sport
Abu Dhabi's Three Premier Venues Launch Youth Sports Programs
Facilities including Zayed Sports City, the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub and the International Tennis Centre host multiple youth competitions and development pathways.
How we reported this
The Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub will stage the inaugural Abu Dhabi World Schools Festival from 14 to 22 December, bringing together teams in rugby, cricket, hockey and netball for players aged 15 to 18.
Key Venues and Their Current Use
Zayed Sports City hosted the seventh Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup, which drew over 3,500 young footballers. The same complex has supported other junior tournaments that feed into national pathways. The Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub is scheduled to welcome school teams for the December festival, while the International Tennis Centre will stage finals of the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open in January 2026 for U12 to U16 players.
Scale of Participation Supported by Infrastructure
The third edition of the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools and Universities involves 26,000 students from 403 schools and 18 universities competing across 10 individual and three team sports. The Abu Dhabi All-Stars initiative, launched in August 2025, uses existing school and club facilities to identify talent in football, basketball, table tennis and badminton for further training.
These numbers reflect steady use of established venues rather than new construction. The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup at Zayed Sports City and the upcoming festival at the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub demonstrate how current infrastructure accommodates large-scale events without additional facilities being required.
Pathways to Elite Competition
Top performers from the Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open will compete at the International Tennis Centre alongside established players in January 2026. The December festival at the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub offers a similar route for rugby, cricket, hockey and netball athletes aged 15 to 18. Both events rely on the same venues already used for the schools championship and the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup.
Residents and schools can track registration for the January tennis finals and the December festival through the organising bodies listed on the event pages hosted by Gulf News and Al Etihad. Schedules and entry details are published on those sites ahead of each competition.