Sun, sand, sea and world class sports facilities. It’s not hard to see why a lot of former, and current, professional athletes are looking towards Dubai and the Middle East as the base for the next stage of their careers.
Long associated with golf, Dubai is host to the end-of-season Race to Dubai event and the DP World Tour Championships. Rory McIlroy, once a resident of the Emirate state, is the current champion, winning the season-long competition for a fifth time last time out.
And now with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Tour up and running, others are following in the footsteps of the Northern Irishman. The DP World Tour’s Player of the Year, Adrian Meronk is now spending more time on his game in Dubai following his move to LIV earlier this year, permanently basing himself in the Middle East.
Sam White, co-founder of Dubai-based The Player, partners of Global Institute of Sport alongside former Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor, proudly rolls off the world-class talent now working, and even still playing, in Dubai as an example of how serious the region has become as a sporting powerhouse. This includes Premier League and Champions League winner Patrice Evra and former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna.
White says: “World-class talents, like Andres Iniesta and Miralem Pjanić, these players have had incredible careers in the game and are still playing here in the UAE. It’s really exciting for people to be able to watch players who have had great careers now plying their trade here.”
White added: “That brings fandom and brings supporters to the game, which is really important in developing the structures of the game here.”
Recently retired Roger Federer will now be able to spend more of his time in his Dubai home after hanging up his racket. Widely considered the greatest male tennis player of all time, the Swiss star once famously played Andre Agassi on the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab on the Dubai coast.
David Beckham, former world number one Jelena Jankovic, Heather Watson and Australian cricket great Rod Marsh have once upon a time, or still do, called Dubai home. Marsh was in Dubai as part of his work with the International Cricket Council, who moved their headquarters to the region from London in 2005.
“A lot more people now want to come and play in the UAE”, says Taylor.
Emphasising the shift in mentality of aspiring and established athletes, Taylor added: “I think that's the biggest plus now, seeing players come and get that kind of opportunity to play football instead of sitting on the bench. They want to come out and play football and it's been the perfect place for them.”
For students and players looking to kick start their football career in Dubai and the Middle East, and students wanting to experience sporting life in the region, Taylor’s message is clear: “You have to go for it. You can't just do things half measured. Having the Global Institute of Sport seeing what we do, it's definitely opened more doors.”
Learn more about the Study, Play & Work: Dubai opportunity with GIS and The Player.
Article by Neil Hawkins
