Sports

Sam Curran does it all as Desert Vipers roar into ILT20 playoffs

Published

9 months ago

December 15, 2025

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The Desert Vipers are officially playoff-bound, and they’ve done it with flair.

A scintillating all-round show from Sam Curran powered the Vipers to a five-wicket win over Dubai Capitals on Sunday night, making them the first team in DP World ILT20 history to win six matches in a row.

Chasing 166 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Curran was ice-cool under pressure, finishing unbeaten on 52 off 33 balls after earlier grabbing two key wickets with the ball. Big stage. Big performance.

Fast start, calm finish

The chase began at a pace thanks to Max Holden, who smashed 34 off 22 balls to give the Vipers early momentum. Fakhar Zaman chipped in briefly before Mustafizur Rahman struck, but the Vipers still cruised to 50 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

Dubai Capitals clawed their way back with a couple of wickets in the middle overs, including the dangerous Hassan Nawaz, who entertained with a rapid 31. At halfway, the equation stood at 79 needed from 60 balls, game on.

That’s when Curran took charge.

Partnering Dan Lawrence, he kept the scoreboard ticking before Shimron Hetmyer arrived with instant impact, launching Dasun Shanaka for a six and a boundary to swing momentum firmly back in the Vipers’ favour.

Curran stayed till the end, finishing the chase with five wickets in hand and booking the Vipers a well-earned playoff berth.

Curran turns the game with the ball

Earlier, the Capitals posted 166 for 4, anchored by a composed half-century from Leus du Plooy. Jordan Cox and skipper Dasun Shanaka provided late fireworks, adding 72 unbeaten runs in just 40 balls to lift the total in the death overs.

But the turning point came in the 14th over.

Curran removed du Plooy in the deep and then dismissed Rovman Powell for a golden duck off the very next ball, a double blow that swung the game decisively.

“Finishing the job feels good”

Named Player of the Match, Curran summed it up perfectly: “The real satisfaction comes from finishing the job for the team. We’re in a good space, but we know there’s still room to improve as we head into the business end.”

Capitals skipper Dasun Shanaka admitted his side fell just short. “Another 10 to 15 runs would have helped. Against a strong side like the Vipers, you need to be spot on.”

Playing for the planet

The night also carried a powerful message off the field. The Vipers wore special jerseys featuring ‘Biodiversity Stripes’, a striking reminder of wildlife loss over the past 50 years. Made in the UAE from 100 per cent recycled materials, the kit underlined the franchise’s push for sustainability and environmental awareness.

Brief scores

Desert Vipers beat Dubai Capitals by five wickets

Dubai Capitals 166/4 (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49, Dasun Shanaka 29; Sam Curran 2/17)

Desert Vipers 171/5 in 19.4 overs
(Sam Curran 52, Max Holden 34, Hassan Nawaz 31)

Player of the Match: Sam Curran

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

Published

17 hours ago

August 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
Friday: Dh75
Under 15s: Free
People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

Sports

Abu Dhabi to host first EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup: How to get tickets from Dh572

Published

1 week ago

August 24, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi is set to make basketball history this September as it hosts the first-ever EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup, bringing four of Europe’s top clubs together for a two-day showdown at Etihad Arena.

Taking place on September 18 and 19, 2026, the inaugural tournament will feature Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul and Dubai Basketball in a Final Four-style competition.

The event is being delivered through a partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Euroleague Basketball, adding another major international sporting event to the capital’s growing calendar.

Two days, four teams and one new trophy

The action gets underway on Friday, September 18, with two semi-finals.

6pm: Olympiacos Piraeus vs Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul
9pm: Dubai Basketball vs Real Madrid

The winners will advance to Saturday night’s championship game, while the losing teams will meet earlier in the day for the third-place match.

On Saturday, September 19:

6pm: Third-place game
9pm: Inaugural EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup Final

The winner will make history as the first team to lift the new trophy.

Abu Dhabi adds another major basketball event

The tournament builds on Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a destination for elite basketball. The capital has hosted a number of major basketball showcases in recent years, helping bring some of the sport’s biggest clubs and stars to UAE audiences.

The new SuperCup will also give fans the chance to see Dubai Basketball compete against some of the biggest names in European club basketball, including Real Madrid.

DCT Abu Dhabi said the event forms part of the emirate’s wider strategy to expand its international sporting calendar while attracting visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses and communities.

Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga described the competition as a new chapter for European club basketball, while CEO Chus Bueno said Abu Dhabi would provide fans with an opportunity to experience the sport at its highest level.

Tickets

Full-package tickets are already available through Etihad Arena, while single-day tickets are scheduled to go on sale on August 31.

EuroLeague SuperCup Prices

Ticket category	Price
Baseline Upper Bowl 2	Dh572
Baseline Upper Bowl 1	Dh668
Central Lower Bowl 2	Dh1,338
Central Lower Bowl 1	Dh1,434
Hollywood 2 Hospitality	Dh9,188
First-row Bench	Dh7,751
First-row Courtside	Dh10,911

Event details

Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: September 18–19, 2026
Teams: Real Madrid, Olympiacos Piraeus, Fenerbahce Tarfin Istanbul, Dubai Basketball
For tickets, go to www.etihadarena.ae

News

Dubai robotics team earns global recognition at elite US competitions

Published

1 month ago

July 27, 2026

Michael Gomes

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A Dubai-based student robotics team has put the UAE on the global STEM map after securing a major award at one of the world’s leading robotics competitions and earning an invitation to an elite international event in the US.

Team UFORCE, representing Unique World Robotics (UWR), finished third in the prestigious Inspire Award category at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Michiana Premier Event, held in Indiana from June 18 to 21.

The Inspire Award is FTC’s highest judged honour, recognising excellence in robot design, engineering, programming, innovation, teamwork and community impact. Team UFORCE competed against 96 top robotics teams from around the world.

Invited to exclusive global event

Following its strong performance, Team UFORCE also competed at the Multinational Tech Invitational (MTI) in Maryland, an invitation-only competition featuring just 44 of the world’s best FTC teams selected from more than 11,000 active teams globally.

Showcasing UAE STEM talent

The 16-member team includes students from schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting the UAE’s growing talent in robotics and engineering.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, innovation and perseverance of our students and mentors,” said Bansan Thomas George, founder of Unique World Robotics.

Head coach Mohammed Mukhtar said competing on global platforms demonstrates the ability of young innovators from the UAE to excel internationally.

Team captain Aarnav Bhargava described the competitions as a valuable opportunity to develop technical skills, teamwork and confidence while competing against some of the world’s best robotics teams.

About FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is one of the world’s largest youth robotics programmes and is supported by organisations including Google, Amazon and NASA.

The programme also offers students access to scholarships, mentorship opportunities and pathways to leading universities and STEM institutions.

The achievement also reflects the growing impact of firstrobotics.ae, a UAE volunteer-led robotics community that supports students interested in robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education.