Dubai is gearing up for the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, August 24, at the ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai.

The 18-match competition will see six sides. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development, Desert Vipers Development, Dubai Capitals Development, Gulf Giants Development, MI Emirates Development, and Sharjah Warriorz Development will be battling it out in a round-robin league format.

Defending champions Gulf Giants Development will look to retain their crown, while the squads for all six franchises will be finalised through a Player Selection Draft on August 18 at Dubai International Stadium. Each team will consist of 15 UAE-based players.

Pathway to ILT20 Season 4

The tournament serves as a crucial platform for local cricketers to showcase their skills and earn a spot in the marquee DP World ILT20 Season 4, which gets underway on Tuesday, December 2 (UAE National Day) and runs until January 4, 2026.

Each ILT20 franchise is required to include a minimum of four UAE players in its squad for Season 4.

Tournament Director Andrew Russell said: “The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament is now a highlight on the Emirates Cricket Board calendar. It provides young players with the chance to shine and push for selection at the top level. Last year, we saw players like Farhan Ahmed and Saghir Khan graduate from this competition to make their mark in ILT20 Season 3. This edition is an even bigger opportunity, especially with the UAE’s national stars away on international duty.”

Player Auction and Registration

The ILT20 Player Auction for Season 4 will take place shortly after the Asia Cup, with franchises able to sign 13 players each, 78 in total. Registration for players is open until Wednesday, September 10.

Tournament Schedule

(All matches will take place at ICC Academy, Dubai)

• August 24 (5pm): Dubai Capitals Dev vs Desert Vipers Dev
• August 24 (9pm): MI Emirates Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• August 25 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs ADKR Dev
• August 25 (9pm): Gulf Giants Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 26 (5pm): ADKR Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• August 26 (9pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs Sharjah Warriorz Dev
• August 27 (5pm): MI Emirates Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 27 (9pm): Gulf Giants Dev vs Desert Vipers Dev
• August 29 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• August 29 (9pm): ADKR Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 30 (5pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• August 30 (9pm): Dubai Capitals Dev vs Sharjah Warriorz Dev
• August 31 (7pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs ADKR Dev
• September 1 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• September 1 (9pm): ADKR Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• September 2 (5pm): Semi-Final 1
• September 2 (9pm): Semi-Final 2
• September 3 (7pm): Final

The winning team will not only lift the trophy but also see several of its stars potentially fast-tracked into the spotlight of DP World ILT20 Season 4 this December.

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Portuguese soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a rare India appearance after Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr were drawn against ISL champions FC Goa in the AFC Champions League Two group stage. The sides will meet twice under the home-and-away format, though Ronaldo’s trip to Goa remains uncertain amid reports of a contract clause restricting certain away fixtures.

In the same competition, Al Nassr will also face Iraq’s Al Zawraa and Tajikistan’s Istiklol Dushanbe, with the potential star power of Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and Sadio Mane ensuring huge fan interest across Asia.

Meanwhile, UAE champions Shabab Al Ahli have been handed a formidable AFC Champions League Elite draw, going up against all three of Saudi Arabia’s football giants, Al Hilal, Al Ahli Saudi Arabia, and Al Ittihad. The Dubai side, coached by Portuguese tactician Paulo Sousa, dominated domestically last season and will now aim to add continental silverware to their collection when the group stage kicks off on September 15.

Elsewhere, the UAE’s Sharjah and Al Wahda also face Saudi opposition in the competition, while Al Wasl will compete in the AFC Champions League Two against Esteghlal (Iran), Al Muharraq (Bahrain), and Al Wehdat (Jordan). The top eight sides from each region progress to the Round of 16 in March 2026, with finals set for April in Saudi Arabia.

The possibility of Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Sadio Mane playing in front of a packed Indian crowd has already generated huge buzz.

Dubai is set to host a night of world-class MMA action as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) brings a championship double-header to the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday, October 3. The event, PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai. The rematch will feature two world title bouts, headlined by one of the most anticipated clashes in PFL history.

In the main event, Dagestan’s undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) defends his PFL lightweight title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2) in a high-stakes rematch. Their first meeting in January, also in Dubai, was an instant classic that ended in a decision many fans debated fiercely. Hughes has since rebounded with a stunning 42-second knockout win in May, vowing to settle the score once and for all.

The co-main event will see former Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson (19-6) take on 2024 PFL light heavyweight tournament winner Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) of Turkmenistan. It’s a rematch of their 2021 clash, where Anderson scored a stoppage victory. Since then, Yagshimuradov has built an impressive seven-fight win streak to claim PFL gold.

The early card is equally stacked:

• Heavyweight wrestling showdown: Iran’s Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs Tunisia’s Slim Trabelsi (8-0), with both fighters aiming to keep their unbeaten records.
• Grudge match, seven years in the making: Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) vs Artem Lobov (14-15-1), a bout originally scrapped after the infamous UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
• Battle of champions: Egypt’s Omar El-Dafrawy (14-5), PFL MENA welterweight champion, vs Albania’s Florim Zendeli (10-1-1), PFL Europe welterweight champion.

More bouts will be announced in the lead-up to fight night.

The event is part of PFL’s multi-year partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, marking another milestone in the Road to Dubai campaign. The October fight card is an additional showcase ahead of the series finale in January.

PFL CEO John Martin promised fans “one of the biggest nights in PFL history,” adding:

“Two world titles, four elite athletes, and the biggest rematch we’ve ever seen. Dubai has fast become one of MMA’s global capitals, and this night will be a championship spectacle.”