Dubai Sevens boss expects strong international turnout despite Iran war

The Dubai Sevens festival organisers anticipate a strong international turnout for the upcoming event, despite the ongoing Iran war. Tickets for the three-day tournament, set to be held at The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, went on sale last week. It is the first leg of the HSBC SVNS World Series, which has consistently featured the UAE since the festival began in 1999.

The last time Dubai missed hosting the tournament was in 2001, when international sides pulled out due to security concerns following the 9/11 attacks. Since then, the Dubai Sevens has evolved into a multisport carnival, attracting over 88,000 spectators in 2025. Despite the conflict in the region, the festival is expected to expand this year with the addition of Gaelic football, bringing the total number of sports to seven.

Mathew Tait, the general manager and festival director, expressed confidence that participation will be at least as strong as the previous year, if not more. He emphasized that the team is regularly communicating with international teams across all sports to reassure them of the situation on the ground. Tait is hopeful that the new Gaelic football competition will contribute to the event's international growth.

Alongside the sports, the festival will also feature new attractions for spectators, such as a zip line, a Ferris wheel, and the UAE's largest-ever inflatable kids' zone.