Spectators likely to be permitted to watch IPL from the stadiums in the UAE

By K.R. Nayar

Cricket lovers are hoping that they are permitted to watch IPL matches from the stadium in the UAE. There are several reasons why approval could be granted to cheer the IPL stars from the stands especially in the light of tourists being permitted into the country and the start of summer festivals.

Cricket fans enjoying the action at the Dubai International Stadium 

Ever since it was confirmed that the IPL 2020 will be held in the UAE, what most people are keen to know is  whether they would be able to watch the matches from the stadium.  Last Sunday, Mubashir Usmani, General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) had stated that they would seek permission from the UAE government to permit spectators into the stadium. 

In the light of Dubai opening doors for tourists from July 7th after  nearly four months of border closure and grounding of flights, it is likely that permission for spectators into the ground will be granted.  

Many cricket fans from the UK, USA Canada and even from some of the sub-continent countries are keen to come to the UAE to watch the IPL matches. If flights from India to the UAE commence, many fans from cities like Mumbai and Delhi who have never missed watching IPL matches, are also looking forward to come here. International tourists with COVID-19 negative certification have been exempted from having to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival here. The UAE government is also pleased with the sharp fall in number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country. 

Dubai launched the 23rd edition of the Dubai Summer Surprises from the first week of July with not only sales at malls and retail outlets but daily entertainment events as well.  Sharjah, which will be one of the venues for the IPL matches, has also commenced their month-long shopping festival on the theme “Smile -  you are in Sharjah.” Abu Dhabi, which will be another IPL venue, re-opened their popular Louvre Museum last month for visitors after a 100-day closure. 

Loud cheers from spectators has been the impetus for cricketers to deliver their best during the IPL matches. Youngsters who play in the IPL have immensely benefitted from the support they receive from the crowd. 

Colourful opening ceremony of the IPL 

When 20 matches of the 2014 edition of the IPL were staged in the UAE, they were witnessed by over 250,000 fans with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting seven matches each and Sharjah staging six matches. Every match had a minimum turn out of around 15,000. Based on the statistics of spectator-turn out for the 2014 edition of the IPL here, it is likely that permission will be granted, though with strict safety measures to be followed by the spectators.

The BCCI had officially announced that the 2014 IPL matches that were played in the UAE  had contributed to nearly $40million to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UAE. It was based on a study conducted by the audit, tax and advisory services firm KPMG’s Sports Advisory Group on behalf of the BCCI.

The UAE is in the process of boosting its tourism sector and IPL can contribute immensely towards that. It is also important for the country to start off activities with a large turnout given that it will be hosting Expo 2020 that has been postponed to October 2021. 

Cricket fans can thus be hopeful that the UAE government grants approval for them to enjoy the thrills of the IPL from the stadium itself.