A Dubai-founded events company is planning to expand into 25 cities worldwide over the next two years, as it looks to build an international business around music and culture.

HOP Events, founded by Dubai-based entrepreneur Kalpesh Kinariwala, said it aims to stage more than 250 events a year across 75 venues and arenas, reaching more than one million people annually.

Its planned expansion includes London, New York, Doha and Singapore, alongside its existing base in Dubai.

The company has organised concerts featuring artists including A.R. Rahman, Arijit Singh, Lucky Ali, Nancy Ajram, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and sitarist Rishab Sharma.

HOP now plans to broaden its programme beyond large-scale concerts, with storytelling, art and other cultural events forming part of its international expansion.

“Our goal has never been to build an events company,” Kinariwala said. “We’re building a platform where culture becomes a catalyst for connection.”

The plans were outlined after a recent Dubai event featuring storyteller Laksh Maheshwari.

HOP is the cultural arm of PANTHEON ACR, a Dubai-based venture founded by Kinariwala with interests spanning art, culture and real estate.

Kinariwala said Dubai’s position as a city with a large international population provided the starting point for HOP’s expansion.

The company said its programme over the next 24 months would feature both established international performers and emerging creative talent, alongside storytelling and other cultural experiences.

“The moments people carry with them for years are rarely the biggest,” Kinariwala said. “They are the moments that make us feel connected, inspired, understood or part of something larger than ourselves.”

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will host its first Formula 1 Sprint race in 2027, adding a new competitive element to the season finale at Yas Marina Circuit.

The announcement by organisers Ethara Live follows confirmation of the 2027 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, which includes 24 Grands Prix across 22 countries and 10 Sprint events.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 December 2027, with Yas Marina Circuit set to host the final round of the season.

The Sprint will be held on Saturday over a distance of 100km. Unlike a traditional Grand Prix, it will not require a mandatory pit stop, and the winner will receive eight championship points.

Abu Dhabi is one of five venues selected to host a Sprint for the first time in 2027, alongside Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Monaco. Sprint events will also return to Montréal, Silverstone, Monza, São Paulo and Lusail.

The expanded Sprint programme will bring the number of Sprint events in the season to 10, up from six. Formula 1 and the FIA said the increase reflects continued demand for the format.

The 2027 season will begin with pre-season testing in Bahrain from 24 to 27 February, followed by the opening race in the country and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The championship will then travel to Australia, Japan, China, Miami and Canada.

Portugal is set to return to the calendar in June, while Türkiye will make its comeback in October, with its race scheduled between Azerbaijan and Singapore. The season will conclude with rounds in Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, said the calendar reflected Formula 1’s global appeal and continued growth, while combining established venues with returning destinations and an expanded Sprint programme.

The Abu Dhabi Sprint will give fans at Yas Marina an additional opportunity to see championship points contested before the season concludes on Sunday.

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.