Latest news with #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen
Campaign ME
27-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
M+C Saatchi Middle East acquires DUNE
M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment has announced its strategic acquisition of leading Middle East-based marketing, communication and commercial experts DUNE | 23. The acquisition aims to mark a significant leap in M+C Saatchi Middle East's growth journey. Adding to its capability suites in the region, which spans marketing and communications, media and sponsorships, talent management, PR, social media, consultancy and production, the integration of DUNE | 23 aims to further strengthen its sport and entertainment offering. 'This acquisition is a pivotal step in advancing our regional growth trajectory and strengthening our leadership in a space where brand and culture converge,' said Scott Feasey, CEO, M+C Saatchi Middle East. 'DUNE | 23 brings specialist expertise, a proven track record, and a team uniquely attuned to creating lasting impact through passion and fandom,' he added. 'By integrating their capabilities and insight into our ecosystem, we're scaling our ability to lead in one of the world's most dynamic and fast-growing markets for sport and entertainment.' Jamie Hosie and Lloyd McMillan co-founded DUNE | 23 in 2023. Today, a team of more than 40 specialists powers the agency, delivering end-to-end marketing solutions. The agency's client portfolio includes Emirates Dubai 7s, Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, LIWA Festival, SailGP, Zeekr, All Things Live Middle East, Dubai Watch Week, Longines Global Champions Tour, Nada Dairy, BRED by Hypebeast, and more within the world of sport and entertainment.
Gulf Today
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Hasher honours national talents participating in international tennis events
Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE Tennis Federation, commended the vital role played by national talents through their participation in international ATP tournaments held in the UAE, such as the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. This recognition took place during an honorary ceremony where Sheikh Hasher honoured individuals who contributed as referees, ball kids, organizers, players and participants in these tournaments. He also praised the significant progress in tennis within the UAE, highlighting the country's success in organizing and hosting international tournaments for men, women, and youth across both genders. Furthermore, he acknowledged the esteemed position held by the UAE Tennis Federation, emphasizing its growing influence in the sport's spectrum in the UAE. The event was attended by Ahmed Abdul Malik Ahli, Vice Chairman of the Federation, Nasser Yousef Al Marzouqi, Secretary-General, Khalifa BinHendi, Board Member and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnerships Committee, Alia Bujsaim, Board Member, alongside other federation officials, distinguished players, and media representatives. The ceremony began with the recognition of national talents, including line umpire Khalifa Khalid Al Reyami, Farah Saeed Belhasa, Marwan Al Marzouqi, Mohamed Fouad, and national player Abdulrahman Al Janahi. Sheikh Hasher also commended the UAE Tennis Federation for its strategic efforts in promoting a strong tennis culture by fostering an ideal environment for both UAE nationals and residents. This includes supporting tennis clubs and academies, regularly organizing competitions, and creating opportunities to discover and develop Emirati talents, further enriching the country's tennis landscape. Additionally, Sheikh Hasher praised the federation's organizational excellence in hosting international youth tournaments and local competitions. He expressed his satisfaction with the remarkable progress made by Emirati tennis umpires in officiating and lauded the federation's efforts in this area, wishing them continued success in achieving the highest standards in the future. Sheikh Hasher also honored several federation officials, as well as talented players from the UAE national junior and youth teams, encouraging them to continue their development and strive to represent the UAE in upcoming international competitions. In return, the UAE Tennis Federation board members expressed its gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Hasher for his unwavering support and commitment to recognizing outstanding national talents. They emphasized that his patronage serves as a significant motivation for national athletes and enhances the federation's ability to implement its development strategies in a sustainable and impactful manner, both locally and internationally. The federation also affirmed that the coming phase will witness further achievements, elevating the sport and strengthening the support for national talents.
Sport360
21-02-2025
- Business
- Sport360
The Inaugral Edition of Sport Industry Series: The Majlis Draws Top Industry Leaders to the Capital
More than 80 senior professionals from the sports industry gathered in Abu Dhabi for the highly anticipated debut of Sport Industry Series: The Majlis, an exclusive event designed to foster candid discussions and high-level networking. Launched by the founders of the Sport Industry Series, Interact and Sport360X, The Majlis sets a new benchmark for industry engagement in the region. Hosted against the stunning backdrop of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open on February 6, the invite-only gathering brought together C-suite executives from leading sports organisations for a day of thought-provoking discussions and interactive dialogue. The event, hosted by renowned sports broadcaster Chris McHardy, delivered on the Sport Industry Series (SIS) promise – creating an intimate platform for decision-makers to exchange insights and drive industry innovation. The event kicked off with a highly insightful panel discussion featuring three distinguished industry leaders in the form of Brian Lott, Chief Communications Officer, Mubadala; Hamda Al Mansoori, Strategic Planning Director, Abu Dhabi Sports Council; and Danny Klima, General Manager, Zayed Sports City, OVG Middle East. Together, they explored the evolving landscape of Abu Dhabi's sports industry, including investment trends and future growth opportunities. It was followed by an in-depth feature interview with Melissa Moncada—Founder and CEO, Aurora Rise Group; Executive Vice Chairwoman, Colnago. She shared insights about the challenges and triumphs of women in cycling, emphasising the strides made in recent years. 'It is amazing to see so many fans come here to support women's tennis,' she stated. 'It is also incredible to see big companies like Mubadala extending their support to grow the game among women. 'This gives us optimism too, and I urge the fans to come out and show similar support towards women's cycling.' Beyond the panel and interviews, attendees engaged in a networking lunch, providing a rare opportunity to engage directly with other industry leaders. 'It has thrown more light upon how Abu Dhabi is becoming the hub of sports and entertainment, along with the massive investment coming into the sports industry in the region as a whole.' The launch of The Majlis marks the beginning of a transformative chapter for the sports industry in the Middle East. By combining Interact's expertise in delivering the Sport Industry Forum with Sport360X's legacy of the Sports Industry Awards, we're creating something truly unique,' said Mark Guildea, Managing Director of Interact. 'The Majlis represents a new era of high-level, interactive engagement in the Middle East's dynamic sports industry,' said Bassam Nawfal, Sport360X Managing Director. 'By creating a more intimate setting, we're enabling C-suite executives to dive deeper into the key issues shaping the industry. 'This is not just about sharing knowledge—it's about fostering collaboration, sparking innovation, and building relationships that will drive the future. The inaugural edition in Abu Dhabi provides a unique opportunity to develop how we meaningfully connect and learn from one another.' With more editions of The Majlis on the horizon, the Sport Industry Series is set to redefine how sports leaders connect, collaborate, and drive the industry forward. About Sport Industry Forum (SIF): The Sport Industry Forum, organised by Interact, is the leading sport business conference for networking, knowledge sharing, and thought leadership. It brings together professionals, innovators, and decision-makers to discuss the latest trends and challenges in sports across the Middle East. About Sports Industry Awards (SPIA): The Sports Industry Awards, established by Sport360X, celebrate excellence in the sports sector, recognising outstanding achievements by individuals, teams, and organisations. SPIA highlights the best practices and innovations that drive the sports industry forward. Submissions are now open for the 12th edition. Media contacts: India Beckwith, Interact – E: [email protected] Marketing Team, Sport360X – E: [email protected]
Arab News
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Who would WTA players choose to coach them from their closest rivals?
DUBAI: Last December, Novak Djokovic shocked the sports world by announcing he had hired his long-time rival and recently retired Andy Murray to be his coach. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The pair played each other 36 times on the professional tour, faced off in seven Grand Slam finals, and represented half of the fabled 'Big Four' that dominated tennis headlines for over a decade. Djokovic said one of the main reasons he chose Murray was because he needed someone in his corner who had gone through the same experiences. The partnership made its debut in Australia last month and following, his Qatar Open exit in Doha on Tuesday, Djokovic told the ATP Tour's in-house media channel that Murray will continue to coach him indefinitely. 'It is indefinite in terms of how long we are going to work together, but we agreed most likely in the States and some clay court tournaments. We will see how it goes after that,' said the 24-time Grand Slam champion. In light of this partnership, Arab News asked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and ongoing Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships which of their rivals they would choose as a coach. Some players chose those possessing a high tennis IQ, others opted for players they struggle to beat, and some said they valued a person's positivity and energy over tactical nous. World No.2 Iga Swiatek mentioned retired German player Andrea Petkovic, now a popular commentator, close rival and current No.1 Aryna Sabalenka as another pick. 'Petkovic is not playing anymore but I heard she has a really great eye and I always liked her, so I think we would get along. I don't know, maybe Aryna. She's older than me and maybe she's going to finish earlier (than me) and that would be funny,' said Swiatek. I've been asking players who from their rivals they'd choose to be their coach down the road. Here's what @iga_swiatek had to say. Stay tuned for the full video!@DDFTennis — Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 19, 2025 Meanwhile, former world No.4 Caroline Garcia said: 'Ash Barty will not be bad.' Tunisian three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur was a popular choice, with both Paula Badosa and Emma Raducanu naming her as the rival they'd choose to coach them. 'By far I would pick Ons Jabeur. I think we would connect very well. She knows very good about tennis, but especially emotionally,' said Badosa, the world No.10 and recent Australian Open semifinalist. 'I say that because also we played doubles. And sometimes when you're playing doubles you have to coach each other. There are some moments that one is playing better than the other, so we do it already, and we feel very comfortable both of us, so I would pick her by far.' And 2021 US Open champion Raducanu said: 'I would want Ons Jabeur to coach me because I think she has an amazing energy. I think she's a really caring person, really generous person. Funny but has a great eye for the game and is obviously pretty tactical as well with the way she plays and has a lot at her disposal. So maybe one day, Ons.' Swiss Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic chose Liudmila Samsonova, who has a 5-1 head-to-head record against her. 'I want to know what she would do, so I can beat her, because I cannot beat her. I feel like she's my biggest rival,' said Bencic with a laugh. World No.3 Coco Gauff noted how reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was always courtside watching matches and felt she would be a great resource: 'She seems like she's someone that knows the game and very smart and she's always at the matches, watching them live. So I feel like she would be a pretty decent coach.' Jabeur reciprocated Badosa's sentiments and chose the Spaniard as her hypothetical rival-turned-coach: 'Now I'm really biased, because I know Paula said me. I feel like, honestly, Paula has a lot of knowledge. Because you can speak with players and know if they're doing this, doing that, and that really, really helps you. So maybe I would choose Paula.' World No.5 Jessica Pegula wrestled with the question for quite some time before settling on her choices. She said: 'Ooh, that's a good question. A close rival to coach me … I feel like it's different because Novak, he's already accomplished everything there is to accomplish, so I think he just wanted somebody that he could relate to and, like, mix things up. Obviously, he's searching for something to keep pushing him.' Following Bencic's logic of choosing a rival that frequently beats her, Pegula said: 'That's actually funny because I haven't beaten Belinda, so maybe I should pick her. We have the same issue, so we'll just pick whoever keeps beating us. Yeah, maybe that'll work. Barty would be a good one. But she retired, so I didn't think she counted. 'I think IQ-wise, she would be incredible. So maybe her. And then maybe Belinda because I'm 0-4 against her.' When told other players were asked the same question, Pegula said: 'Did I come up? Did someone pick me?'
Dubai Eye
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Raducanu to play in Dubai Tennis Championships
Emma Raducanu will play at the Dubai Tennis Championships having taken a wildcard entry, as she looks to get back to winning ways having suffered four losses on in-a-row for the first time in her career. The 22-year-old is coming off the back of a loss at the Qatar Open at the hands of Ekaterina Alexandrova, who dispatched the Brit in straight sets. Raducanu also featured in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open earlier this month where she was defeated in the first round. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DDF Tennis Championships (@ddftennis) The Dubai tournament is a WTA 1000 event, meaning Raducanu could end up with a tough draw with all the world's top ten scheduled to compete.
