Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) has opened the global Invitation-to-Bid (ITB) process for team and franchise ownership of the Abu Dhabi T10, marking a key milestone in the tournament’s new governance structure.

The bidding process, which opened on July 3 and closes on July 16, will identify eight founding franchises for the 2026 edition of the competition, a press release from the ADCSH said yesterday.

The competitive process follows ADCSH assuming majority ownership and stewardship of the tournament earlier this year with the support of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board.

Applicants will undergo an independently managed evaluation aimed at selecting partners capable of supporting the tournament’s long-term growth and international ambitions.

ADCSH, according to the release, has appointed Deloitte as the independent adviser to oversee the qualification process and evaluate submissions. Prospective franchise owners will be assessed on a range of criteria beyond financial capability, including governance standards, integrity, reputation, operational expertise and long-term commitment to the development of the Abu Dhabi T10.

Abhu Dhabi T10 Chief Executive Matt Boucher said the ITB process marks an important milestone in the next phase of the tournament’s stewardship, with ADCSH seeking long-term strategic partners who share its ambition of building one of world cricket’s most innovative and best-governed tournaments.

“We are building a global product for the Abu Dhabi T10; one that our new team partners, the world of cricket and our Abu Dhabi stakeholders can be proud of. Through this tender process we are putting in place the foundations that will enable Abu Dhabi to continue attracting world-class players, global investors, and international audiences while delivering lasting sporting and economic value for our destination,” he asserted.

He said appointing Deloitte reinforces the commitment to transparency, accountability and high governance standards.

The Abu Dhabi T10 is a 10-over franchise tournament featuring 32 matches over 13 days at Zayed Cricket Stadium. Established in 2017 and hosted in Abu Dhabi since 2019, the competition is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board and approved by the International Cricket Council.

It is now majority owned and managed by ADCSH under government stewardship, with support from Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

According to ADCSH, the tournament generated more than $512 million in media value in 2025. Since its inception, it has featured 581 players from 26 nationalities, built a combined social media following of more than 4.8 million and achieved a reach of over 1.2 billion.

The 2026 edition is scheduled to be held from November 7-20.