November 21–23, Etisalat Academy – Dubai, UAE
Under a hot fall desert sun, a dry and dusty field, and an atmosphere charged with excitement and emotion, the Dubai Bowl 2025 delivered a groundbreaking weekend for international flag football in the Middle East. Held from November 21–23 at the Etisalat Academy, the event brought together 26 teams—16 men’s and 10 women’s—from 13 countries, with players representing more than 100 nationalities. The competition was fierce, the energy relentless, and the significance unmistakable: this was the first international flag football tournament in UAE history to be officially recognized by all major UAE sports authorities, including the Ministry of Sport, Dubai Sports Council, and the UAE Sports for All Federation, where American football has finally found a home.
A Historic Moment for Flag Football in the UAE
This event marks a turning point for the sport in the region—uniting global teams under UAE recognition for the first time and showcasing the sport’s growing professionalism and passion. The tournament also highlighted the leadership and forward vision of the UAE Sports for All Federation, lead by his excellence Saeed Ali Al-Ajal. whose support is accelerating the rise of flag football nationwide.
A Global Group-Stage Marathon
Day 1 kicked off with a full 12 hours of group-phase action from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The men were split into four groups of four, while the women competed in two groups of five.
Day 2 continued the group-stage through the morning before transitioning into evening playoff battles. All men’s teams advanced to the playoffs, while only the top four from each women’s group earned a place in the next round.
Men’s Group Winners
- Group A: Snatch-In Legends
- Group B: Kuwait Speedcut
- Group C: Dubai Ninjas
- Group D: Team Afghanistan*
Women’s Group Winners
- Group A: Moscow Zombies
- Group B: Yekaterinburg Red Foxes
Full group listings are available on the official tournament page:
https://www.tournifyapp.com/live/dubaibowl2025/standings
*Notably, Team Afghanistan made history of their own, competing as the first officially recognized Afghanistan national flag football team, participating in partnership with the Afghan Football Federation—a landmark moment for the growth of the sport in South-Central Asia.
With the games lasting until midnight, the Men’s and Women’s Quarter finals deleiverd some of the most exciting matches of the weekend. Including the Women’s Group A #4 Seed Cairo Warriors beating the Group B #1 Seed Red Foxes by 1 point, and in the Men’s divison, the Dubai Ninjas beating the Cairo Warriors in the final game of the night with everyone watching in the stadium and on the live stream. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdc23fcEbtU
Championship Sunday Delivers
Women’s Semi-Finals
- Cairo Warriors vs UAE Phoenix – The Warriors claimed a 20-6 victory over the Phoenix (UAE’s first women’s flag-football team).
- Moscow Zombies vs Snatch-In Gold Moons – The Zombies powered through 27-6.
The Snatch-In Gold Moons secured 3rd place, while the Moscow Zombies dominated the final with a 27-0 shutout to become Dubai Bowl 2025 Women’s Champions.
Men’s Semi-Finals
- Dubai Ninjas vs Team Afghanistan – Afghanistan won 18-6.
- Snatch-In Legends vs Kuwait Speedcut – Legends advanced with a commanding 34-12 win.
The rivalry-charged 3rd-place match saw Kuwait Speedcut defeat Dubai Ninjas 26-13, extending a competitive history that has simmered for two years.
In the final match of the tournament, the Men’s finals, Snatch-In Legends showed championship form, defeating Team Afghanistan 32-18 to lift the men’s trophy.
We would like to thank all of the player, coaches and teams who traveled near and far to be part of this monumental event. As well a big thank you to all the helpers, support staff, and people that made this event happen; Leaders Group, Etisalat Academy, Yogurt Advertising, UAE Sports for All. Thank you for your sportsmanship and respect for the game. We look forward to seeing you all next year!
What’s Next in the UAE Flag Football Calendar?
The momentum continues with the UAE Flag Championship on December 7, where all UAE-based teams will compete for the 2025 national title.
And coming in Spring 2026, the UAE will host another first:
the American Football Middle East Coaching Conference—the region’s first major international coaching convention, bringing top-level coaches from across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States to Dubai for collaborative growth and development.