By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Dubai International Cricket Stadium sits in Dubai Sports City, away from the Metro and the main tourist districts. For a big India or Pakistan fixture the real work is the final approach and the first hour after the final ball.
Where is Dubai International Cricket Stadium?
The stadium is part of Dubai Sports City, near the ICC headquarters. It opened in 2009 and seats 25,000, expandable to about 30,000. The two ends are named after the roads they face: the Emirates Road End and the Dubai Sports City End.
Is there a Metro station nearby?
No. Dubai Sports City has no direct Metro link. The closest Red Line stations are Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Internet City, and you then need a bus or taxi.
For the February 2025 Champions Trophy match, RTA advised a different plan: park at a Metro station, ride to Jumeirah Golf Estates and take a free shuttle on to the stadium. That was a one-fixture arrangement. Do not assume it repeats.
Which buses run to the stadium?
| Route | Starts at | Ride | Walk at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| F34 | Dubai Internet City Bus Station | about 20 minutes | about 7 minutes |
| F37 | Mall of the Emirates Bus Station | about 35 minutes | about 20 minutes |
Both figures come from Gulf News coverage of RTA guidance. Press reports add lines 21, 27, J02 and F38 in the area. There are few pavements on the walking stretch, and that walk is in the dark after a night match. Check RTA’s journey planner for the day.
Where do you park?
Parking is the pinch point. Press coverage of the 2025 Asia Cup final described these arrangements:
- General lots P1 to P4, paid digitally or at on-site kiosks, filling early.
- Royal Parking and VIP (Grand Lounge) bays near Gates 1 and 2.
- A remote overflow lot with a shuttle, plus park-and-ride from Motor City, Studio City, City Centre Me’aisem and Arabian Ranches.
Space counts differed between reports, so none are quoted here. Gate use also varied: VIP guests entered at Gate 1 and general spectators at Gates 2, 3 and 5. Your ticket email is the authority for your gate.
How bad is match-night traffic?
For the 2025 Asia Cup final, a 6.30pm start, the authorities warned of heavy congestion from 4pm. It peaked at kick-off and again when play ended around 10pm.
Roads named as affected were Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Hessa Street and Umm Al Suqeim Street, with spill into Al Barsha and Dubai Golf Estate. Suggested routes included Umm Al Suqeim Street instead of Hessa Street, Al Fay Road from the south, and an early exit off Al Khail Road (E44) toward Arjan or Studio City.
Our Dubai event road closures guide covers how closures are announced, and Salik tolls in Dubai explains the gates you may cross on the way.
Taxi, Uber or a driver?
Everyone leaves at once, so the taxi rank and the ride-hailing pick-up spots saturate. Prices on apps rise straight after the last ball. If you use them, walk away from the gates first.
A car with driver is booked to a time, not a queue. Your driver tracks the match, waits at an agreed meeting point and drives you to your hotel. The event day chauffeur checklist lists what to confirm before the day.
Getting a group to the match
Fans rarely come alone. For a group, one vehicle keeps everyone together and leaves when you do.
| Group size | Vehicle | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | Assure fleet |
| 7 to 13 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 13 seats | Assure fleet |
| 14 to 19 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 19 seats | Assure fleet |
| Up to 22 | Toyota Coaster | Available through our partner network, subject to availability |
See our van and group transport page and minibus rental. For the full season, use the UAE events calendar and our events chauffeur service.
Visiting from India
Many fans fly in for one match. A pickup at Dubai International Airport can run to the hotel, then to the stadium. Our Dubai trip plan from India covers the rest of the trip. For other venues, getting to Dubai events compared sets them side by side, and the Dubai 7s guide covers The Sevens Stadium.
Match-day checklist
- Your gate, from the ticket email.
- A parking plan: which lot, or which park-and-ride stop.
- Arrival by 4pm for an evening start, before the roads fill.
- A meeting point away from the gates for the ride home.
- Your driver’s WhatsApp number and the agreed return time.
Photos in this guide
Inside Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai Sports City during a Test match, with blue seating and the white tensile roofDave Morton, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Pakistan batters and Australian fielders on the pitch at Dubai International Cricket Stadium during a one-day internationalBilal Mirza, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Platform screen doors and exit sign at Dubai Internet City Metro station, the Red Line stop used for the F34 bus to the stadiumLittleT889, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
