Emirates Dubai 7s Expands to Become the World’s Largest International Sevens Tournament
The Middle East's premier rugby festival welcomes HSBC SVNS 3 for the first time, bringing 28 international teams and 70 matches to The Sevens Stadium next month.
The Sevens Stadium will pulse with the intensity of international rugby at its finest when Emirates Dubai 7s returns to the calendar next month. For the first time, the festival expands to host not only the elite HSBC SVNS Series but also HSBC SVNS 3, the third tier of global sevens competition, creating an unprecedented gathering of 28 international men’s and women’s teams across a weekend of 70 matches.
This expansion signals a moment of genuine significance for the sport. HSBC SVNS 3 provides emerging nations with a genuine pathway through the ranks: teams compete at this level with the promise of promotion to HSBC SVNS 2, then to HSBC SVNS itself, and ultimately towards Olympic qualification. The men’s competition draws teams including Hong Kong China, Canada, Chile, Italy, Samoa and Zimbabwe, while the women’s field features China, Mexico, Poland, Samoa and Colombia, with one further team yet to qualify.
The elite HSBC SVNS competitions remain the pinnacle. New Zealand, defending their title from last year’s event, will begin their campaign against Fiji in the men’s tournament, whilst the women’s defending champions face Japan in their opening fixture. South Africa, last season’s Series winners, bring formidable strength to Pool A of the men’s draw alongside Australia, Argentina and USA. The women’s competition features equal depth, with Australia, France, Spain and USA joined by New Zealand, Fiji, Japan and Canada.
Beyond the professional arena, Emirates Dubai 7s celebrates rugby at every level. Amateur competitions span men’s and women’s rugby, netball presented by Dubai Holdings Community Management, cricket presented by Dulsco Group, Rebound Padel, WODON3 fitness and Gaelic football, making its debut at this year’s festival. International Invitational tournaments feature representation from Argentina, Brazil, China, South Africa and Spain.
The festival, running from November 27 to 29, marks the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS 2026-27 Series, with subsequent tournaments scheduled for Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver and New York, before the World Championship takes place across Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux in April and May 2027.
Entertainment extends beyond the pitch. DJs Melanie C and Jax Jones headline Beats on 2 across the weekend, with further headline artists to follow. Mohammed Alzaabi, Secretary General of the UAE Rugby Federation, expressed pride in the event’s evolution, noting that it strengthens Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for rugby whilst creating opportunities for emerging nations on the international stage.
Source: WAM
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