Emirates Dubai 7s returns with spectacular line-up ahead of the UAE National Day

The Middle East’s largest sports and entertainment festival, the Emirates Dubai 7s, returns this year with its most ambitious programme yet.

The 2025 edition will combine world-class sport, international music acts, premium hospitality and family-friendly experiences for an unforgettable three-day celebration ahead of the UAE Eid Al Etihad National Day holiday.

The ‘weekend of the year’ runs from Friday, November 28 to November 30 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, perfectly timed ahead of the mid-week public holiday.

Tickets are available now at emiratesdubai7s.com. The event, which attracts over 80,000 guests, marks the start of the HSBC SVNS, which will feature 8 men’s and 8 women’s teams competing over two days on Pitch 1.

New facilities, including Pitch 9 and two additional cricket ovals, will host the largest-ever invitational sports schedule.

Across the weekend, fans can enjoy five sports including SVNS and invitational rugby, cricket presented by Dulsco Group, netball presented by Dubai Holdings Community Management, Rebound Padel, and the WODON3 fitness competition, which this year introduces the new ‘Super Social’ division for first-timers and casual competitors.

Netball presented by Dubai Holdings Community Management will see talented players compete across the four courts at The Sevens Stadium. Cricket presented by Dulsco Group will feature local, regional and global seven-a-side teams in a fast-paced format, while Rebound Padel, now in its third year at Emirates Dubai 7s, is open to players of all abilities. WODON3 is a fitness competition focused on solid team effort, all within the festival atmosphere.

Complementing the sports action, there will now be three days of entertainment throughout the festival, with major global acts soon to be announced.

Headline performances will take place on the Frequency on 8th stage on Saturday and Sunday, alongside a packed line up on the iconic Rugby Rocks and Beats on 2 stages.

Acts are expected to follow in the footsteps of Stormzy and the Sugababes, who thrilled the crowd at last year’s event.

Other big-name artists who have performed at the Emirates Dubai 7s previously include Kylie Minogue, Craig David, Artful Dodger, MK and Becky Hill.

This year’s Emirates Dubai 7s will build on its commitment to delivering a more sustainable festival experience.

Matthew Tait, Festival Director, said: “This year’s Emirates Dubai 7s will be our biggest and most exciting yet. From the expanded sports programme to a full three-day schedule of headline music, and significant steps forward in sustainability, we’re proud to deliver a weekend that truly has something for everyone. We are excited to welcome back our regular attendees and look forward to seeing some new faces experiencing the festival for the first time.”

Sam Pinder, World Rugby Sevens General Manager, said: “The popularity of Emirates Dubai 7s continues to grow year on year, and we look forward to once again kicking off the HSBC SVNS 2025–26 series in Dubai with a refreshed format. The event is always a highlight on our calendar, particularly as the series opener, and those attending can look forward to watching some fantastic elite women’s and men’s SVNS rugby, while also enjoying the superb schedule of entertainment on offer.”

Set to attract over 80,000 attendees from the UAE and across the globe, the Emirates Dubai 7s festival marks an iconic fixture on the UAE calendar.

The event upholds a legacy of both excellence and sportsmanship for elite and amateur athletes alike, with this year’s line-up set to include participation from a minimum of 34 countries across five sports — including rugby 7s, netball, cricket, fitness, and padel tennis

Last year’s edition hosted over 6,000 participants and 560 teams of all levels and ages from 32 countries.