The PSL has been played partly or wholly in the UAE in five of its eleven seasons: all of 2016, nearly all of 2017 and 2018, most of 2019, and the restart of 2021 in Abu Dhabi. By our arithmetic from the season pages, the UAE staged about 124 PSL matches, and 2020 was the first season played entirely in Pakistan.
Last checked 27 October 2026.
Which PSL seasons were played in the UAE?
| Season | UAE grounds used | Matches in the UAE | Matches in Pakistan |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSL 1 (2016) | Dubai, Sharjah | 24 (all) | 0 |
| PSL 2 (2017) | Dubai, Sharjah | 23 | 1 (the final, Lahore) |
| PSL 3 (2018) | Dubai, Sharjah | 31 | 3 (two eliminators in Lahore, final in Karachi) |
| PSL 4 (2019) | Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi | 26 (22 in Dubai and Sharjah, 4 in Abu Dhabi) | 8 (all in Karachi) |
| PSL 5 (2020) | None | 0 | 34 |
| PSL 6 (2021) | Abu Dhabi | 20 | 14 (before the suspension) |
The Pakistan column for 2017, 2019 and 2021 comes from the season pages, and the UAE column is the season total of 24 or 34 matches minus the Pakistan matches. It is our arithmetic and not a figure released by the PCB, which is why we write “about 124” and not an exact total. The sources do not split the Dubai and Sharjah matches in any season.
Why did the PSL play in the UAE?
The first season in 2016 was played entirely in the UAE for security reasons, after a plan to stage it in Doha, Qatar was dropped in September 2015. The tournament then returned to Pakistan in stages: the 2017 final was the first PSL match played in Pakistan, in 2018 the two eliminators were in Lahore and the final was in Karachi, and in 2020 every match was in Pakistan.
The UAE came back in two later seasons for different reasons. In 2019 three Lahore matches were moved to Karachi when the reopening of Lahore airspace was delayed during military tensions between Pakistan and India, and Abu Dhabi hosted PSL matches for the first time. In 2021 the league was suspended on 4 March after COVID-19 cases in the bubble, and it resumed on 9 June in Abu Dhabi, where the final was played on 24 June.
Which UAE grounds hosted the PSL?
| Ground | City | Reported capacity | PSL seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Dubai | 25,000 to 30,000, depending on the season page | 2016 to 2019 |
| Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium | Sharjah | 15,000 to 17,000, depending on the season page | 2016 to 2019 |
| Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium | Abu Dhabi | 20,000 | 2019 and 2021 |
The capacity figures differ between season articles, so we show the range and not a single number. Dubai hosted the 2016 final, in which Islamabad United beat Quetta Gladiators by 6 wickets, and Abu Dhabi hosted the 2021 final, in which Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs. For the grounds in Pakistan see the PSL venues page, and for the wider timeline see PSL history.
Sources: Wikipedia season articles for 2016 to 2021 and the Pakistan Super League article, Dawn and the PCB for the 2021 playoffs, and Cricinfo for the 2016 and 2019 playoff venues. Method: methodology and data sources.