ISEZA: First International Sports & Entertainment Freezone Launches In Dubai
In the bustling city of Dubai, a pioneering initiative is being launched to boost the sports and entertainment sectors within the UAE. The International Sports & Entertainment Zone Authority (ISEZA) is poised to become the UAE’s inaugural dedicated business hub for these vibrant industries, situated within a freezone to offer a myriad of benefits to its members.
Situated in One Central, next to the Dubai Museum of the Future, ISEZA is strategically located to attract industry professionals, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and talents. This positions it as a central hub for the future growth of the sports and entertainment sectors, highlighting Dubai's innovative approach to fostering industries with high social impact.
The establishment of ISEZA is a testament to the UAE's innovative approach towards economic zones, with a history of over 40 freezones catering to diverse sectors. This specialized cluster is designed to facilitate business operations by providing licenses across a range of activities, from sports management and marketing to event management, talent representation, and cutting-edge fields like e-sports and AI-driven sports technology.
It aims to bring together a wide spectrum of industry stakeholders, including global brands, franchises, talent agencies, and artists, thus fostering a fertile environment for growth and collaboration.
Dubai's sports industry is a significant contributor to the local economy, injecting approximately $2.5 billion annually. Recognizing this, ISEZA will play a crucial role in further propelling this sector by offering a unified platform for business licensing across both established and emerging markets. This initiative not only aims to support the current industry landscape but also to pave the way for innovation in areas such as fan tokens and social media influence.
Khaled AlFahim, Vice President of Asset & Investment Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, said, "The launch of ISEZA within the DWTC Free Zone will foster a dynamic ecosystem, empowering sports and entertainment businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs to thrive. ISEZA members will benefit from our award-winning freezone's prime location in the heart of the city's business district, streamlined business setup, and access to valuable networking opportunities through our diverse events and exhibition calendar.
"By attracting sports and entertainment-focused businesses, we are reinforcing Dubai's status as a global business hub and contributing to the growth of the sports sector in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33)."
ISEZA also aims to be a magnet for international and regional sports bodies, including federations, associations, and leagues. Dubai’s exceptional global connectivity, advanced infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies offer an attractive proposition for global sports organizations, further establishing the city as a leading hub for sports and entertainment.
ISEZA's CEO, Damir Valeev, shared insights into the project's alignment with Dubai's vision to position itself as a leading global destination for sports, entertainment, and tourism.
"Our project is aligned with Dubai's strategic vision of being a global destination for sports, entertainment, and tourism. This initiative will have a major social impact creating a unique environment for hosting sports exhibitions, museums, academic programmes and community projects in Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Expo areas. Driven by the UAE's vision of business development with higher social impact, we believe it will further contribute to the promotion of active sports and a healthy lifestyle in the UAE overall."
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