University Sports Teams

NYU Abu Dhabi University Sports Teams strive to create a competitive environment through which student-athletes can develop and acquire valuable life lessons through challenging situations and high-pressure performances of sport. 

Emphasizing values such as sportsmanship, inclusion, and respect for opponents, the teachings derived from sports have a direct impact on everyday life and we encourage our students to embrace these values on and off the field.

Abu Dhabi Sports Championships and Community Competitions

NYU Abu Dhabi University Sports Teams compete against other university teams, community clubs, and in community events in Abu Dhabi and the UAE throughout the academic year. 

NYU Abu Dhabi University Sports Teams also compete in the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship (ADSC) against teams from other universities in the UAE. ADSC offers competitive sports for both men and women and the season runs from October through March every year.

Schedule

Competitive fixtures and the sports season runs from October to May. In order to play for a University Sports Team, student-athletes must go through pre-participation evaluations that include a medical physical. The team selection processes close in the third week of September and reopen in January.

*** NYU Abu Dhabi does not provide Athletics Scholarships to student-athletes ***

Traditions

NYUAD Athletics seeks to promote a supportive and inclusive sporting community across campus and the UAE. Our traditions have played an essential role in community building with three hallmark traditions; the Falcon feast, Defend the Nest, and The Interclassico. 

Defend the Nest

Each fall, the NYUAD Basketball Teams take center court in an evening of rivalry matches. The Men and Women’s Basketball Teams play back-to-back games in front of packed stands supported by the NYUAD and greater Abu Dhabi communities. The evening highlights our sense of belonging with festivities, performances, fun competitions, and Faiza the Falcon.

Interclassico

A football farewell to our seniors and a warm welcome to our alumni. At the end of the spring semester, the seniors team with alumni to play their final match as students under the lights on Falcon Field. Although the match is spirited with fans cheering on their classmates, in the end, it is a time to say thank you to the seniors. The Interclassico ends with the community circling the seniors as an indication that they will always be part of the NYUAD family.  

Falcon Feast

The intercollegiate season officially ends with the annual Falcon Feast. Student-athletes, the coaching staff, and NYUAD leadership gather to celebrate the achievements of the past year and recognize the hard work, dedication, and leadership of our student-athletes.