Best Betting Sites in the United Arab Emirates
Welcome to the ultimate guide to online betting in UAE. Below we explain how we choose the top online betting sites in UAE and how you can remain safe while betting on your favourite sports.
Keep reading to learn how you can bet online safely and securely in the UAE by using a VPN and discrete payment methods.
Best UAE Betting Sites – December 2023
22Bet Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- EUR
- USD
- AED
- Available in over 30 languages
- Over 1000 events offered every day
- Extensive list of banking methods
- 24/7 customer service support
- Cryptocurrency accepted
- Lack of live streaming
1xbet Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- AUD
- AZN
- BDT
- Over 1000 daily sports events
- Dedicated smartphone apps
- Live streaming on site
- Cashier supports many currencies
- Long list of payment methods
- Design is convoluted and outdated
Is Online Betting Legal in UAE?
Like all forms of gambling, online betting is prohibited under UAE law. This puts the UAE in line with other Muslim nations, most of which outlaw all types of betting. This means you won’t find live casinos, lotteries, or other gambling options here either.
However, many UAE residents still bet on their favourite sports safely and anonymously. This is done by playing with foreign-based bookmakers that accept UAE players. These sites allow you to enjoy online betting in UAE despite the local restrictions.
How We Rank the Best UAE Betting Sites
Our team puts each of our Dubai betting sites through a thorough review process before deciding which bookmakers to recommend to you. This ensures that we only send you to the best and safest sports betting sites.
While our experts consider a wide range of criteria when making their rankings, there are a few areas that are particularly important to us. The following are the factors we place the most emphasis on when selecting sites for our top list.
Generous Bonuses
Almost all online betting sites offer bonuses to new players. Our team looks for the sites the offer the most lucrative bonuses to players in the UAE. That includes no deposit bonuses, free bets, and ongoing promotions for existing players. We also make sure the terms and conditions are fair so you can clear your bonuses and enjoy your winnings.
VIP Program
If you enjoy online betting in UAE, you should get rewarded for your play. Our recommended sites offer VIP programs that provide special benefits for loyal players. This can include cash back rewards, special promotions, and added bonuses. These programs can be especially lucrative for high stakes bettors, who can also earn additional perks like personalised service.
High Level Security
We make sure that every site we recommend to you uses the best possible security measures to keep your data safe. That means protecting your personal information as well as your financial data. We also ensure that each site on our top list has a history of fair and safe gameplay.
Range of Sports
We know that UAE bettors enjoy betting on a wide range of sports across the globe. That’s why we only recommend betting sites that offer a variety of markets from leagues and competitions around the world. Each of our sites offers betting on dozens of sports, from the biggest football matches to the most obscure events on Earth.
Best Betting Odds
We want you to get the best odds possible when you bet on sports. That’s why we seek out online bookmakers that offer the biggest payouts on a wide variety of markets. While the differences between sites are often small, sticking with sportsbooks that offer the best odds can make the difference between winning and losing in the long run.
Excellent Support
It’s important to us that you can receive help if you encounter any issues at your favourite betting site. That’s why our team tests the customer service teams at each of the online bookmakers on our list. We make sure the support staff is courteous and helpful, and that you can get in touch with them anytime you need assistance.
How to Bet Safely Online in UAE
As we discussed earlier, online betting in UAE is illegal. That’s why it’s important for bettors here to take additional steps to bet safely online. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways for you to protect your anonymity and make sure you have a safe and enjoyable betting experience.
Here are a few tips on how to best stay safe while betting in the UAE.
Use a VPN to Bet Online
Use a VPN to Bet Online
We highly recommend utilizing a virtual private network, or VPN, while you enjoy online betting in Dubai. A VPN allows you to route your internet traffic through a remote network, making it much harder to detect where your activity is coming from.
A VPN will allow you to maintain your anonymity while you gamble online. While there are paid VPNs that come with lots of useful features, you can choose to use free VPN options that are more than sufficient for online betting. Either way, using a VPN will allow you to bet safely without worrying about anyone detecting what you are doing or where you are doing it.
Select Discreet Payment Methods
Select Discreet Payment Methods
While our recommended sites offer a wide range of deposit options, not all of them are appropriate for betting in the UAE. For instance, we recommend against trying to use bank transfers to fund your account. Not only are these transactions usually blocked in the Emirates, but they can leave evidence of your gambling activity.
On the other hand, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin allow you to make deposits while largely maintaining your anonymity. In addition, e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller can allow you to safely fund a secure wallet using any method you like. From there, you can use the wallet to make deposits and accept withdrawals from your betting sites.
Trust Our Recommendations
Trust Our Recommendations
We take the time and effort to make sure that we only recommend the best and safest sites for you to choose from. By sticking with our recommendations, you can be sure that you are playing at trusted, secure bookmakers with a history of treating UAE bettors fairly.
Using our top sites also means that you will avoid any scams or unreliable Dubai betting sites. We offer several recommendations so that you can pick the bookmaker that best meets your needs while still being sure that you are playing with a reputable operator.
Is UAE Dirham Accepted at Sports Betting Sites?
UAE dirham (AED) isn’t accepted or used at online sports betting sites. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have trouble betting in the UAE. When you make a deposit into your betting site account, the funds will be converted to a currency with more international use, such as US dollars or euros. This conversion will take place automatically.
The bookmaker will then display your account balance and all of your bet amounts in the chosen currency. You may wish to become familiar with the conversion rate with AED so that you understand how much you are betting each time you make a bet on an event.
Can You Bet on Horses in Dubai?
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Dubai. The Meydan Racecourse is one of the most famous venues in the sport, and attracts horses and fans from around the world to watch some of the biggest races of the year.
However, there are prediction games at the course that offer up prizes to those who can successfully pick the winners of several races, similar to placing accumulator bets. There are also many horse racing betting sites that offer betting to UAE gamblers.
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is the final race of Dubai World Cup Night, an event that takes place each year on the last Saturday in March. The night features nine races that attract some of the best horses from the UAE, Middle East, and around the world.
The event ends with the Dubai World Cup, the final race of the night. This 2,000-metre contest is the world’s richest horse race, and the prize money means that this is one of the most prestigious contests in the world. Many horses that have already won major races in the United States, UK, and other premiere racing locales make the trip to Meydan Racecourse to compete for this massive prize.
Other Popular Sports for Betting in UAE
While horse racing may be king in the UAE, Emiratis enjoys a wide variety of sports. That’s true when it comes to online betting in UAE as well. Our recommended bookmakers offer betting on just about any sport you can imagine, from local favourites to competitions in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Here’s a look at a few of the most popular sports you can bet on at our top sports betting sites.
Football
Football
Football enjoys a large following in UAE, and while many supporters follow the biggest clubs of Europe, there is competitive play in the Emirates as well. The Arabian Gulf League is the top division of UAE football, with Al Ain having won a record 13 championship titles.
UAE betting sites not only offer betting on this league, but also on the top competitions in Europe like La Liga and the Champions League, as well as international tournaments such as the World Cup.
Basketball
Basketball
The UAE has a professional basketball competition known as the UAE National Basketball League. The national team has also been fairly successful compared to other teams in the region, often competing well in the FIBA Asian Championship.
Some of our top betting sites offer odds on these local and regional competitions, though NBA and EuroLeague betting is more popular among Emiratis.
Cricket
Cricket
Cricket has become increasingly popular throughout the UAE over the past 20 years. The national team hasn’t yet become a major power, but ranks among the top 20 nations in both One Day International and T20 play.
There’s plenty of cricket betting in the UAE, with our recommended sites allowing you to bet on the Emirates in international competition, or focus on major test matches, the Cricket World Cup, and other top events.
Formula 1
Formula 1
Formula One comes to the UAE every year, as the country hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In 2021, the race is the final competition of the Formula 1 season, taking place in December at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Betting sites offer odds on not only the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but every race throughout the Formula 1 season, as well as futures markets on the overall champion.
Tennis
Tennis
Each year, The UAE hosts the Dubai Tennis Championships, an outdoor hard-court tournament with both men’s and women’s events, both of which attract world class players.
While this is a major tennis tournament, you can bet on everything from the Grand Slams down to Challenger-level tournaments at our recommended betting sites.
Esports
Esports
Esports is one of the fastest growing areas of competition in the world, both in terms of play and betting. The UAE is increasingly becoming involved in esports, with Dubai building a dedicated esports stadium to host large regional and international events.
Our top betting sites accept bets on all of the biggest esports games, from Dota and League of Legends to Counterstrike and StarCraft.
Ready to Bet on Your Favourite Sports?
We hope our guide has given you everything you need to start enjoying online betting in UAE. While gambling may be illegal in the UAE, we’ve given you the tools you need to ensure your safety while betting, such as using a VPN and selecting proper banking options.
You should now be ready to place your first bets. Sign up with one of our recommended sites to start betting on sports today!
FAQs
How can I bet in UAE?
Can I bet on mobile in UAE?
Do UAE betting sites offer support in Arabic?
Can I get a welcome bonus at UAE betting sites?
About the author
Salma Kaaby
Sports Writer
Salma has been writing sports content for over six years, with a focus on football. She is passionate about bringing helpful and exciting articles to other sports lovers in the Middle East. Salma’s been known to predict the outcome of football matches with startling accuracy and always knows where to look for top odds.
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