The Sevens

Emirates Airline, one of the world's leading sport sponsors, along with the support of the Government of Dubai, is currently in the process of building Dubai's new venue which will host the 2008 Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens (November 27-29) and then the Rugby World Cup Sevens (March 5-7, 2009). Named 'The Sevens', the venue is located on the outskirts of Dubai and will become the new home of rugby in the Middle East.

The Sevens will feature a permanent grandstand with 4,000 seats and temporary stands will be erected around this permanent structure to cater for over 40,000 people.

Hospitality areas, broadcast and medical facilities and changing rooms also feature in the design as well as a 30-metre wide rugby promenade, featuring cafes and food outlets.

The second pitch will be in a bowl and enclosed on three sides by a grass embankment enabling a crowd of 15,000 to enjoy the sporting action or possibly even concerts, while a nearby sports complex and clubhouse will include provision for tennis, squash, basketball and badminton as well as a gymnasium and swimming pool.

The remaining four rugby pitches will be located close to a two-storey 80-metre long clubhouse that will feature the offices of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union – the governing body of rugby in the region.

The Sevens will be about more than just rugby, as a venue it will also cater for the popular sports played in the region, including cricket, football, basketball and netball.

Family Stand

While the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is regarded as one of the biggest party weekends of the year, the award-winning event also offers plenty for families as well.

The Family Stand has enjoyed great success in recent years and the area has a capacity of 2,000 seats available for families wanting to enjoy the rugby together.

Parents and children (up to the age of 12) will be able to watch all the action in a dedicated, alcohol-free area that will be located in a prime position close to the rugby village.

'The Sevens' Facts and Figures

Below are some interesting facts and figures on the Middle East’s new home of rugby ...

  • The complete area of the site is 3,698,914.86m²
  • There are currently 1,250 people working on the site each day
  • 6,972,100 hours is the estimated number of hours that will be worked on the new site
  • The amount of sand used will be 1,900,000m³ and road base will be 204,412m³
  • The water will come from a combination of three sources: DEWA, Dubai Municipality and ground wells dug specifically for the venue
  • The local rugby club was the first structure to have been built
  • The overall timeline for construction is 423 days
  • The amount of concrete, bricks and cement that will be used is: Concrete – 5046m³; Bricks – 135,000; Cement – 220 MT
  • The total square metres of grass at The Sevens is 64,000m²
  • The Sevens will feature a permanent grandstand with 4,000 seats and temporary stands will be erected around this permanent structure to cater for over 40,000 people
  • There will be six rugby pitches at the new venue
  • There will be 15,000 car parking spaces available
  • The Sevens will also cater for popular sports played in the region, including cricket, football, basketball and netball