Abu Dhabi T10 Revamped for 2026: All You Need to Know About the New Era

The Abu Dhabi T10 is set for a significant transformation, with the revamped 2026 tournament scheduled to commence on November 7 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. This shortest format of cricket, which originated in the UAE, has been a consistent presence since 2017 and has carved a niche in the rapidly expanding franchise cricket landscape.

For the 2026 season, the Abu Dhabi T10 has undergone a complete overhaul. The tournament is now under the ownership and management of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH), the entity responsible for Zayed Cricket Stadium (ZCS). This initiative is backed by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

This strategic reset has led to a comprehensive restructuring, including fresh bids for team ownership, revised management frameworks, and updated operational policies. The league welcomes five new franchise owners, joining the defending champions, UAE Bulls.

Competing Teams: Six teams will vie for the championship title this season:

• Arabian Aces
• Emirates Eagles
• Royal Desert Champions
• UAE Bulls
• United Tigers
• Yas Lions

Tournament Details: The 2026 edition will feature 32 matches played at Zayed Cricket Stadium, with the tournament concluding on November 20.

Star Players: The tournament boasts an impressive roster of international talent across all six teams:

• Arabian Aces: Moeen Ali (captain), Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone, Sam Billings, Alzarri Joseph, Imran Tahir
• Emirates Eagles: Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Alex Hales, Rehan Ahmed, Chris Green
• Royal Desert Champions: Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford, Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Chris Jordan
• UAE Bulls: Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Amir, Andre Fletcher, Shadab Khan
• United Tigers: Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sufyan Moqim, Abbas Afridi
• Yas Lions: Jason Holder, David Willey, James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga, Akeal Hosein

Local Talent: The tournament also provides a platform for emerging UAE cricketers to compete alongside global stars. Notable local players include Muhammad Waseem (RDC), Alishan Sharafu (AA), Mohammad Rohid (UB), Khuzaima Tanveer (YL), Ayan Afzal Khan (RDC), and KS Bharat (EE).

Fixtures:

• November 7: UAE Bulls v Yas Lions (3.30pm), Royal Desert Champions v Emirates Eagles (5.45pm), United Tigers v Arabian Aces (8pm)
• November 8: Yas Lions v Emirates Eagles, United Tigers v UAE Bulls, Arabian Aces v Royal Desert Champions
• November 9: Emirates Eagles v Arabian Aces (5.45pm), United Tigers v Royal Desert Champions (8pm)
• November 10: Yas Lions v United Tigers, UAE Bulls v Emirates Eagles
• November 11: Royal Desert Champions v UAE Bulls, Arabian Aces v Yas Lions
• November 13: United Tigers v Emirates Eagles, Royal Desert Champions v Yas Lions, Arabian Aces v UAE Bulls
• November 14: Royal Desert Champions v United Tigers, Arabian Aces v Emirates Eagles, Yas Lions v UAE Bulls
• November 15: Royal Desert Champions v Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles v UAE Bulls, United Tigers v Yas Lions
• November 16: Arabian Aces v United Tigers, Emirates Eagles v Royal Desert Champions
• November 17: Yas Lions v Arabian Aces, UAE Bulls v Royal Desert Champions
• November 18: UAE Bulls v United Tigers, Emirates Eagles v Yas Lions
• November 19: UAE Bulls v Arabian Aces, Yas Lions v Royal Desert Champions, Emirates Eagles v United Tigers
• November 20: Qualifier (5.30pm), Final (7.45pm)

Tickets and Viewing: Tickets for the tournament start at Dh20 and are available on the District platform, with hospitality packages also on offer. In the UAE, the matches will be broadcast on the Starzplay app, while JioStar will provide coverage in India.