Footy in United Arab Emirates

[SirRooke]

Hi all,

I am moving to Abu Dhabi in January and am curious to know about the local league there and if there are any Cats fans there.

I am also curious to know how i can watch the AFL whilst I am there. I am in Singapore currently and can access through Australia Network, though it seems that there is no Australia Network coverage in the Middle East. I can't bear the thought of not being able to watch Geelong for the next few years.

Cheers

 

[witsend]

Don't know about TV but when I was working O/S I used to listen to 3aw live on the internet. Rex and the boys sound VERY strange in the context of another country. People listening were amazed at the banter!

 

[thejester]

Hahahaha a local league? Maybe they pay Bangladeshis to play for them.

 

[hamG]

thejester during that pre season game in the UAE this year they talked about there being 2 teams of expats over there who play each other.

SirRooke you may seriously need to speak to the AFL cronies and ask for a contact.

 

[Moo]

Hi all,

I am moving to Abu Dhabi in January and am curious to know about the local league there and if there are any Cats fans there.

I am also curious to know how i can watch the AFL whilst I am there. I am in Singapore currently and can access through Australia Network, though it seems that there is no Australia Network coverage in the Middle East. I can't bear the thought of not being able to watch Geelong for the next few years.

Cheers

There is a gulf league - Abu Dhabi Falcons are the team. Play against teams from Sharja, Doha, Dubai, Muscat and next year a team from Al Ain (I think).

http://www.abudhabifalcons.com/

We get 2 games a week on Showtime - one on Sat and one on Sun + all the final games (you need to get Showtime not Orbit as these are the 2 major packages). Also get a highlights package every mon night of all the games.

Unfortunatley you need to rely on the AFL or Bit T for the other games, or just listen via the net. AFL has been ***** hopeless but I still try.

Plenty of Aussies over here and I know a few Cats supporters in Dubai.

 

[Keldar]

SirRooke, interesting to hear you're moving to the Dharbs. I was a couple days from signing up to go there but ended up snagging a job in Edinburgh, instead. Might end up there in a couple years.

Anyway sounds like you've got enough advice here but I've got lots of footy-mad mates there so if you like, I can ask them what the story is. I remember one of them telling me there was a couple channels/networks you could get, but then again he was also relying on AFL.com.au (or their overseas affiliate) for replays and was bagging it out.

Good luck with it all!!!

BJ

 

[Asty]

Definately footy in the middle east (I have played against the dubai heat)

http://www.dubai-heat.com/

and from their website there was a link to the afl middle east site

http://www.aflmiddleeast.com/

 

[SirRooke]

Thanks everyone!

Cheers,

 

[freebet]

with the money oil brings them...heck...they even got Maradona to make a bycicle kick goal with a local team about 10 years ago...