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Inside Dubai’s new sports strategy: Dh18.3 billion economic plan revealed

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Dubai is accelerating its ambitions to become one of the world’s top sporting destinations, unveiling a long-term strategy designed to significantly boost economic impact, increase community participation and attract more global sporting events over the next decade.

Under the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, the emirate aims to grow the sports industry’s contribution to the economy from Dh10.17 billion to Dh18.3 billion by 2033, reinforcing sport as a key pillar of Dubai’s economic and social development agenda.

The strategy also sets ambitious participation targets, with the number of people actively engaged in sports expected to rise from 1.6 million to 2.6 million. Annual attendance at major sporting events is projected to surge from 1.67 million to more than 4.1 million spectators during the same period.

The announcement was made during a strategic industry gathering organised by the Dubai Sports Council, which brought together sports event organisers, facility operators and industry leaders to discuss future opportunities and challenges shaping the emirate’s sporting landscape.

Hosted in collaboration with JA Sports & Shooting Club at JA The Resort, the meeting also included an exclusive preview of the region’s newest integrated multi-sport destination ahead of its public launch.

Dubai already hosts more than 500 sporting events annually, including over 100 international championships, highlighting its growing reputation as a preferred destination for elite competitions and global sporting experiences.

Officials outlined how the Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033 will build on this momentum through continued investment in world-class infrastructure, stronger partnerships with the private sector and initiatives designed to encourage wider community engagement in sport.

Speaking during the session, Essa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at the Dubai Sports Council, noted that sporting events have evolved beyond competition to become powerful drivers of economic growth, quality of life and international visibility for the emirate.

The strategy also places a strong focus on nurturing future talent across sports such as football, golf, padel and badminton, while creating pathways for young athletes to progress professionally and compete at higher levels.

As Dubai continues to invest in sporting infrastructure and international events, the Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033 is expected to play a central role in shaping the emirate’s ambition to become the world’s leading sporting city by the end of the decade.

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

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Dubai Investor Expands Global Footprint with London Investment Firm

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A Dubai businessman has launched a London-based investment company to acquire stakes in private and listed businesses in the United Kingdom and international markets.
Hari Shankar Tibrewala, who founded Dubai-based Zenith Global Limited and Zenith Multi Trading DMCC, said the new company, Zenith Global Ventures Ltd, would invest exclusively its own capital.
Based in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, the company will focus on established private businesses, selected listed shares, technology and artificial intelligence, and strategic acquisitions. It will consider minority and controlling stakes, including investments where it can participate in governance and strategy.
“Zenith Global Ventures has been set up to be a patient, disciplined owner of quality businesses. Because we invest our own capital, we can take a long-term view, back strong management teams and focus on lasting value rather than short-term results,” said Tibrewala, its founder and director.
According to the company, it has no outside investors or fixed fund life, allowing it to hold investments without a predetermined exit timetable.
Zenith said it would assess potential investments on earnings, cash flow, balance-sheet strength and competitive position, alongside management quality and governance. Each opportunity would undergo due diligence and be subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
For listed shares, the company said it would seek businesses it considers undervalued. Its technology and AI investments would focus on companies it believes can sustain a competitive advantage.
The company cited London’s legal framework, capital markets and connections with Europe, the Gulf and Asia as reasons for choosing the city as its base.
Tibrewala established investment holding company Zenith Global Limited in Dubai in 2013, followed by Zenith Multi Trading DMCC in 2014. He moved to London in 2024.
Zenith Global Ventures said it does not manage third-party funds or offer investments to the public.

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MIRAL Joins 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 as official experience partner

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Yas Island will become the official experiences partner of the Abu Dhabi T10 for its 2026 edition, under a new partnership between Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) and Miral.

Under the agreement, all six Abu Dhabi T10 franchises will be based on Yas Island during the tournament, while a number of events linked to the competition will also be held across the destination.

The partnership will include the tournament’s Trophy Launch, Opening Party and Closing Party, with Yas Island’s attractions and venues forming part of the wider Abu Dhabi T10 experience for players, teams, partners and fans.

“We are thrilled to welcome Yas Island as the Official Experiences Partner of the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10,” said Matthew Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub and Abu Dhabi T10.

“The island is an unbelievable destination which will provide an exceptional setting for our teams, our players and for many of the tournament experiences.”

Leon Marsh, Miral’s director of events, said the partnership reflected a shared aim of creating experiences for “fans, teams and families alike”.

“Yas Island is the ideal setting for the key moments and flagship events taking place during this year’s Abu Dhabi T10,” he said.

The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Draft, held at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, saw 108 players selected by six franchises: Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles, Royal Desert Champions, UAE Bulls, United Tigers and Yas Lions.

The tournament will take place at Zayed Cricket Stadium from 7 to 20 November, bringing together international players for the 10-over competition.

The partnership is also intended to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination combining international sport, leisure and entertainment, with Yas Island providing the base for the teams throughout the tournament.

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Dubai-born HOP Events targets 25 cities in global expansion

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A Dubai-founded events company is planning to expand into 25 cities worldwide over the next two years, as it looks to build an international business around music and culture.

HOP Events, founded by Dubai-based entrepreneur Kalpesh Kinariwala, said it aims to stage more than 250 events a year across 75 venues and arenas, reaching more than one million people annually.

Its planned expansion includes London, New York, Doha and Singapore, alongside its existing base in Dubai.

The company has organised concerts featuring artists including A.R. Rahman, Arijit Singh, Lucky Ali, Nancy Ajram, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and sitarist Rishab Sharma.

HOP now plans to broaden its programme beyond large-scale concerts, with storytelling, art and other cultural events forming part of its international expansion.

“Our goal has never been to build an events company,” Kinariwala said. “We’re building a platform where culture becomes a catalyst for connection.”

The plans were outlined after a recent Dubai event featuring storyteller Laksh Maheshwari.

HOP is the cultural arm of PANTHEON ACR, a Dubai-based venture founded by Kinariwala with interests spanning art, culture and real estate.

Kinariwala said Dubai’s position as a city with a large international population provided the starting point for HOP’s expansion.

The company said its programme over the next 24 months would feature both established international performers and emerging creative talent, alongside storytelling and other cultural experiences.

“The moments people carry with them for years are rarely the biggest,” Kinariwala said. “They are the moments that make us feel connected, inspired, understood or part of something larger than ourselves.”

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