Merging the tennis and padel federations is a qualitative step towards a more competitive future
Abu Dhabi, 25 January / WAM / The merger of the Tennis and Padel Federations constituted a turning point in the history of the two sports in the Emirates, and a step that reflects a great ambition to build an integrated sports system, capable of achieving achievements, expanding the base of practice, and consolidating the country’s position on the global sports map, in light of a clear vision, unified management, and increasing passion among players and fans.
After the decision to merge, the Emirates Tennis and Padel Federation aspires to a more comprehensive and influential stage in the process of the two games, based on a strategic vision that aims to unify efforts, raise the efficiency of institutional work, and maximize the use of technical and human resources.
The decision to merge is in line with modern trends in sports governance, as it allows unifying regulatory and administrative frameworks, enhancing coordination between technical committees, and integrating development programs, which reflects positively on the quality of competitions, the efficiency of preparing national teams, and expanding the base of practitioners in both games.
Tennis is one of the ancient sports in the Emirates, as its organized practice began decades ago, and has witnessed remarkable development with the establishment of specialized clubs and the hosting of major international tournaments, such as the Dubai Duty Free Championship, the Abu Dhabi Women’s Swap, and others, which contributed to consolidating the culture of tennis, raising the level of local players, in addition to preparing internationally accredited arbitration and administrative cadres.
As for padel, it entered the Emirati sports scene at a later time, but it achieved exceptional spread within a few years, becoming one of the fastest growing games in the country, benefiting from the simplicity of its rules, its appeal to different age groups, and the ease of practicing it in clubs and sports complexes.
The UAE padel team succeeded in achieving a historic achievement by obtaining fifth place in the 2024 World Championship, which was held in Doha, to be the first Arab and Asian team to reach this advanced position, and to reserve a direct qualification ticket to the 2026 World Championship without competing in the qualifiers, in a milestone that reflects the extent of technical development and institutional interest in the game.
The UAE is witnessing the organization of a large number of local tournaments and competitions in tennis and padel, with the participation of dozens of clubs and hundreds of players, both citizens and residents, while indicators indicate a continuous growth in the number of practitioners, especially in padel, which has become strongly present in private clubs and sports complexes.
The Federation is working to launch initiatives aimed at spreading the two games in various emirates of the country, by supporting infrastructure, organizing open days, and training programs directed at young people and women.
According to federation officials, the merger does not mean dissolving the privacy of either game, but rather represents an integration platform that allows the exchange of experiences, unifying development policies, and enhancing investment in infrastructure and technical personnel.
Saeed Al Marri, Secretary-General of the Federation, confirmed that the next stage will witness the restructuring of the technical committees, the unification of financial and administrative regulations, in addition to strengthening partnerships with educational institutions and the private sector.
He added that the Federation pays special attention to the international tournaments hosted by the country, because of their pivotal role in supporting local players and giving them opportunities to interact with different international schools.
Issa Sharif Al Marzouqi, a member of the Padel Committee in the Federation, explained that the merger enhances the federation’s ability to organize the game professionally, stressing that benefiting from the Tennis Federation’s expertise in organization, arbitration and international relations will accelerate the consolidation of padel as a competitive game with a strong institutional structure.
He pointed out the importance of expanding the base of practitioners by supporting private clubs, organizing community tournaments, and including padel within community sports programs, with a focus on preparing certified national coaches.
The Emirates Tennis and Padel Federation is currently working on implementing a comprehensive development plan based on several axes, the most prominent of which is supporting national teams, expanding the participation base, and raising the level of local competitions, while the external participation of the teams comes at the top of the priorities, whether through continental or global championships, which contributes to refining technical expertise and improving the international classification of players.
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