Emirates Palace will welcome a host of top events this year

Abu Dhabi has released details of a packed sports calendar over coming months, with a series of top events set to take place in the emirate.

Highlights include the return of the ever spectacular F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Polo at the Palace, which is set to take place at the stunning Emirates Palace later this year.

First up is the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will take place from October 17th-November 8th, 2013. The event will visit six top UAE stadiums including two Abu Dhabi stadia.

More information on the event can be found here.

One of the highlights of the year is, of course, going to be the 2013 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will take place from November 1st-3rd, 2013.

Held at the 5.6 kilometer Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, this is where fans get a close view of the action. The new Yasalam Y1 Access gives ticket holders a year-round package of value-added benefits and exclusive live concert ticket discounts.

Take a look at the Yas Marina Circuit website for more information.

Coutts Polo at the Palace is next, set to be held on November 20th-23rd, 2013.

Coutts Polo at the Palace takes place at the Emirates Palace hotel with a ‘Palace Rules’ concept designed by the world’s best players to enhance the spectator experience.

In what promises to be a busy period for the team at Emirates Palace, the hotel will also hold the World Luxury Expo from September 27th-29th.

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival in November 2013.

Suit up in your Sunday best and head to Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club for the finale of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival - a globetrotting ten-race series.

Launched to increase the global diversity of pure bred Arabian horse racing, this year’s event also includes the finale of the inaugural Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship - the first international purebred Arabian series specifically created for female jockeys.

Entrance is free. More information here.

The Mubadala World Tennis Championship will be held on December 26th-28th, when
six of the world’s top ten players - including defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic and US Open, Olympic and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray - compete for the ‘winner takes all’ US $250,000 prize.

The event staged yearly at Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex, Zayed Sports City, with more information here.

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship returns in early 2014, with the world’s best plyers expected in town from January 16th-19th.

The battle for the coveted Falcon Trophy is a curtain-raiser to the European PGA Tour at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course.

Fans can expect to see world-class players and enjoy off-course entertainment at the Championship spectator village.

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is next, taking place in March/April 2014.

This is one of the world’s most prestigious international cross-country rallies and runs annually.

This five-day motor sport spectacle is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and is the season-opening round of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.

More information on the official website.

Finally, the much anticipated Volvo Ocean Race - The Abu Dhabi Stopover will return in late 2014.

Abu Dhabi is the host of the third 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race stopover from mid-December 2014 until January 3rd, 2015.

The In-Port Race takes place on January 2nd, 2015, with the fleet departing for Sanya, China, the following day.

More here.