The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is set to make a thrilling return to the UAE capital on Saturday, July 26, with a blockbuster middleweight clash headlining the action at Etihad Arena.

Top-ranked contender and fan favourite Robert Whittaker, currently No.5 in the middleweight division, will square off against rising star Reinier de Ridder in what promises to be an electrifying battle.

In a poetic twist, Whittaker returns to Abu Dhabi exactly five years after his victory at the final Fight Island event on July 26, 2020. That win over Darren Till, played out in a silent, pandemic-era arena, became a defining chapter in Whittaker’s storied career. This time, the stage is set for redemption and roar, as he steps back into the Octagon in front of a packed house.

Will the former champion recreate history, or will de Ridder seize his moment on the big stage?

Also on the fight card is a high-intensity light heavyweight bout featuring Türkiye’s Ibo Aslan taking on the USA’s Billy Elekana, a showdown guaranteed to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its global reputation as a world-class destination for combat sports, and this event is shaping up to be another unmissable chapter in the UFC legacy.

Cricket fans in the UAE are in for another blockbuster season as the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) returns for its fourth edition, kicking off on Tuesday, December 2, coinciding with UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad). The month-long, six-team tournament will conclude on Sunday, January 4, 2026, promising 34 high-octane matches featuring some of the world’s most exciting T20 players.

Big Names Back for Season 4

The first phase of squad selection is complete, and it features a stellar cast of returning favourites and headline-making new signings. Among the top international stars confirmed for Season 4 are:

• England’s T20 World Cup winners: Alex Hales, Sam Curran (Season 3 MVP – Red Belt Winner), Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, and Chris Woakes
• West Indies heavy-hitters: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shai Hope (Season 3 Best Batter – Green Belt Winner)
• Asia’s top talent: Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi (Season 3 Best Bowler – White Belt Winner), and Sikandar Raza (Season 2 MVP – Red Belt Winner)
• Australia and New Zealand powerhouses: Tim David, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson

Player Auction Coming Soon

Each team has completed eight-player rosters in this initial phase, which included retentions from Season 3 and new signings. The final squads will be completed during the upcoming DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, with dates and details to be announced shortly.

Key Retentions – Season 3 Heroes Stay Put

Teams have locked in key players from the previous edition:

• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Charith Asalanka, Sunil Narine
• Desert Vipers: Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lockie Ferguson, Dan Lawrence
• Dubai Capitals: Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, Dasun Shanaka
• Gulf Giants: James Vince, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus
• MI Emirates: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem
• Sharjah Warriorz: Tim Southee, Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis

New Signings Heat Up the Transfer Window

Several big-name players have changed franchises or made their ILT20 debut:

• Dubai Capitals: Added Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil, pacers Luke Wood and Muhammad Jawadullah
• Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Signed explosive batters Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone, and Sherfane Rutherford
• Desert Vipers: Welcomed opener Andries Gous
• Gulf Giants: Secured Moeen Ali, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz
• MI Emirates: Added Chris Woakes and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis
• Sharjah Warriorz: Signed Sikandar Raza, Maheesh Theekshana, Tim David, and USA quick Saurabh Netravalkar

Mark Your Calendar

The tournament opens on UAE National Day, setting the tone for a festive month of cricketing fireworks across UAE stadiums. With star-studded squads, huge fanbases, and intense franchise rivalries, DP World ILT20 Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest edition yet.

British boxing icon Ricky Hatton is stepping back into the ring, and he’s doing it in Dubai.

The former world champion has confirmed he will return to professional boxing in a middleweight bout against UAE’s own Eisa Al Dah on December 2, just weeks after turning 47. The highly anticipated fight will take place in Dubai and was officially announced during a promotional event hosted by Al Dah on Sunday.

While Hatton wasn’t physically present at the Dubai announcement, he joined via livestream, explaining that a freak injury, caused by his sunglasses, suffered at the Oasis gig, prevented him from travelling.

“I wish I were there, but I had a little injury to my eye,” Hatton told a British daily.

“It’s one of those freakish things. I caught my sunglasses in my eye. Luckily, there’s no permanent damage, just a surface scrape. Fingers crossed, we’re good to go.”

Hatton, affectionately known as “The Hitman,” was one of the sport’s most beloved figures, having claimed world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight during his career. He last fought professionally in 2012, when he was defeated by Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, a fight that marked his official retirement after a storied run.

Hatton, affectionately known as “The Hitman,” is one of Britain’s most popular ever fighters, having claimed world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight during his career. The Manchester-born boxer is renowned for taking huge swathes of support over to Las Vegas for huge fights against the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Paulie Malignaggi and Manny Pacquiao.

His Dubai comeback against Eisa Al Dah, a respected Emirati fighter who has won eight of his 11 professional bouts, is expected to draw attention from fans across the region and beyond, especially with Dubai’s growing reputation as a global hub for elite sporting events.

“The main thing is the fight will take place, and I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it.”

With the UAE increasingly becoming a stage for major combat sports, this bout marks another big-ticket fight that puts Dubai in the global boxing spotlight.