Dubai Hosts Inaugural Pickleball Open 2025 at Pickleturf Venue
What's the Score?
Dubai is making history by hosting the inaugural Pickleball Open 2025 from May 8 to 11. This event, backed by the Dubai Sports Council, marks the professional debut of pickleball in the region and is being held at the newly launched Pickleturf Dubai, the UAE's first professional pickleball venue. Organised by Sport Spirit Fed (SSF) Events in collaboration with Global Sports, the tournament is expected to draw over 275 players from more than 15 countries.
Hit it deeper!
The inaugural Pickleball Open 2025 is poised to be a landmark event for sports in the Middle East, specifically in Dubai. Scheduled to take place from May 8 to 11, this tournament represents the professional debut of pickleball in the region. The event is happening at a key location, the Pickleturf Dubai venue located at Port Rashid. This facility is highlighted as the UAE's first dedicated professional pickleball venue. The venue was born from a local partnership involving Anam Mirza and Kashif Ali. It is designed to be a world-class facility that caters to both elite athletes and enthusiastic newcomers.
The tournament has significant backing from governmental and sporting bodies. It is supported by the Dubai Sports Council. The organisation of the event is a collaborative effort between Sport Spirit Fed (SSF) Events and India-based Global Sports. A press conference was held on May 6 at the Dubai Sports Council headquarters, bringing together various officials from sports, entertainment, and government to announce the arrival of the fast-growing sport in the UAE.
Khalid Al Awar, the director of communications and marketing at the Dubai Sports Council, emphasised the significance of the event. He stated that Dubai continues to solidify its position as a "global hub for sporting excellence". He explained that the Council's support for the Pickleball Open 2025 is directly aligned with their broader vision to promote emerging sports and to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle among all segments of society. Al Awar expressed pride in being part of this "pioneering initiative," calling it another "milestone in the growth of sports in the emirate".
Leading the charge for the event is Global Sports, an entity based in India that is recognised for reshaping the pickleball landscape, particularly across South Asia, and is now expanding its influence into the Gulf region. Global Sports is driven by a founding group committed to advancing pickleball onto the global stage, with ambitions that even include Olympic inclusion. The leadership team includes Hemal Jain, Yuvraj Ruia, Shashank Khaitan, Niraj Jain, Suresh Bhansali, and Divyesh Jain. Adding to the event's appeal is the involvement of renowned Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, who has joined Global Sports as a partner, bridging the worlds of sport and entertainment to broaden the tournament's international audience appeal.
SSF Events, which manages the tournament under the leadership of Mohammad Saif, is described as renowned for delivering high-quality tennis, cricket, and football experiences across the UAE, bringing a proven track record of excellence to the Pickleball Open.
The scale of participation is international, with over 275 players expected from more than 15 countries. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Iran, Vietnam, and India, highlighting the sport's rapid global expansion and its inclusive nature. Looking ahead, Global Sports has ambitious plans for Dubai, announcing intentions to develop three international Pickleball IPs based in the city. These initiatives will focus on tourism, youth engagement, and international competitiveness, with the ultimate goal of establishing Dubai as a year-round pickleball destination and a significant contributor to the sport's global growth. The event is seen as more than just a competition; it's described as the "launch of a movement".
The World Pickleball Verdict
The debut of the Pickleball Open 2025 in Dubai represents a strategic and significant leap for the sport's professional presence in the Middle East. The strong support from the Dubai Sports Council and the establishment of a dedicated professional venue like Pickleturf signal a serious commitment from the emirate to become a key player in the global pickleball scene, aligning with Dubai's ambition to be a hub for diverse sporting excellence. The collaboration between SSF Events and Global Sports, coupled with the star power brought by figures like Karan Johar, suggests a multi-faceted approach to both organising a high-quality event and building buzz around the sport. The international roster of participants immediately positions this as a globally relevant tournament. Furthermore, Global Sports' future plans to develop multiple pickleball initiatives focused on tourism and youth indicate a long-term vision to integrate pickleball into Dubai's identity and economy, potentially making it a major destination for players and fans alike. This event is clearly presented not just as a tournament, but as the catalyst for a movement, aiming to foster sustained growth and visibility for pickleball in the UAE and beyond.