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In the article
- 1 Top UAE Sportsbook for February, 2026
- 2 Reviewing the Sportsbooks in the UAE
- 2.1 Top Site for Sports Betting in the UAE with Several Ongoing Promotions
- 2.2 100% Up To $100 Sports Welcome Bonus
- 2.3 Quick Overview
- 2.4 100% Up To $100 Sports Welcome Bonus
- 2.5 Best Emirati Sportsbook for Parlay Betting with a Comprehensive Bet Builder Feature
- 2.6 100% Deposit Match Up To $100
- 2.7 Quick Overview
- 2.8 100% Deposit Match Up To $100
- 2.9 Best Selection of Horse Racing Markets for UAE Sports Betting
- 2.10 100% Sports Welcome Offer Worth Up To $100
- 2.11 Quick Overview
- 2.12 100% Sports Welcome Offer Worth Up To $100
- 3 Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the UAE?
- 4 How to Choose the Best UAE Betting Sites
- 5 How to Sign Up to A Sports Betting Site from the UAE
- 6 Accessing Offshore Sportsbooks from the UAE
- 7 Why Use Offshore Betting Sites if you live in the UAE?
- 8 Popular Sports, Teams, and Events to Bet On in the UAE
- 9 Horse Racing in Dubai and the UAE
- 10 Virtual Sports Betting in the UAE
- 11 Payment Methods for Emirati Bettors
- 12 Real Money Betting vs Crypto Betting
- 13 Tips for Staying Safe When Betting Online
- 14 Responsible Gambling
- 15 What are the Top UAE Sports Betting Sites?
Reviewing the Sportsbooks in the UAE
We’ve highlighted the ten best sites for sports betting in the UAE. Our sportsbook experts have further narrowed down this list by handpicking three platforms that provide the best experience for Emirati bettors looking to wager on sports. These platforms guarantee coverage of top local and international sports events, access and eligibility for several ongoing bonuses, plus secure banking methods for anonymized payments. Read on for our mini reviews of these highly-rated sites for sports betting in the UAE.
Top Site for Sports Betting in the UAE with Several Ongoing Promotions
Rabona
Rabona’s sportsbook stands out for its excellent coverage of over 35 sports, including international leagues and tournaments; however, what makes the site especially appealing for sports betting in the UAE is its selection of promotions for new users and regular players. The Anjouan-licensed sportsbook regularly rewards its users through numerous offers, including deposit matches, reloads, cashback, and low-entry tournaments. The sportsbook also introduces a fresh spin to betting bonuses, with its weekly sports challenges that reward you for betting with extra coins that you can redeem for site-exclusive prizes.
Quick Overview
Rabona’s sportsbook stands out for its excellent coverage of over 35 sports, including international leagues and tournaments; however, what makes the site especially appealing for sports betting in the UAE is its selection of promotions for new users and regular players. The Anjouan-licensed sportsbook regularly rewards its users through numerous offers, including deposit matches, reloads, cashback, and low-entry tournaments. The sportsbook also introduces a fresh spin to betting bonuses, with its weekly sports challenges that reward you for betting with extra coins that you can redeem for site-exclusive prizes.
Pros
- Low wagering requirement for several ongoing bonuses
- Regularly boosted odds on popular sports markets
- Separate crypto and fiat welcome bonuses
Cons
- Lower max winning cap for several bonuses
- Lack of sport-specific promotions
👍 Why Rabona is the Best for Ongoing Sports Promotions
As a regular Rabona user, you can benefit from several ongoing promotions that reward you for continuously betting on the site. The platform continually updates its bonus offerings, so you have different promotions to aim for each time. Importantly, the wagering requirements on Rabona’s bonuses are relatively low. The standard sports welcome bonus requires a modest 6x rollover at minimum odds of 1.50, while the weekly reload and cashback offers have wagering requirements of 8x and 3x immediately. Aside from standard bonuses, the site runs regular events, such as the Dubai Sport Weekly Tournament, with reasonable minimum bet requirements of €2 and prize pools of up to €2,000,000. These tournaments cut across several sports, including football, tennis, table tennis, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball, so no bettor is left behind.
💰 Range of Ongoing Promotions Available at Rabona
Rabona’s first deposit bonus rewards you with a 100% deposit match, up to €100, for sports betting in the UAE. The sportsbook also has a separate 100% crypto welcome bonus that is capped at 200 USDT. Existing users can benefit from Rabona’s 50% weekly reload bonus for crypto and fiat deposits, up to 500 USDT and €500, respectively. Rabona also gives 10% weekly cashback, up to 100% extra on winning parlays, boosted odds for specific sport markets, and a 50% horse racing reload, up to €50. Football lovers will enjoy the sportsbook’s early payout offer and 100% refund on games that end goalless.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
Rabona provides an excellent variety of bonus offers with player-friendly terms that ensure Emirari bettors can easily use them for sports betting in the UAE. After claiming the welcome offer, we regularly benefited from the site’s reload bonuses and parlay boosts. These promotions are recurring, so you can activate and use them whenever you meet the specific requirements. The sportsbook’s offers are easy to activate, and we like how terms are explicitly stated, so you know exactly what to expect by claiming a bonus. The site’s wagering requirements range from 6x to 8x, which is significantly lower than what we’ve noticed on other top UAE sportsbooks.
Key Features
👍 Why Rabona is the Best for Ongoing Sports Promotions
As a regular Rabona user, you can benefit from several ongoing promotions that reward you for continuously betting on the site. The platform continually updates its bonus offerings, so you have different promotions to aim for each time. Importantly, the wagering requirements on Rabona’s bonuses are relatively low. The standard sports welcome bonus requires a modest 6x rollover at minimum odds of 1.50, while the weekly reload and cashback offers have wagering requirements of 8x and 3x immediately. Aside from standard bonuses, the site runs regular events, such as the Dubai Sport Weekly Tournament, with reasonable minimum bet requirements of €2 and prize pools of up to €2,000,000. These tournaments cut across several sports, including football, tennis, table tennis, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball, so no bettor is left behind.
💰 Range of Ongoing Promotions Available at Rabona
Rabona’s first deposit bonus rewards you with a 100% deposit match, up to €100, for sports betting in the UAE. The sportsbook also has a separate 100% crypto welcome bonus that is capped at 200 USDT. Existing users can benefit from Rabona’s 50% weekly reload bonus for crypto and fiat deposits, up to 500 USDT and €500, respectively. Rabona also gives 10% weekly cashback, up to 100% extra on winning parlays, boosted odds for specific sport markets, and a 50% horse racing reload, up to €50. Football lovers will enjoy the sportsbook’s early payout offer and 100% refund on games that end goalless.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
Rabona provides an excellent variety of bonus offers with player-friendly terms that ensure Emirari bettors can easily use them for sports betting in the UAE. After claiming the welcome offer, we regularly benefited from the site’s reload bonuses and parlay boosts. These promotions are recurring, so you can activate and use them whenever you meet the specific requirements. The sportsbook’s offers are easy to activate, and we like how terms are explicitly stated, so you know exactly what to expect by claiming a bonus. The site’s wagering requirements range from 6x to 8x, which is significantly lower than what we’ve noticed on other top UAE sportsbooks.
Key Features
Best Emirati Sportsbook for Parlay Betting with a Comprehensive Bet Builder Feature
Casinia
Casinia stands out for Emirati sports bettors with its bet builder feature, which is an integrated same-game parlay tool. The sportsbook covers 30+ sports, ranging from football and tennis to niche markets like darts. With this bet builder feature, you can customize your wagers on select events, especially for top football and basketball leagues. The Casinia bet builder also works hand-in-hand with early payout, which marks selections as ‘won’ when your chosen team takes a lead by a margin specified by the sportsbook.
Quick Overview
Casinia stands out for Emirati sports bettors with its bet builder feature, which is an integrated same-game parlay tool. The sportsbook covers 30+ sports, ranging from football and tennis to niche markets like darts. With this bet builder feature, you can customize your wagers on select events, especially for top football and basketball leagues. The Casinia bet builder also works hand-in-hand with early payout, which marks selections as ‘won’ when your chosen team takes a lead by a margin specified by the sportsbook.
Pros
- Up to 100 bet builder markets available for top football games
- Accumulator boost up to 100% for winning parlays
- Simple toggle feature for activating bet builder
Cons
- Bet builder options aren’t available for all sports
👍 What Makes Casinia the Best for Bet Builder Bets
Casinia stands out for parlay betting because it integrates its bet builder into available sports. Building a same-game parlay with this tool is as straightforward as toggling the bet builder switch and then clicking to add to your bet slip. The website interface automatically greys out contradictory options once you select a market, making it easier to scroll through the other available options. The slip also displays potential returns instantly, so you don’t need to stress or use third-party tools to calculate how much you’d be making with a same-game parlay. Additionally, you can earn double loyalty points by wagering on certain bet builder markets, which increases your level to qualify you for VIP benefits, such as cashback and higher withdrawal limits.
🏀⚽ Range of Bet Builder Markets Available at Casinia
Casinia’s Bet Builder covers various markets for sports betting in the UAE; however, it is more commonly available for football and basketball wagering. For each event under these sports, Casinia offers a comprehensive set of bet types, including moneylines, totals, corners, correct score, FT spread, and winning margin 12-way markets. For a single, high-profile soccer match, you’ll find an average of 70 to 100 bet builder markets with no obvious restrictions on what options you can combine. Basketball bet builder options are fewer, still you can combine markets like FT spread, FT O/U, and FT moneyline to build a same-game NBA parlay.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
In our experience using Casinia, the Bet Builder feature lives up to expectations. Firstly, this bet builder was extremely easy to use. We simply had to click on desired selections and toggle the bet builder switch on the slip, which led to the interface combining them into a single parlay. The sportsbook’s UI is responsive, and we didn’t experience lag even with multiple selections. Our major gripe is that the bet builder is mostly unavailable for low-profile events; however, this is understandable. The sportsbook’s enhanced parlay boosts, with up to 100% extra, serve as icing on the cake, as they make it possible to earn significantly more on winning multi-leg bets.
Key Features
👍 What Makes Casinia the Best for Bet Builder Bets
Casinia stands out for parlay betting because it integrates its bet builder into available sports. Building a same-game parlay with this tool is as straightforward as toggling the bet builder switch and then clicking to add to your bet slip. The website interface automatically greys out contradictory options once you select a market, making it easier to scroll through the other available options. The slip also displays potential returns instantly, so you don’t need to stress or use third-party tools to calculate how much you’d be making with a same-game parlay. Additionally, you can earn double loyalty points by wagering on certain bet builder markets, which increases your level to qualify you for VIP benefits, such as cashback and higher withdrawal limits.
🏀⚽ Range of Bet Builder Markets Available at Casinia
Casinia’s Bet Builder covers various markets for sports betting in the UAE; however, it is more commonly available for football and basketball wagering. For each event under these sports, Casinia offers a comprehensive set of bet types, including moneylines, totals, corners, correct score, FT spread, and winning margin 12-way markets. For a single, high-profile soccer match, you’ll find an average of 70 to 100 bet builder markets with no obvious restrictions on what options you can combine. Basketball bet builder options are fewer, still you can combine markets like FT spread, FT O/U, and FT moneyline to build a same-game NBA parlay.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
In our experience using Casinia, the Bet Builder feature lives up to expectations. Firstly, this bet builder was extremely easy to use. We simply had to click on desired selections and toggle the bet builder switch on the slip, which led to the interface combining them into a single parlay. The sportsbook’s UI is responsive, and we didn’t experience lag even with multiple selections. Our major gripe is that the bet builder is mostly unavailable for low-profile events; however, this is understandable. The sportsbook’s enhanced parlay boosts, with up to 100% extra, serve as icing on the cake, as they make it possible to earn significantly more on winning multi-leg bets.
Key Features
Best Selection of Horse Racing Markets for UAE Sports Betting
AmunRa
AmunRa is an Anjouan-licensed Ancient-Egypt themed online casino and sportsbook that also boasts a strong racebook for lovers of horse racing. You can wager on any horse race worldwide in AmunRa, with the site providing several betting options, including the number of runners, margins, and head-to-heads. AmunRa’s racebook isn’t limited to races in the UAE. The sportsbook features markets from international racetracks, like Southwell, Kasamatsu, and Canterbury, with dozens of upcoming races available at any time.
Quick Overview
AmunRa is an Anjouan-licensed Ancient-Egypt themed online casino and sportsbook that also boasts a strong racebook for lovers of horse racing. You can wager on any horse race worldwide in AmunRa, with the site providing several betting options, including the number of runners, margins, and head-to-heads. AmunRa’s racebook isn’t limited to races in the UAE. The sportsbook features markets from international racetracks, like Southwell, Kasamatsu, and Canterbury, with dozens of upcoming races available at any time.
Pros
- A distinct horse racing section that is easy to navigate
- Live streams for all ongoing horse races
- Detailed stats for horse racing meets
Cons
- You can watch horse racing live streams only when your betting account is funded
- Lack of exclusive horse racing betting promotions
👍 What Makes AmunRa the Best for Horse Racing Betting
AmunRa provides a separate section for horse racing, so that you can view all available betting markets at once. The user interface is clear, showing country flags and race times, which makes it easy to navigate through markets. Furthermore, AmunRa offers live streams for ongoing races, although this feature is only available to funded accounts. For each race, you get detailed stats for participating horses, including data for W%-P%, career record, last 5, track, distance, and turf. You can equally access info on the horse trainer, age, sire, and dam. The sportsbook offers a parlay boost, which gives up to 100% extra on winnings and applies to horse racing selections.
🏇 Horse Racing Markets Available at AmunRa
AmunRa’s horse racing section covers a wide range of races and bet types, with odds on domestic and international events. You can expect to find markets for races from Australia, Al Ain, the UK, Hong Kong, South Africa, and more. These include prestigious races, such as the Melbourne Cup, Cheltenham, Aintree, Belmont, and Preakness. AmunRa also covers Dubai World Cup races and the Saudi Cup. The market types are comprehensive, covering both standard bets and exotic wagers. You can bet on Win, Place, Each-Way, Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, and First Four odds. AmunRa even includes Australasian specialities, like Quinella Place and Quadrella.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
AmunRa delivers on its promise of the finest value odds for horse racing. While using the site, we consistently received equal or better odds on Emirati and international races compared to other UAE sportsbooks. The site’s racebook is easy to navigate, thanks to a clean listing of daily and upcoming races. We especially appreciate that exotic bets are easy to place, largely due to the website’s intuitive design. Furthermore, while using the site, horse racing results were displayed immediately, and payouts were promptly resolved, ensuring that we could instantly access winnings.
Key Features
👍 What Makes AmunRa the Best for Horse Racing Betting
AmunRa provides a separate section for horse racing, so that you can view all available betting markets at once. The user interface is clear, showing country flags and race times, which makes it easy to navigate through markets. Furthermore, AmunRa offers live streams for ongoing races, although this feature is only available to funded accounts. For each race, you get detailed stats for participating horses, including data for W%-P%, career record, last 5, track, distance, and turf. You can equally access info on the horse trainer, age, sire, and dam. The sportsbook offers a parlay boost, which gives up to 100% extra on winnings and applies to horse racing selections.
🏇 Horse Racing Markets Available at AmunRa
AmunRa’s horse racing section covers a wide range of races and bet types, with odds on domestic and international events. You can expect to find markets for races from Australia, Al Ain, the UK, Hong Kong, South Africa, and more. These include prestigious races, such as the Melbourne Cup, Cheltenham, Aintree, Belmont, and Preakness. AmunRa also covers Dubai World Cup races and the Saudi Cup. The market types are comprehensive, covering both standard bets and exotic wagers. You can bet on Win, Place, Each-Way, Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, and First Four odds. AmunRa even includes Australasian specialities, like Quinella Place and Quadrella.
💡 Expert’s Opinion
AmunRa delivers on its promise of the finest value odds for horse racing. While using the site, we consistently received equal or better odds on Emirati and international races compared to other UAE sportsbooks. The site’s racebook is easy to navigate, thanks to a clean listing of daily and upcoming races. We especially appreciate that exotic bets are easy to place, largely due to the website’s intuitive design. Furthermore, while using the site, horse racing results were displayed immediately, and payouts were promptly resolved, ensuring that we could instantly access winnings.
Key Features
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the UAE?
No, online sports betting is not legal in the UAE. The restriction on online sports betting in the UAE is tied to Islam being the country’s official religion. Gambling is prohibited in Islam; hence, most forms of gambling and sports betting are criminalized under the UAE penal law. The only exceptions to this are specific, government-authorized activities, such as licensed raffles and prize draws authorized by the Ministry of Economy.
That said, despite the unregulated status of sports betting in the UAE, you can safely bet on sports via our recommended international sportsbooks. UAE legislation primarily targets offshore sportsbook regulators, with internet service providers restricting unauthorised gambling sites. However, you can safely bet on football and horse racing from Dubai, provided you anonymously connect to the site via a premium VPN app.
How to Choose the Best UAE Betting Sites
There are hundreds of international sportsbooks available to UAE bettors. So, to ensure that we only recommend platforms that provide a secure and feature-rich online betting experience, our sportsbook experts consider multiple qualities for a detailed review process. Here’s a checklist of these key features to note before registering with any betting site in the UAE:
- Reputation and Licensing: Always verify that the sportsbook is licensed by a trusted regulatory body, such as the Curacao Gaming Control Board or the Malta Gaming Authority. Regulatory oversight from reputable organizations guarantees player protection, fair gameplay, and effective methods of dispute resolution.
- Availability to UAE bettors: Not all online sportsbooks offer their services to gamblers in the UAE. Before choosing a betting site, confirm that the platform accepts Emirati players or supports VPN usage, allowing you to bet on sports anonymously and securely.
- Sports Betting Bonus: The best betting sites in the UAE offer bonuses to reward new and long-term users. Look through the sportsbook’s bonus offering for the presence of welcome bonuses, free bets, cashback, and loyalty rewards. Also, read through the bonus conditions to confirm that the site offers favorable terms for its promotions.
- Variety of Sports to Bet On: Top UAE betting sites provide markets for the most popular sports, including football, basketball, tennis, cricket, and horse racing. These sites also offer niche sports, such as darts, snooker, and esports markets, allowing users to wager on their preferred events.
- Secure Payment Methods: Look out for UAE sportsbooks that guarantee safe payments with secure gateways, SSL encryption, and two-factor authentication. The best sites for sports betting in the UAE prioritize fast payments by integrating modern and secure banking options, such as cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, and faster bank transfers.
- Arabic Language Support: Confirm that the site lists Arabic among its supported languages and provides customer help in this language. This will make it easier for you to navigate the platform and explain any issues you might be experiencing to a sportsbook agent.
How to Sign Up to A Sports Betting Site from the UAE
We’ve provided a list of reliable platforms for sports betting in the UAE where you can wager on the most popular and niche sports markets. To make things even easier, here’s how you can register with any of these betting sites in the UAE in four simple steps:
- Choose a Sportsbook: Browse through our list of recommended sites for sports betting in the UAE and choose a platform with your preferred events, payment options, and bonuses.
- Open an Account: Connect to a secure VPN, visit the sportsbook website, click ‘Sign Up’ to register an account, and complete the process.
- Make Your First Deposit: Log in to your newly created account, navigate to the banking section, select any of the listed payment options, and follow on-screen instructions to complete your first deposit.
- Start Playing Games: Once payment is confirmed, return to the sportsbook and browse through the available sports markets to place your first wager.
Note: Many international betting sites in the UAE allow you to register an account without completing KYC. However, you’ll mostly need to verify your identity before you can withdraw winnings. The requirement for KYC verification varies according to the site; however, you mostly need to submit some form of government-issued ID.
Accessing Offshore Sportsbooks from the UAE
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are key to online sports betting in the UAE. Due to directives from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the UAE block access to betting sites. So, the only way to access these international betting sites from the UAE is to connect to a VPN and set your location to another country.
Online sports betting is not regulated in the UAE. Therefore, you have no government protection if an operator engages in shady activities like delaying payouts or switching bonus terms without warning. Our recommended Dubai betting sites are licensed by trusted offshore regulators with clear rules for player protection, platform security, and dispute resolution. However, if you’re accessing offshore sportsbooks outside of our list, here’s how to stay safe while using these sites:
- Connect to a secure VPN before visiting the website – premium VPNs are mostly better secured than free versions
- Confirm that the site has the necessary encryption protocols and certificates
- Avoid uploading personal identification and financial documents to unverified sites
- Be wary of bonus offers that promise large guaranteed wins without clear terms
Why Use Offshore Betting Sites if you live in the UAE?
Offshore betting sites provide a secure and reliable way of betting on sports from the UAE, pending the establishment of regulated sportsbooks. Here are the main reasons why you should use international sites for sports betting in the UAE:
✅ Access to More Sports and Markets
Offshore betting sites list far more international competitions, niche markets, and different betting options, including player props, spreads, live micro-markets, and standard in-play options. This market variety gives you access to wager on any of your favorite international teams and events from the UAE, ensuring you’re not limited to simple moneyline wagers.
✅ Better Bonuses and Promotions
The best sites for sports betting in the UAE focus on aggressive marketing by providing several lucrative promotional offers. These include welcome bonuses, reload offers, acca boosts, and risk-free bets that attract new customers and reward consistent users of their sportsbooks. These promotions can substantially increase your wagering bankroll, so you have even more funds to bet on your favorite sports.
✅ Better Odds and Lower Margins
Top sites for online betting in the UAE offer better prices on their sports markets with lower vig and tighter margins. These international sportsbooks often list spread or handicap lines where both sides are priced close to odds of -111, allowing you to retain value regardless of what side you wager on.
Popular Sports, Teams, and Events to Bet On in the UAE
Despite the restriction on regulated sports betting, the UAE has one of the highest rates of sports engagement globally. According to a 2023 YouGov research, 89% of Emiratis consume sports either through social media, watching live sports on TV, or live streaming platforms. Here’s an overview of the most popular sports, teams, and events for Emirati bettors:
🏏 Cricket
The UAE hosts high-profile franchise and international cricket events, such as the Abu Dhabi T10/T10 League, the UAE stages of the Asia Cup, and occasional Pakistan Super League Fixtures. Consequently, cricket fans in the UAE follow local franchise cricket sides and major international teams closely, resulting in wagers on teams and events. The top betting options for cricket in the UAE include match winner, top bowler/batsman props, match & series outrights, over/under team totals, and in-play markets, like next wicket.
⚽ Football
Football is the leading spectator team sport in the UAE. Domestic fans follow the UAE Pro League, with teams like Al Ain, Shabab, Al-Ahli, Al-Wahda, and Al-Wasl enjoying strong local support. Similarly, international competitions like the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FIFA World Cup draw significant interest among UAE bettors. These international competitions drive the highest level of betting activity at UAE betting apps. You can wager on pre-match and live football betting markets like 1×2, half-time/full-time outcomes, spreads, totals, player props, and outrights for competition winners.
🏀 Basketball
The UAE’s interest in international basketball competitions is steadily growing, and the NBA is the major source of attraction for bettors located in the country. The country also fields competitive club basketball sides, like Shabab Al Ahli, in regional competitions, including the West Asia Super League. The top basketball betting options on UAE sportsbooks include moneyline, point spread, totals, quarter/period, player props (rebounds, assists, points), and futures on championship winners.
🎾 Tennis
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which consist of a WTA 1000 women’s event and an ATP 500 men’s tournament, run annually in the UAE. Similarly, the UAE hosts the Mubadala Abu Dhabi WTA 500 Open, a key part of the Hologic WTA Tour. These competitions welcome some of the top tennis players in the game, plus teeming crowds eager to witness their favorite stars in action. Sites for sports betting in the UAE allow you to wager on these competitions, with markets for match winner, set spreads, game/set totals, and several niche markets, including props for the number of aces hit by a player.
🏉 Rugby
Rugby has a strong stadium following in the UAE, largely due to the annual Dubai Sevens event. This event sees over 390 teams from 30+ countries compete at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai in what has been described as the “biggest sports and entertainment festival in the Middle East”. UAE bettors aren’t short of rugby wagering markets for this event, with top sportsbooks offering odds for match winners, point spreads, try scorer markets, match points, and outright champions.
🎮 Esports
The UAE is a global hub for eSports, hosting regular tournaments for FIFA, League of Legends, VALORANT, Dota 2, and PUBG. The country has regional eSports organizations, such as NASR eSports, and the frequent LAN events allow fans to watch their favorite players live in action. eSports markets vary from standard betting options. Still, sites for sports betting in Dubai provide odds for map/round handicaps, map/round totals, first match winner props, major tournament outrights, and player-specific markets when available.
Horse Racing in Dubai and the UAE
Horse Racing is deeply rooted in Emirati culture, with the UAE’s rulers and major private owners investing heavily in breeding, training, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. One such infrastructure is the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, which boasts two world-class racetracks with lengths of approximately 1.08 and 1.49 miles, and can accommodate up to 60,000 spectators.
Because of the UAE’s investment in horse racing and the buzz around racing events, residents follow and bet on international and local events. These include races from horsetracks in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and locations around Europe.
The good news is that several of our overseas betting sites for UAE players have dedicated racebooks. So, you can connect with a VPN to wager on markets like win, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta at these horse racing sites. That said, here’s an overview of the international racing markets that are most popular for horse racing betting on these top UAE sportsbooks:
Australia
Australia’s metropolitan carnivals are world famous, attracting international racers looking to win a piece of the significant prize pool. The country itself has a deep and well-organized racing calendar, with year-round meetings across several states. These include the Melbourne Cup, W.S. Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, and Victoria Derby.
Aside from the racing events, Australia has a strong breeding and stud industry. Hundreds to thousands of the racehorses and broodmares that are produced in the country compete at global staying and sprinting events. Australian racing events draw a lot of international attention, with detailed form information and an excellent variety of bet types and pools.
UK & Ireland
The UK & Ireland have a prestigious horse racing pedigree, thanks to their history of thoroughbred racing. Both countries focus on two primary horse racing categories: Flat racing and National Hunt racing. The racing calendar in the UK and Ireland includes some of the world’s most famous meetings, including the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Galway Races.
UK and Irish horse racing meets offer high betting liquidity, especially since it’s the second most popular spectator sport in these countries, after football. The quality of jockeys, trainers, and bloodlines for UK & Irish meets is of the highest quality, and these races enjoy extensive statistical coverage.
Europe
Europe contains several large international racing centers, with frequent racing schedules and a strong culture among locals. France, for instance, is noted for its high-quality flat and jumps racing, while Germany has a reputation for producing horses with exceptional stamina. The Italians also have several old and prestigious races, with key events like the Derby Italiano.
European horse racing betting markets vary according to country. However, you will mostly enjoy wagering on high-quality contests with occasionally large domestic pools. Overall, horse racing contests in Europe are well organized, and they witness considerable betting volume on UAE sportsbooks.
USA
Just like in the UK, the USA has a long and well-established horse racing culture, especially in dirt-track flat racing and the East Coast’s strong circuit. The Triple Crown is the top horse racing event in the country, and it consists of three high-profile races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The Breeders’ Cup is another high-profile, two-day event held at top tracks across the U.S.
There are more than 75 active horse racing tracks across the United States. These tracks host live thoroughbred, harness, and quarter horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering. USA horse racing meets feature prominently on UAE betting sites, so you can easily wager on the country’s top racing events and lower-profile races.
Asia
The Hong Kong Cup is a key stop on the international racing calendar, with the high-quality flat racing on show attracting several of the world’s best racers. Also, Japan is considered the world’s largest horse racing market by value, with the country hosting around 15,000 to 20,000 races annually, notably the Japan Cup.
The Dubai World Cup, hosted in the UAE, is considered one of the world’s richest races, with a prize purse of $10 million. Similarly, the Saudi Cup offers a $20 million prize for the winner, making it the single richest horse race worldwide. India, Singapore, and China also have strong horse racing programs and events, although these races are not typically available for sports betting in the UAE.
Virtual Sports Betting in the UAE
Regular betting markets are only available when the sports season is underway. Therefore, you might be forced to go long periods without betting on sports when a season/tournament goes on break. This break is especially more pronounced when you specialize in betting on a single sport, leaving you stuck with long, quiet periods. However, with virtual betting, these breaks are eliminated.
Virtual sports are algorithm-driven and hyper-realistic simulations with real-time streams that run 24/7. Sport events are simulated by software that combines certain preset performance stats, depending on the sport. Then, outcomes are randomly predicted by an RNG, so results aren’t set in stone. This system ensures new virtual events are generated at intervals of 1 to 5 minutes, so you don’t have to wait for the event to kick off before betting on sports.
Virtual betting is available for a wide variety of sports; however, the most common options include:
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Formula 1
- Tennis
- Horse racing
Real Sports Betting vs Virtual Sports Betting
We’ve established that real sports betting is limited to actual sporting events, while virtual wagers are based on randomly generated outcomes. However, the differences between the betting systems go deeper, and the table below provides a closer look:
Real Sports Betting
Virtual Sports Betting
Restricted to real-life match fixtures and seasons
Events run 24/7, whether or not an actual game is ongoing
Features larger markets and more betting options on different sports
Usually has fewer standard and niche bet types for events
Bet settlement is occasionally delayed for some minutes after an event ends
Instant payouts after each simulation ends.
Outcomes depend on real-life athlete and team performance
Outcomes depend on Random Number Generators
Payment Methods for Emirati Bettors
Since sports betting is tightly regulated in the UAE, the top international sportsbooks and the best casinos in the UAE prioritize digital banking methods. These allow Emirati players to complete anonymized, secure, and fast payments. Looking to start wagering on any of these sites? Here’s an overview of the payment methods you’ll find at sites for betting in the UAE:
E-wallets (Skrill/Neteller)
E-wallets are a common option at international sites for sports betting in the UAE, and this is because they support anonymized payments. An e-wallet acts as an intermediary by routing transactions between your bank and the sportsbook, so you don’t have to enter your bank details to make payments on the site. They’re convenient for instant deposits, and withdrawals are typically processed within 12 to 24 hours. That said, you must complete KYC to set up an e-wallet, and UAE sportsbooks still require ID checks before you can start making wallet payments.
Cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, USDT)
Cryptocurrencies offer the fastest payment times for deposits and withdrawals at sites for sports betting in the UAE. Payments are completed within a few minutes to hours, and crypto sportsbooks typically don’t charge any extra fees. Also, crypto transfers are done pseudonymously, so gambling payments don’t show up on your bank records. That said, cryptocurrencies are subject to volatile price swings that affect your deposits. Also, many reputable UAE sportsbooks require KYC for larger crypto withdrawals.
Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard)
Most offshore betting sites in the UAE accept debit card payments, and that is because this option is easy to use. You only have to enter your card details on a secure sportsbook, and your debit amount is automatically deducted from your account. That said, cards are mostly only available for deposits, so you must select an alternative banking option for withdrawals. Also, some card issuers decline payments for sports betting in the UAE.
International Bank Transfer (SWIFT)
Bank transfers are the classic option for withdrawing large sums from the best betting sites in the UAE. This method is highly secure, since it is directly linked to banking institutions and systems; however, withdrawals take time to arrive, with an average payout period of between 2 and 5 days. Also, most sportsbooks settle in USD/EUR, so conversion fees typically apply.
Sportsbook
Credit/Debit Cards
E-Wallet
Cryptocurrency
Min. Deposit
Min. Withdrawal
Max. Deposit
Max. Withdrawal
Rabona
Visa, Mastercard
Skrill, Neteller
BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, USDC, BCH, DOGE, ADA
$25
$10
$5,790
$5,790
Casinia
Visa, Mastercard
Skrill, Neteller
USDT, BTC, ETH, SOL, TRON, BNB, LTC, XRP, USDC, BCH, DOGE, ADA
$25
$10
$5,790
$5,790
AmunRa
Visa, Mastercard
Skrill, Neteller
USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, USDC, BCH, DOGE, ADA
$25
$10
$5,790
$5,790
Legiano
Visa, Mastercard
Skrill, Neteller
USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, USDC, BCH, DOGE, ADA
$25
$10
$5,790
$5,790
Bassbet
Visa, Mastercard
Skrill, Neteller
USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, USDC, BCH, DOGE, ADA
$25
$10
$5,790
$5,790
Real Money Betting vs Crypto Betting
Fiat and crypto betting sites have clear advantages and real risks for bettors residing in the UAE. While the fiat routes are more familiar and easier to use, they typically require you to part with sensitive financial details that may result in banking flags. Crypto is faster and doesn’t require integration with traditional UAE banks, so this is the preferred option for online betting in the UAE.
Real Money Betting
Crypto Betting
✅ Widely available and uses cards/wallets/bank transfers for payments
✅ Offers low-cost payments with cryptocurrencies
✅ KYC is commonly required for deposits and withdrawals
✅ Deposits are typically instant, and withdrawals are completed within minutes
✅ Monetary value of real money deposits remains stable over a longer period
✅ Crypto sportsbooks are VPN-compatible, so you can anonymously complete betting deposits from the UAE
❌ Real money withdrawals typically take longer to process and complete
❌ Crypto deposits are subject to significant price changes that can reduce value
❌ Banks and card networks occasionally flag real money betting deposits
❌ Crypto deposits are irreversible when mistakes occur
Tips for Staying Safe When Betting Online
Online sports betting in the UAE presents several legal and security risks, particularly since it is accessible only through offshore betting sites. Here at GamesHub, we’re committed to ensuring that our readers stay safe by helping them identify potentially scam platforms before they hand over real money or documents. So, we’ve provided this shortlist of expert-level checks to conduct before registering with any platform for online sports betting in the UAE:
- Verify License Validity: Don’t simply trust the presence of a licence seal at an online betting site. Click the link and confirm the licence number and operator name on the regulator’s official portal. Avoid platforms with missing or inconsistent details.
- Confirm Bonus Terms: Don’t be carried away by lucrative max bonus deals. Before activating any offer, study the wagering contributions, max bet caps, and expiry period. Ensure the bonus conditions are well-detailed and favorable enough.
- Study Real User Reviews: Read through user feedback on third-party sites to get a feel for the sportsbook’s service delivery. One or two complaints are normal; however, when there are repeated complaints about the same issue, that is a red flag you shouldn’t ignore.
- Check for Responsible Gambling Tools: Trustworthy sites for sports betting in the UAE prioritize user welfare by providing tools to help users stay in control. Look for obvious deposit limits, cooling-off periods, self-exclusion, and links to support organizations.
- Prioritize Fiat-Pegged Cryptocurrencies: When using cryptocurrencies, opt for widely used stablecoins, such as USDT and USDC, that are pegged to a fiat currency. This helps you avoid the volatility that’s common with altcoins, helping you retain the full value of your fiat deposit.
Responsible Gambling
Online gambling is primarily meant as a source of entertainment, and this applies to sports betting in the UAE. The best platforms for sports betting in the UAE offer built-in tools you should use to manage your betting activities. These include deposit and loss limits, voluntary time-outs, and self-exclusion options. Beyond using these tools, set a clear betting budget, take breaks between sessions, and avoid chasing losses.
If gambling starts to feel less like entertainment and you’re finding it difficult to control your urges to bet, reach out. International organizations, like BeGambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous, offer free, confidential, and professional support to UAE bettors struggling with problem gambling.
What are the Top UAE Sports Betting Sites?
We’ve discussed how UAE-based players can access online sports betting; however, you must choose the right platform and follow essential safety practices to enjoy your online wagering experience. Reliable platforms for sports betting in the UAE offer clear licensing, strong data protection, and banking methods that allow you to complete discreet payments. You can also enjoy transparent bonus terms, deep sports coverage, and competitive odds by using our recommended UAE sportsbooks.
Rabona is our top recommendation for Emirati bettors who desire a secure and user-friendly experience. The sportsbook offers generous 100% crypto and fiat welcome bonuses to get you started. In addition, the site is internationally licensed in Anjouan, and you can benefit from ongoing daily and weekly bonuses when you sign up through our exclusive link today.
