Since its opening 44 years ago, Zayed Sports City has maintained its position as a global sports edifice that includes sports and entertainment facilities at the highest levels, and embodies the status enjoyed by sports in the UAE and the capital, Abu Dhabi.
The decision to establish Zayed Sports City came in response to the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, to be a unique sports icon that includes stadiums and facilities for various games, and hosts international championships.
The city is currently witnessing further development to meet the increasing demand for holding sporting events in the capital, Abu Dhabi, whether local, regional or international, as well as the entertainment aspect, as it features many facilities dedicated to hosting various events throughout the year.
Zayed Sports City Stadium is one of the most famous in the region, since its opening in 1980 until today, as it received a rating of 100 out of 100 from FIFA.
The capacity of the “stadium” is 44,260 seats, while the grass area is 19,910 square metres. It contains halls designated for hospitality and others, and is preparing to host 3 shows on Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” world tour on January 11, 12 and 14. The city will also host the World Tennis League next month.
The city includes the International Tennis Complex, which will host the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Women’s Tennis Championship in February next year. The city also includes the Khalifa International Bowling Hall, the skating rink, and courts for basketball, boxing, fitness, padel, table tennis, and the Mubadala Arena.
In terms of training fields, the city includes the best football fields and the best rugby fields, with more than 17 fields covered with natural grass and equipped with lighting, surrounded by a 500-seat exhibition stadium. It includes 3 rugby fields, a softball field, and indoor soccer fields for teams. Consists of 7 or 11 players.
International and continental championships
Zayed Sports City hosted many international and continental championships, most notably the Gulf Cup in 1982, 1994 and 2007, the Asian Youth Cup in 1985, the Asian Cup in 1996 and 2019, the World Youth Cup in 2003, and the Club World Cup in 2009 and 2010.
It also hosted the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, the World Judo Championships at Mubadala Arena, the World Tennis League, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Women’s Open Tennis Championships, and the most prominent edition of the Special Olympics World Championships, which was held for the first time in the Middle East in 2019.
Noura Al Jasmi, President of the Emirates Badminton Federation, confirmed that the city is a historical sporting heritage that has witnessed, over the past years, the hosting of many international and continental championships.
She said that Zayed Sports City is not only a sports edifice, but rather an important tourist and economic attraction in the capital, Abu Dhabi. International championships are held on its soil, and it witnesses the hosting of stars from all countries of the world and in various sports, throughout the year, stressing that work is underway to establish many… Various tournaments during the coming period in cooperation with partners.
Omar Al Ali, CEO of Projects and Development at Nirvana Tourism Company, confirmed that the city is a global icon with tourist attraction for sports stars from all over the world.
He added that the winter season will witness more sporting and entertainment events within the city, and that Nirvana will contribute to supporting and promoting these events in a manner commensurate with their importance, according to clear strategic plans that highlight the positive side of sports in the Emirates.
Tariq Al-Bahri, Director of the Support Services Department at the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Professional Jiu-Jitsu Association, said that the city continues its pioneering path in supporting Emirati and international sports, since its founding in 1980, as it witnessed many major tournaments that will remain engraved in the records of history.
He added: “We are proud of the city’s continuous development and its continued attraction of more international tournaments that will be held during the coming period, which reflects Abu Dhabi’s strengthening of its position as a global capital of sports and a center for hosting the largest events and important events.”
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