MEA Q1 2021

20 MEA MARKETS / Q1 2021 , Jan21290 Whilst it’s not a new sport, having been originally developed in the 60s, it is now beginning to take the world by storm. Padel is on the rise and we speak to one of the Co-Founders of Padel Pro, based in Dubai. Ahead Of The Game Not familiar with Padel? Widely considered to be the fastest-growing sport in the world, Padel is a racquet sport that can be best defined as a hybrid between tennis, squash, and badminton. With the right coach or trainer, a complete beginner can learn the basics of the sport and be up and running in about 20 minutes. Invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican national, the first Padel Club was founded in 1974 in Marbella, Spain. Today, Padel tennis is one of the most popular sports in Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and other Latin American countries, and is becoming increasingly popular across Europe and the UK. A standard Padel court in UAE is one-third the size of a tennis court (10m X 20m); the balls used are the same as tennis balls, albeit with a little less pressure, and the racquets are stringless and perforated. Padel Pro is the leading Padel club in the United Arab Emirates. Based in Jumeirah Park, Dubai. Padel Pro offers state-of-the-art courts for bookings, high-quality match making services, packages, private or group coaching, tournaments, academies, and merchandise for experienced or new Padel players of all ages. More than just a Padel club, Padel Pro is a community of like-minded people who love to compete and socialise and provides an opportunity to network and meet new people in the UAE. “We believe that the customer comes first and we constantly remind our staff that our value currencies are fun and positive experiences,” explains Padel Pro Co-Founder, Hussein El Reda. “We aim to ensure that customer is happy before, during, and after their booking.” Having created the company in 2017, the three co-founders’ long-term goal is not only to develop the club in Dubai, but to establish Padel Pro as a brand that can operate in several venues across the region. “We are always keeping an eye on what is happening in more developed markets like Spain and Sweden. We have a strong network that we tap into to keep us abreast of new developments and trends.” Padel Pro is a very community- oriented club. It has one of the most diverse client bases with more than 40 different nationalities in its database, plus it features the largest amount of courts of any club, with 10 at its disposal. Padel is naturally a very friendly Covid-19 sport as it is a non- contact sport and played with a good amount of spacing between players, making it an ideal way to interact with friends and keep active at the same time. “Covid has benefited us, especially as we are an outdoor club,” explains Hussein. “In the last 12 months, we have seen the largest surge of players coming into the sport. This was due in large to new clubs opening, endorsements from Sheikh Hamdan, and people looking for new activities that are not restricted by Covid 19 protocol.” As the category leader in the market, and one of the early adaptors of the sport, Padel Pro has done its part in promoting the sport and by showcasing a high level of demand, has given other entrepreneurs the confidence to invest in this relevantly new industry in the United Arab Emirates. With regards to the future of Padel Pro, Hussein and the team are currently in the process of opening two further locations in the United Arab Emirates this year and are also in talks with JV partners in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Company: Padel Pro Contact: Hussein El Reda Website: www.padelpro.ae