Teams from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Oman, Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait and Bahrain will travel to compete in Dubai, with the hurling and camogie tournaments being played tonight and the football taking place Friday.

The league – which runs from September to April – is a nine-a-side format with each game played over two halves of seven minutes.

In the senior competition, all eyes will be on league winners Dubai Celts and championship winners Abu Dhabi na Fianna, who contested two thrilling finals in March and April.

Qatar are also expected to mount a challenge, with 2012 All-Ireland winners Paul Durcan and Ryan Bradley still among the ranks.

In the intermediate division, newly promoted Jumeirah Gaels will pose a threat along with Abu Dhabi na Fianna C and Dubai Celts C.

The senior ladies competition promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend with Abu Dhabi na Fianna and Dubai Celts continuing to set the bar for gaelic games in the region.

Action gets underway with the hurling and camogie throwing in tonight at 7.30pm, and the football getting underway from 8am tomorrow.