Before a ball was bowled in Season X, the 2026 trophy made stops at three of the capital’s best-loved landmarks. The pictures say a lot about the kind of tournament Abu Dhabi wants this to be
ABU DHABI, 9 November 2026: The Abu Dhabi T10 trophy has had a busier week than most visitors to the capital. Before the opening match at Zayed Cricket Stadium on 7 November, it went on a short city tour, stopping at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat Al Karama and the new Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island.
It is an easy trophy to photograph. Two polished arms in silver and gold curve upwards to cradle a ball covered in crystals. Set into the crystals, in gold, is a batter caught mid-swing. The base carries one simple line: Abu Dhabi T10, 2026 Winner. Whoever lifts it on 20 November will be the champion of the tournament’s tenth season, and the first under its new Abu Dhabi ownership.
Morning at the Grand Mosque
The first picture is the one most people will recognise. The trophy stands on a tall blue plinth, the tournament’s name running down its side, at the edge of the reflecting pools in front of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Behind it rises the white domes and minarets. In the water below, the whole Mosque appears as a reflection.
The thinking here is easy to follow. The Grand Mosque is on almost every visitor’s first-day list, and plenty of them will stand at this exact spot with their phones out. Some of them will now also know there is cricket on in town.
A quieter stop across the road
Wahat Al Karama, the Oasis of Dignity, sits directly opposite the mosque and asks for a different mood. Its centrepiece is a memorial by British artist Idris Khan: 31 aluminium-clad tablets leaning against one another, the tallest of them 23 metres high. The leaning is the point. Each tablet holds up the next, standing for the support between the UAE’s leadership, its people and the heroes who protect them.
In line with the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, recognition of the UAE’s heroes’ sacrifices in the service of their country, and his directives to commemorate them and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wahat Al Karama, was officially inaugurated on 30 November 2016, to become a timeless tribute to commemorate and honour the UAE’s heroes.
Here, the trophy looks small against the grey slabs, with nothing but clear sky above. It is the most restrained photograph of the set, and probably the most thoughtful. The timing fits too. The UAE marks Commemoration Day (also known as Martyrs’ Day or Yawm Ash-Shahiid ) on 30 November, ten days after the T10 final.
Falcon feathers on Saadiyat
The last stop was the newest. Zayed National Museum opened in the Saadiyat Cultural District on December 2025, so this is its first T10 season. Inspired by the wings of a falcon in flight, the five aerodynamic towers of Zayed National Museum harness the same barjeel wind tower principles used to cool dwellings in the region for centuries.
Designed by Foster + Partners and inspired by the wing of a falcon in flight, Zayed National Museum stands as the centrepiece of the Saadiyat Cultural District. Honouring the Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s passion for heritage and the environment, the design combines ancient sustainability techniques with modern technologies to respond to the UAE’s climate.
Two pictures were taken here. In one, the trophy sits on a mirrored plinth in front of the circular fountain, with the feathers behind it and date palms lining both sides. In the other, shot from low down, the trophy’s curved arms line up almost exactly with the curve of the towers above.
Why a cricket trophy needs a day out
The tour matches the way the tournament is now being run. This year Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) took majority ownership and commercial control of the Abu Dhabi T10, with support from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). Six teams are playing 32 matches this season, all at Zayed Cricket Stadium: Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles, Royal Desert Champions, UAE Bulls, United Tigers and Yas Lions.
A tournament owned by the city has every reason to showcase its home. Abu Dhabi has set an ambitious target of attracting 39 million visitors annually by 2030, and cricket provides a powerful platform to reach audiences in key tourism markets, particularly South Asia and the UK.
For millions of viewers tuning in from Mumbai, Delhi, London and beyond, the tournament offers more than just cricket. It provides a glimpse of Abu Dhabi’s iconic landmarks, rich cultural heritage and world-class attractions, potentially inspiring them to experience the destination firsthand.
There is a practical appeal, too. With a T10 match lasting approximately 90 minutes, visitors have ample time to explore the city. They could begin their day at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, spend the afternoon at the museum and still make it to Zayed Cricket Stadium for an evening of high-octane cricket.
The tournament’s extensive international broadcast and digital distribution network further strengthens Abu Dhabi’s global visibility, bringing the action and glimpses of the host city, to cricket fans across multiple continents.
Fans around the world can follow the Abu Dhabi T10 live through the following broadcast and streaming partners:
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Cricbuzz (digital), Cricbuzz TV on eLife, Switch TV and STARZPLAY
- Pakistan: A Sports (television), Tamasha and MYCO (digital)
- South Africa: Sporty TV (television and digital)
- USA, Canada and associated North American territories: Willow TV, Willow Sports and Willow by Cricbuzz
- Australia: FOX Sports Channel 501 (television) and Kayo Sports (streaming)
- Caribbean: RUSH – Live and Louder (television and digital)
- India: Star Sports 1 SD/HD (English), Star Sports 2 SD/HD (Hindi), Star Sports 4K (English, excluding 7–8 November) and JioHotstar (streaming)
For Abu Dhabi, the tournament is therefore more than a sporting spectacle. It is an opportunity to showcase the emirate to a global audience, turning cricket’s international appeal into greater awareness of the destination and, potentially, future visitor arrivals.
Making a day of it
The Grand Mosque and Wahat Al Karama sit across the road from each other, so one trip covers both. Entry to both is free. At the mosque, dress modestly; women need to cover their hair. The memorial plaza at Wahat Al Karama is open around the clock and sunset is a good time to see the tablets catch the light. Zayed National Museum is a short drive away on Saadiyat Island, and booking tickets online before you go saves time at the door.
Abu Dhabi T10 runs until 20 November at Zayed Cricket Stadium (https://www.abudhabit10.com/t10x/matches). Tickets are on sale through the official tournament website through the ticketing partner, District (https://www.district.ae/events/abu-dhabi-t10-2026-ticket-booking).
The trophy has seen the sights. Now it waits at the stadium for someone to take it home.