Dubai Sevens Organisers Anticipate Robust International Turnout Despite Regional Conflict

Organisers of the Emirates Dubai Sevens remain confident that the annual festival of sport will attract strong international representation, despite the ongoing Iran war. Tickets for the event, scheduled to take place at The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, went on sale last week. The tournament will once again serve as the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS World Series.

Since World Rugby formalised a global circuit for rugby's abridged format in 1999, Dubai has remained a showpiece venue. Throughout its history, the competition has only missed out on hosting once—in 2001—when security concerns following the September 11 attacks in the United States led some international sides to opt out. Despite the tournament being officially downgraded by the sport's governing body that year, numerous teams still travelled to the UAE, with New Zealand claiming victory in the Emirates International Trophy.

In the years since, the event has evolved into a massive multisport carnival, drawing over 88,000 attendees last year. The Dubai Sevens is set to expand further this year by introducing a sixth sport to the programme: Gaelic football. Mathew Tait, the general manager and festival director, expressed confidence that participation levels will match or exceed those seen in 2025.

“It's still been pretty strong,” Tait said regarding overseas team registrations, noting that while some teams are still deliberating, communications with World Rugby and international squads remain regular and reassuring. “I think sometimes there's a difference between the reality on the ground and what's portrayed elsewhere. We're regularly in conversations, providing reassurances, answering questions that many people have.”

Alongside traditional rugby—which has been a core fixture since 1970—thousands of amateur athletes will compete across various sports, including netball, cricket, fitness, and padel. The newly added Gaelic football will feature four men's and four women's tiers, played in a specially adapted seven-a-side format on Pitch 5. Tait noted that the addition is part of a continuous review process aimed at providing a world-class experience for all participating athletes.

In addition to the sporting action, spectators will be able to enjoy new attractions this year, including a zip line, a Ferris wheel, and the UAE's largest-ever inflatable kids' zone. “Yes, we're fortunate that the Sevens is a fixture in everyone's calendar at that time of year, but we'll never rest on our laurels with that,” Tait concluded.