Abu Dhabi T10 2026 transport guide: match times, Zayed Cricket Stadium and the drive from Dubai
Abu Dhabi T10 2026 runs 7–20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Match times, when to leave Dubai for each slot, and getting home after the 8pm game.
Chauffeur operations specialist, Dubai · Updated · 7 min read
Abu Dhabi T10 2026 runs 7–20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium, with 32 matches and the final on Friday 20 November at 6:45pm. Matches start at 3:30pm, 5:45pm and 8pm on triple-header days. The stadium is on the mainland near Khalifa City, about 1 hour 10 minutes from Dubai Marina, and the 8pm game means a late drive home.
We run Dubai to Abu Dhabi chauffeur trips for cricket nights and pick up inside Abu Dhabi too. Below: when to leave Dubai for each match slot, and how to plan the return so you aren’t waiting for a taxi on the Al Ain road at 10pm.
Abu Dhabi T10 2026 at a glance
| Dates | Saturday 7 – Friday 20 November 2026 |
| Venue | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Matches | 32 across two weeks; 12 November is a rest day |
| Teams | Six: UAE Bulls, Yas Lions, Royal Desert Champions, Emirates Eagles, United Tigers, Arabian Aces |
| Organiser | Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Emirates Cricket Board |
| Final | Friday 20 November, 6:45pm, after a 4:30pm qualifier |
2026 is Season 10 and the first under the new owner. The official Abu Dhabi T10 site confirms the 7–20 November dates and the venue, and lists the six squads.
Abu Dhabi T10 editions: 2025 to 2028
| Edition | Dates | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Season 9) | 18–30 November 2025 | Zayed Cricket Stadium | Played |
| 2026 (Season 10) | 7–20 November 2026 | Zayed Cricket Stadium | Confirmed by the organiser |
| 2027 | Not announced yet; usually November | Not announced | Based on the 2025 and 2026 seasons |
| 2028 | Not announced yet; usually November | Not announced | Based on the 2025 and 2026 seasons |
What time do Abu Dhabi T10 matches start?
On triple-header days the published slots are 3:30pm, 5:45pm and 8pm UAE time. The opening day follows that pattern (UAE Bulls v Yas Lions at 3:30pm), and so does 19 November, when all six teams play. Finals day is different: the qualifier is at 4:30pm and the final at 6:45pm. Gulf News published the opening and closing fixtures; check the full fixture list on the official site for the days you’re going.
Ten overs a side is quick. A game is short enough that the 2-hour 15-minute gap between slots holds, which is also why a double-header is easy to do in one trip.
When to leave Dubai for each slot
These times include the drive plus about 30 minutes to park or drop off, get through the gates and sit down. The later slots fall inside Dubai’s evening peak on Sheikh Zayed Road, so we’ve added time for that.
| Match start | Leave Dubai Marina or JLT by | Leave Downtown or Business Bay by |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30pm | 1:45pm | 1:30pm |
| 5:45pm | 3:45pm | 3:15pm |
| 8pm | 6pm | 5:30pm |
| Final, 6:45pm (Fri 20 Nov) | 4:45pm | 4:15pm |
If you start in Deira or near DXB, add 15 minutes. If you’re on Palm Jumeirah, use the Marina column.
Where is Zayed Cricket Stadium?
Zayed Cricket Stadium is on the mainland side of Abu Dhabi, in the Khalifa City area beside the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain road. It isn’t on Abu Dhabi island, which helps: you don’t cross the bridges onto the island, so the only Darb gate on the way from Dubai is Ghantoot on the E11. In our cars, Darb and Salik are in the price.
Distances from Dubai, by road:
| From | Distance | Usual drive |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina / JLT | about 105 km | about 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Downtown / Business Bay | about 125 km | about 1 hour 25 minutes |
| Yas Island | about 20 km | about 20–25 minutes |
The Dubai to Abu Dhabi distance and travel time guide has the full breakdown by hour of the day. For Abu Dhabi residents, the stadium is a short hop from Khalifa City and MBZ City, and about 25 to 30 minutes from the Corniche.
Getting home after the 8pm match
This is the trip that goes wrong. The 8pm game ends late in the evening, the crowd leaves at once, and the ride-hailing queue builds just as everyone opens the same app. A long Dubai-bound fare from Khalifa City late at night is the slowest kind of car to find.
What we do for cricket nights:
- Hourly hire, not two transfers. A T10 evening with two matches is about six hours door to door from Dubai. Our hourly hire has a 3-hour minimum and no night surcharge, and the car stays parked near the stadium while you watch.
- A named pickup spot. We agree a point a short walk from the gates before the match, away from the taxi queue, and message you the car’s position as the last over is bowled.
- E11 home without the stops. After 10pm the drive back to Dubai Marina usually takes about an hour, and longer to Downtown or Deira.
Coming from inside Abu Dhabi? A drop-off and pickup with our chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi is often all you need, especially for a single 3:30pm game.
Cricket groups, office outings and franchise guests
T10 suits groups: the matches are short, the evenings are cool in November, and a double-header fills an afternoon. Pick the car by headcount, not by budget alone.
| Group | Car | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 people | Business or first-class sedan | Quickest to load and get away after the game |
| 4–6 people | Large SUV or Mercedes V-Class | One car, everyone home together |
| 7–12 people | Luxury van such as a Toyota HiAce VIP | Splitting into two cars means two pickups to coordinate |
| 13 or more | Minibus or coach with driver | One vehicle, one pickup point |
For office outings and fan clubs, we arrange minibuses and coaches with a driver; see bus rental in Abu Dhabi for sizes and how group pickups work.
Other events in Abu Dhabi that fortnight
November is the busiest sporting month on the Abu Dhabi side. The DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship runs 5–8 November at Yas Links, so the T10’s opening weekend overlaps the golf’s final two days; our Abu Dhabi golf championship transport guide covers parking on Yas Island. The 12 November rest day is also the first day of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Further out, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix follows on 3–6 December. The full season is in our Dubai events calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the schedule for the Abu Dhabi T10 2026?
Abu Dhabi T10 2026 runs from Saturday 7 November to Friday 20 November 2026 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, with 32 matches and a rest day on 12 November. Triple-header days use 3:30pm, 5:45pm and 8pm UAE start times. On 20 November the qualifier starts at 4:30pm and the final at 6:45pm. Check the official site for each day’s fixtures.
Where will the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 be played?
Every match of the 2026 season is at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, according to the official Abu Dhabi T10 site. The stadium is on the mainland in the Khalifa City area, beside the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain road, about 20–25 minutes from Yas Island and roughly 1 hour 10 minutes from Dubai Marina by car.
How do I get to Zayed Cricket Stadium from Dubai?
Drive or take a chauffeur south on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) towards Abu Dhabi, then head for Khalifa City; you don’t need to cross onto Abu Dhabi island. Allow about 1 hour 10 minutes from Dubai Marina and 1 hour 25 minutes from Downtown, plus 30 minutes to park and get seated. For the 8pm match, pre-book the ride home.
When are the Abu Dhabi T10 2027 dates?
The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet. The last two seasons ran in November: 18–30 November 2025 and 7–20 November 2026, both at Zayed Cricket Stadium. We’ll update this guide when the organiser, Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub, confirms the next season.
Written by
Arshad HussainArshad Hussain has run chauffeur and limousine operations in Dubai since 2014: dispatch, fleet allocation, airport pickups and event transport.
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