Dubai: an international padel hub
Dubai the global padel hub
The rise of padel in Dubai: a journey of growth and ambition by Eisa Sharif
Dubai has rapidly become a global hub for padel. It is the fastest growing sport in the city, which boasts 950 padel courts and more than 250,000 amateur players. It’s safe to say padel is one of its passions!
It was no surprise therefore that the sport features in an episode of DXB Unheard, a new podcast hosted by Kate Garraway, which uncovers hidden gems, personal triumphs and extraordinary experiences in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. I had the great joy of playing a game against Kate and her children. I think they’re now padel fans!
I first started playing in 2013 when padel was a relatively unknown in Dubai. It was a totally new sport to me and, as soon as I started playing, I fell in love with it. Since then I’ve played professionally and became a board member of the UAE Padel Association.
Looking back on how far the sport has come in the last 15 years I feel immense pride. I would say that the meteoric rise of padel is largely due to the backing of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. He’s a passionate player and real advocate for the sport. I’ve played him a few times and he could go professional!
In June 2014, a UAE Sports Ministry decree officially recognised padel as a sport with full government support, and since then its growth has been nothing short of phenomenal.
One of the most remarkable achievements in the history of padel in Dubai was hosting the World Championships in 2022. Initially Qatar was set to host the championship but, due to uncertainty, it had to step down. Dubai proved the ideal replacement and, as a city, we stepped in and took on the challenge of hosting the event with just 40 days to prepare!
I’m told that in the UK planning permissions alone would have made this an impossible task but we were innovative with the resources we had and made it work in record time. Hosted by UAEPA in association with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET), The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was transformed into a padel venue with eight purpose-built courts.
Sport, well-being and fitness run through the veins – and streets – of modern Dubai and this feat showcases our ability to execute large-scale events efficiently and effectively.
The championship took place over six wonderful days with a prize pool of more than AED 1 million (more than £200,000). It was a real ‘pinch me’ moment seeing 15 men’s and women’s national teams from across the globe battle it out on my home turf.
It’s great to see padel taking off around the world. Looking ahead, Dubai has ambitious plans to expand its padel footprint beyond the UAE. The World Padel Academy (WPA) has announced a £1 million scheme to develop a four-court padel centre in Mansfield, UK. This project represents a significant investment in the UK and aims to provide an inclusive and accessible sports venue for the local community. The WPA’s expansion strategy into the UK market is extensive, with plans to secure a network of venues across the country.
I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m grabbing my racket for a game in your beautiful country! 🎾
➡️ Eisa Sharif shares more about the growth of padel in Dubai in an upcoming episode of DXB Unheard, One Active City, hosted by Kate Garraway. His episode will be available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and all other major audio platforms from Monday, March 17th.
