / The National
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, in IPL action at Abu Dhabi in 2014, continues to knock on the Indian selection committee's doors. Ravindranath K / The National
Kolkata paceman Morne Morkel in action against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi. The South African took 1-40. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Kolkata captain Gautam Gambhir enjoyed his outing against Mumbai Indians at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
The IPL proved to be a hit throughout the country, judging by fan numbers at the stadiums. Pawan Singh / The National

Indian Premier League, 2014, UAE

The attendances for this season’s IPL when it resumed in UAE might have been meagre, but it was not always that way. Back in 2014, when the league briefly relocated from India because of elections at home, 18 of the 20 matches were sold out.

Asia Cup, 2018, UAE

Limited-overs international cricket has rarely been consumed with as much fervour as it was in Sharjah in the 1980s and 1990s. But perhaps the biggest international tournament to come to these shores to date was the Asia Cup three years ago, which was eventually won by India against Bangladesh in the final in Dubai.

The inaugual race of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit i 2009. Getty Images
A tough 2010 for Michael Schumacher was summed up at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he was hit on the first lap by Vitantonio Liuzzi of Force India.
Sebastian Vettel, of Red Bull, won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in 2010. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
Lotus Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates winning the 2012 race with second placed Ferrar driver Fernando Alonso, left, and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Christopher Pike / The National
A picture of a giant screen shows Mercedes' Nico Rosberg crashing into HRT's Narain Karthikeyan in 2012.
David Coulthard performs in his Red Bull on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai in 2013. örg Mitter
Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi in 2014 after his victory. AFP
Nico Hulkenberg suffered a huge crash at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2018. Sky Sports
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit is one of the most spectacular races on the F1 calendar. AFP

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, annual

The capital provided Formula One with its season climax for the first time in 2009, and it was also the first day-night race in F1. Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed it more than anyone else in the time since, winning five times around the Yas Marina Circuit.

Dubai Rugby Sevens, annual

Dubai has already staged a World Cup before. But the Rugby Sevens World Cup, which came to the city in 2009, was nowhere near as popular as the annual version, traditionally played on National Day weekend. In 2008, the Sevens set a World Series attendance record by attracting 50,000 on both days of the weekend.