The Arena
This is as close as you’ll get to a stadium atmos in the UAE. Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s conference-centre-turned-arena accommodates an impressive 800 people and boasts so many screens (including super-sized ones, natch) you’ll be able to get a full view from every corner. While entry is free – you then buy vouchers for your food and drink – there are also premium packages. For instance, if you and nine mates are sure you’ll spend Dh2,000 (not hard to do), you can book the premiere lounge – aka the best seats in the house. Then, if you’re feeling super-swanky you can book the VIP lounge – an elevated area with its own screens, private entrance, valet parking, buffet and private bathroom. Booking all this for the group matches will cost you Dh4,000 per group per day, which means you’ll get to watch two matches – plus all your food and drink is included!
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Road | Open for all matches, call ahead to check exact times | www.jumeirah.com/thearena
QDs
We love this creekside spot for its boast-worthy views and tasty pizzas, and so will definitely be heading down to catch some matches in its special 200-people capacity tent. There will be big screens, easy parking and affordable packages – including Dh350 for a table for four with two QD’s Snack Towers (yes, vertical platters of food!) and 10 selected beverages. What a steal!
Dubai Creek Golf And Yacht Club | 6pm-2am, daily | 04 295 6000
McGettigan’s
Not only will this Irish institution have 20 giant TV screens with surround sound, they’re also hosting a free Q&A session tonight (Thursday, June 7) with ex-internationals, Steve Staunton (Ireland, Liverpool), Dennis Wise (England, Chelsea) Alan McLoughlin (Ireland and Portsmouth) and Ian Taylor (England and Aston Villa). Head down at 8pm tonight to meet the stars and get debating.
Jumeirah Lake Towers | 12pm-3am, daily | 04 356 0560
Rush Bar At Yas
This Abu Dhabi bar will not only have a three-metre-wide projection screen, but the cocktail specials each night will reflect the countries playing – so drinks with Italian flair will be on special when the boys from Italy are playing, straight-up English blends when the Brits are, and so on. The only catch is that Thursday night games won’t be shown – that’s when the bar gets taken over by smooth grooves and R&B.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | 4pm-1am, daily | 02 656 0600
Barasti Beach Stadium
If sitting in a pub doesn’t cut it, then head down to this beach bar, which has built a fully air conditioned (phew!) stadium on the beach where all the games will be shown. Entrance is free, and there will be a four-by-three metre screen showing all the action. Whenever we’ve watched football at Barasti there seem to be supporters from all nations, which makes for a great atmosphere, so we’re going to
head here for the 8.45pm final on
July 1 and end the whole thing with a bang. We shoot, we score!
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Al Sufouh Road | Open 11am-1.30am weekdays and 11am-3am Thurs-Fri | 04 318 1313
The Rivington Grill
While this is more of a fine-dining bistro in our mind, the Souq Madinat Jumeirah branch’s bar is setting itself up as a football hotspot this month, with Dh30 pints, leather sofas and all matches being shown. It being a Brit spot, we’ll probably pop in for June 11’s hotly anticipated match between France and England – and we’ll order the Devonshire dressed crab as well as the Steak tartare, just to be neutral.
Souq Madinat Jumeirah | Open 6pm-late Sun-Thurs and 12pm-late Fri-Sat | 04 366 6464
From June 8-July 1 Euro 2012 will see 16 nations battle it out on the football pitch, while the UAE cheers on from our very own pubs and purpose-built stadiums
Dubliner’s
This wood-lined pub serves some of the best pies in town, and come Sunday, June 10, when Ireland take on Croatia we’ll be there, long ale in hand, ready to catch what’ll be a great game. There will be big screens showing all the action, as well as a ‘Guess the score card’ game, which, if you guess correctly, means 50 per cent off your next visit. So, that’ll be June 14 when Ireland take on Spain. Shakira’s dating one of the Spanish players, so she’ll be in the crowd (the stadium crowd, not the Dubliner’s crowd).
Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud | 11am-2.45am, daily | 04 702 2455
The Origami Fan Zone
The sleek high-rise on SZR that is the Radisson Royal Hotel is going to transform its high-design Origami event space into a footie fan’s heaven this month. The venue is fresh and fun, there will be thousands of instant prizes given away thanks to a leading hops brand, and the fans – given the venue is tres cutting-edge and image conscious – are sure to be all class. The two group matches will usually be on at 8pm and 10.45pm every day – good timing!
Radisson Royal Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road | Open during matches, call ahead to check exact times | 04 308 0550
