Abu Dhabi T10 Franchise Invitation‑to‑Bid Overview
Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH), supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board, announced that the Global Invitation‑to‑Bid (ITB) for team and franchise ownership in the Abu Dhabi T10 opens on 3 July 2026 and will close on 16 July 2026. The competitive process aims to identify eight founding franchise teams that will compete in the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Evaluation Process and Governance
Deloitte has been appointed as the independent advisor to oversee the qualification exercise, ensuring integrity, transparency and the highest governance standards. Prospective owners will be assessed against a comprehensive set of criteria that go beyond financial capability, including governance standards, integrity, reputation, operational expertise and a long‑term commitment to the tournament’s development. The ITB is structured as a two‑stage qualification: an initial expression of interest period followed by a second stage where shortlisted bidders gain access to a secure data room containing detailed commercial and operational information before final evaluation.
Timeline and Tournament Details
Successful franchise partners are expected to be confirmed in August 2026, allowing time for player registration, the player draft and other preparatory activities. The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 will be staged at the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium from 7 November to 20 November 2026, featuring 32 matches over 13 days.
Governance Shift and Strategic Positioning
The ITB launch follows the transition of the Abu Dhabi T10 into a government‑owned and government‑managed competition, positioning the event as a long‑term national sporting asset with strengthened governance, enhanced commercial opportunities and an ambitious global growth strategy. ADCSH now holds majority ownership and stewardship of the tournament under the new governance structure.
Tournament Reach and Impact
Since its inception in 2017 and hosting in Abu Dhabi since 2019, the Abu Dhabi T10 has generated over US $512 million in media value in 2025, featured 581 players from 26 nationalities, amassed more than 4.8 million combined social‑media followers and achieved a total audience reach exceeding 1.2 billion. The tournament is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board and approved by the ICC.
Quote from Leadership
Matt Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi T10 and ADCSH, stated that the opening of the ITB marks a pivotal milestone in the next phase of stewardship, emphasizing the search for long‑term strategic partners who share the ambition to build one of world cricket’s most innovative and best‑governed tournaments.