You may see teams like the 49ers, Commanders, and Rams visiting Abu Dhabi in the near future
One of the world’s greatest sporting organisations is setting its eyes on bringing their brand to the UAE.
As reported this week by Front Office Sports, the National Football League, one of the most popular sporting institutions around the world, is growing its focus on the Middle East, especially Abu Dhabi.
The league has already made strides in Europe, South America, and the Pacific Rim and as part of its ongoing expanding international strategy, now aims to tap into the UAE market.
The addition of the UAE as a designated market for three teams (49ers, Commanders, and Rams) under its Global Markets Program, highlighting the NFL’s interest in developing a fanbase there.
League executives have even hinted at the possibility of hosting regular-season games in Abu Dhabi, though they’re still in the exploratory phase.
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This expansion is part of the NFL’s broader strategy to increase its global footprint with international games already planned for countries like Ireland, Spain, and Australia in the coming years.
The league has set ambitious goals, including the potential for 16 international games in the future.
“We don’t know the timing, and it’s really an ‘if’ in terms of whether we’ll play a game there. But I will say that’s a market where there’s strong interest in our game, strong interest in growing our game on a year-round basis,” said NFL EVP of club business Peter O’Reilly.
As the UAE market grows, the NFL’s strategy could also serve as a blueprint for future global expansions. However, while the region is rich and rapidly developing, its sports viewership still has room to grow.
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