UAE Tennis And Padel Merger Strengthens Competitiveness And Long-term Growth

The creation of the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation marks a major step for racket sports in the country, bringing tennis and padel under one structure to increase participation, sharpen elite performance and strengthen the UAE’s visibility on the international sports scene through a clear long-term plan.

On 31 December 2025, the UAE Minister of Sports, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, approved the decision to merge the UAE Tennis Federation and the UAE Padel Federation into a single body named the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation, with the move forming part of a broader sports strategy running until 2028.

The unified UAE Tennis and Padel Federation is designed to bring all planning, governance and technical work into one framework, which reduces duplication, improves coordination between committees and strengthens decision-making, while also aligning with modern sports governance models used globally and within the wider Middle East region.

Officials explained that the merger keeps the traditions and specific identities of tennis and padel intact but places them within one system that encourages shared expertise, joint planning and more efficient use of facilities and staff, while also creating a more attractive environment for public and private investment in both games.

The next stage for the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation includes restructuring technical committees, bringing financial and administrative regulations under one set of rules, and deepening cooperation with schools, universities and private sector partners, while keeping a strong focus on international tournaments so that players gain experience and the UAE’s world rankings in both sports improve.

Tennis already has deep roots in the UAE, where specialist clubs and long-running tournaments have supported steady growth, with events such as the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open playing central roles in attracting elite players, building local interest and helping develop umpires and officials with international accreditation.

Padel, which arrived in the UAE more recently than tennis, has expanded quickly due to its simple rules, social nature and appeal across age groups, and that rapid take-up has been reflected on court, as the UAE padel national team finished fifth at the 2024 World Championships in Doha and secured direct qualification for the 2026 event, becoming the first Arab and Asian team to achieve this.

The UAE Tennis and Padel Federation continues to oversee a busy calendar of domestic tournaments and leagues in both sports, with increasing entries from clubs and players across all emirates, while new initiatives focus on building more courts, organising open days, and designing programmes aimed at youth and women to widen the base of participants.

The merger positions the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation to manage growth in a more coordinated way, strengthening pathways from grassroots to national teams, improving use of resources and supporting the UAE’s long-term goal of being a competitive and stable presence in global tennis and padel.

With inputs from WAM