UAE’s players to battle for Dubai Premier Padel P1 qualification

Gallop Global, organisers of the inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1, event have issued a rallying call in partnership with the UAE Padel Association (UAEPA) to the country’s best padel players after launching a pair of male and female wildcards tournaments where UAE players can earn the right to compete at this November’s main event at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

The two wildcards tournaments are open to elite players from, or residing in, the Emirates, and will take place from October 4-8 at NAS Sports Complex.

The winners in the each of the categories will secure direct spots in the official Dubai Premier Padel P1 qualifying event scheduled for the eve of the tournament (November 3 – 4).

Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAEPA, said: “Bringing the Premier Padel P1, and the preceding Wildcards Tournaments, to Dubai is a significant milestone that aligns perfectly with the emirate's strategy to develop the sports sector. Not only does this initiative reinforce Dubai’s status as a key destination for global sporting events, but it will also bring a sense of pride and opportunity for sport enthusiasts. With the UAE home to one of Asia’s largest padel communities, the wildcards tournaments will be a game-changer for homegrown padel players, offering a chance to compete alongside the sport’s biggest stars. We are excited to be associated with this initiative.”

The Asian padel scene is led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which collectively house a total of over 320 clubs and more than 950 courts, equating to 30 percent of all padel courts across the continent. Domestically, the UAEPA reported significant growth in the game last year, with 155 associated clubs and 620 courts - a 13 percent year-on-year increase on available facilities – catering to surging demand.

Dubai Sports Council sees the wildcards tournaments as an exciting addition to the master Dubai Premier Padel P1 initiative. With the tremendous growth and development that the sport is undergoing in the country, the wildcard tournaments present an opportunity to leverage the robust padel community and offer amateur players a unique and unmissable opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best professional players.

Registration for the Dubai Premier Padel P1 Wildcards Tournaments opened on September 10 and will run until September 23, or when the participant limit is reached.

The UAEPA has set a cap of 64 pairs for the men’s category and 32 pairs for the women’s category. Participants are urged to visit the UAEPA website to register and secure their spots.

“We have witnessed a tremendous surge in the popularity of padel across the UAE in recent years, with exceptional male and female talents emerging across various age groups,” Ivan Modia, Tournament Director of Dubai Premier Padel P1 and CEO of Gallop Global.

“The Wildcards Tournament is designed to celebrate this growing community by providing a platform for local talent to shine on their pathways to professionalism.”

The Dubai Premier Padel P1 wildcards tournaments will follow a knockout format that adheres to both UAEPA regulations and international standards.

Dubai Premier Padel P1, part of the newly unified 25-tournament season spanning 18 countries across five continents, will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

Running November 3-10, the event will feature 256 players, including many of the world’s best, who are obligated to compete in P1 events. The likes of Arturo Coello, Juan Lebron, Ariana Sanchez Fallada, Beatriz Gonzalez, and Alejandro Galan have already confirmed they will compete for a share of an accumulated prize pool of €470,000 (Dh1.89 million).