2023-2024 season preview: Dubai set to dazzle with suite of elite events

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-city-lit-up-at-night-325193/

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We are still in the aftermath of South Africa’s dramatic victory over New Zealand to clinch the Rugby World Cup — the definitive conclusion of a thrilling tournament.

Fear not, however. No sooner than the current season ends, the next will kick off. And even a cursory glance at the calendar shows that things will only get better. 

Despite a competitive global field, this year is clearly Dubai’s moment. 

The emirate will play host to the DP World Tour Championship in November, the Emirates Rugby 7s in December, the Hero Desert Classic in January, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February, and – breathe – crescendo with the Racing World Cup in March. 

In all, Dubai has maxed out its offer to winter holidaymakers, those in search of sun, fun, and sport in place of wind, sleet, and snow. 

People often talk about getting a ‘quick fix’ of Vitamin D to break up a sunless winter, but many will also be hunting down another dose of sport after this season’s theatrics. 

The Emirates Dubai Rugby 7s (1^st – 3^rd December) certainly makes sense as the antidote to post-World Cup blues. Player annnouncements are just around the corner with the South African men’s team and Australian women’s team looking to hold onto their respective crowns. 

Dubai is already a preeminent destination for elite golf and the 7s will be suitably sandwiched between the DP World Tour Championship (16^th – 19^th November) and Hero Dubai Desert Classic (18^th – 21^st January, 2024).

Those considering the Desert Classic will have to make do (hardly!) with the sequel to 2023’s most electric golf event, which saw Rory McIlroy go tee-to-tee with sworn rival Patrick Reed. 

McIlroy struck his way to $9 million in January. Chances are he’s in with a good chance to do so again just three months’ time.

February will see the opening of the Duty Free Tennis Championships, serving up two weeks of world-level tennis starting from the 19^th.

Held at the emirate’s slick Aviation Club Tennis Centre for the past thirty years, the Open never fails to stand out from other international tour events. 

Last but by no means least, before the heat gets too fierce, March will be rounded off with the Dubai Racing World Cup, an event central to both the emirate’s sporting and cultural identity.

Since 1996, the DWC has attracted racing’s crème de la crème, while royalty, celebrities, and celebrity royals look on each year from the illustrious stands of the Meydan racecourse. 

Every one of the eight thoroughbred races is special, but the Purebred Arabian contest is unique to the Cup. It’s just not done anywhere else. 

The same could be said of Dubai sport over the coming months. The emirate is putting on a seemingly never-ending cycle of quality sporting events.

Winter sun and sport sounds like a pretty good bet, and it certainly beats watching it all unfold from the sofa.