Dubai seeks to become a global hub for international sports

Dubai is seekng to become a global hub for sports, with the goal of boosting the economic contribution of sporting events by 80% to reach $18.3 billion by 2033.

“The ultimate vision, we want Dubai to be the world’s best sporting city,” Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said.

With major events such as the 2030 Asian Games in Qatar and soccer’s 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia on the horizon, the Middle East is entering what consulting firm Oliver Wyman describes as a “defining decade” for sports.

A report published by the New York-based agency on the region’s sports economy projects $75 billion in growth potential, Arab News reports.

The report says governments have committed over $100 billion in sports infrastructure through 2034.