1984: First ODI Sharjah, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, cricket

Abdul Qadir at the Asia Cup in Sharjah in 1984

1989: Dubai Desert Classic, European Tour, golf

Magnus Persson tees off at the inaugural Dubai Desert Classic in 1989

1993: Dubai Tennis Championships, ATP WTA , tennis

Inaugural champion Karel Novacek at the Dubai Tennis in 1993

1996: Dubai World Cup, horseracing

Late Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents the Dubai World Cup after Cigar’s victory.

1997: Chris Eubank vs Camilo Alarcon, super middleweight, boxing


Chris Eubank and Camilo Alarcon

1999: Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens World Series, rugby


Fiji with the 2013 Dubai Sevens trophy

2000: Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, athletics


The Dubai Marathon has become a fixture on the sporting calendar

2002: First Test match, Pakistan vs West Indies, cricket


Younis Khan bats against West Indies

2003: Fifa Under-20 World Cup, football

2006: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships, European Tour, golf


Lee Westwood in action at the Abu Dhabi golf

2006: Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, Ladies European Tour year-ender, golf


Stacey Lewis plays out of a bunker at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

2009: DP World Tour Championship, European Tour year-ender, golf


Rory McIlroy with the DP World Tour Championship trophy

2009: Mubadala World Tennis Championships, Abu Dhabi, tennis


Rafael Nadal at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships

2009: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Formula One, motorsport


The spectacular Yas Marina Circuit

2009: Fifa Club World Cup, football

2009: Rugby Sevens World Cup, rugby

2010: Ultimate Fighting Championship, Abu Dhabi, mixed martial arts


UFC at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

2010: Fina World Swimming Championships (25m), swimming


Team USA at Fina

2011: Volvo Ocean Race, Abu Dhabi stopover sailing


Volvo Ocean Race

2013: Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship, volleyball


Singh Navjit from India (yellow) in action against Jassim Alnabha (red) from Bahrain during the 17th Asian Mens Volleyball Championship 2013.

2013: Fifa Under-17 World Cup, football


Nigeria celebrate victory in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup

2013: ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, table tennis


Liu Shiwen of China returns a shot to her compatriot Ding Ning during the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

2013: Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, darts


Michael Van Gerwen with the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters trophy

2013: Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final, golf


Andrea Pavan (left) and Shiv Kapur show off their trophies. Pavan topped the Challenge Tour rankings while Kapur won the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final.

2014: Dubai Tour, cycling


The peleton makes its way throught he desert stage of the Dubai Tour

2014: Fiba Under-17 World Championships, basketball


Tatum Jayson (centre) from Team USA attacks Angola’s Jungo Joao during their Fiba Under-17 World Championships match at the Al Shabab Arena in Dubai

2014: BWF Destination Dubai Superseries Finals, badminton


Jan Jorgensen plays a shot during the semi final men's match at the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals at Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai.

2014: Indian Premier League, cricket


Cricket fans take in the IPL action

2014: International Premier Tennis League, tennis


Indian Aces, winners of the first IPTL crown