World Padel Championship 2022 to be held in Dubai from October 31

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The International Padel Federation, the global governing body of padel, on Thursday announced the UAE Padel Association (UAEPA) as the host of this year’s IPF World Padel Championship, its flagship biennial tournament.

The Dubai World Padel Championship 2022, to be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, and hosted by UAEPA in association with Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET), will be played from October 31 to November 5 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.  

Unveiling the tournament on Thursday, the UAEPA outlined its plans to transform the 5,000-seat stadium into a showpiece venue for the six-day international team competition.

“Hosting the Dubai World Padel Championship will further expand the profile of padel across the UAE, where the sport is already surging in popularity among men and women across all age groups,” said Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAEPA. “There is no limit to the growth of the sport across the Emirates, and we hope this world-class event will cement the UAE’s position as a global capital of padel.

“With the world’s best teams and players now heading to the UAE next month, we are finalising plans to temporarily convert Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium -- a venue renowned for decades of tennis excellence – into purpose-built courts that will facilitate the maximum number of spectators to follow the world-class action,” added Sheikh Saeed.

The Dubai World Padel Championship will boast separate men’s and women’s categories, with 16 national teams set to compete in each competition.

In another ground-breaking first, the UAE men’s national team will make its IPF World Padel Championship debut on home turf; the eight-man squad will represent the Arabian Gulf against a glittering roster of the game’s leading countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, and Uruguay. Three additional nations from the final rounds of European qualifying will be later this month.

National teams that have qualified for the women’s competition include Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Uruguay, and the USA, with two more European teams set to be decided in continental qualifiers.

With hundreds of elite padel players, coaching staff, and their families all set to visit Dubai for the biggest event on the sport’s annual calendar, the event is expected to provide a further boost to the emirate in terms of tourism contribution and economic impact, according to Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment, an agency of DET.

Khaja commented: “As an international events hub, Dubai continues to host global sporting events that further enhance our efforts to achieve the goal set by our visionary leadership to make Dubai the most preferred and visited destination in the world.

“With hundreds of elite padel players, coaching staff, their families and fans all set to visit Dubai for this international tournament, it will also provide a boost to the city’s sports tourism offering.

Padel is a growing obsession among sports enthusiasts in Dubai and we expect the city’s padel community to come out in force to welcome the world’s best male and female players during the World Padel Championship – especially as it coincides with this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge.

“With its diversity of attractions and experiences, Dubai will also provide the visiting padel players and fans the opportunity to combine their sporting passions with some quality time for travel, recreation, and relaxation.”