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Mixed martial arts competition the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has signed a multi-year deal with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) to stage a series of major events in the Emirate.

Commencing with Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena hosting a Champions Series World Title event on 25th January, the partnership will see Dubai become the centerpiece of the PFL’s Champions Series, with all other events in the series now to be branded ‘Road to Dubai’ events in anticipation of the January series finale.

The collaboration, which runs until 2028, aims to make Dubai the “new fight capital” of the world and an MMA hub, has a particular focus on creating a career pathway for homegrown fights in the Emirate.

Announcing the partnership, DSC Secretary General, Saeed Hareb stated “through this agreement, Dubai Sports Council will provide all means of support to ensure the success of the first-of-its-kind International Martial Arts Championship Series in the Middle East, which represents a qualitative addition to the list of international sporting events and enhances sports tourism.

“This championship aims to attract a large number of young people and will receive wide attention from the public and local and international media, as organizing this international championship contributes to enhancing diversity in sports and enriching the list of rich sporting events hosted by Dubai throughout the year.”

DET Chief Executive for Festivals and Retail Establishment, Ahmed Al Khaja added “this significant partnership is in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 to further consolidate Dubai’s status as a leading global city for business and leisure, and is a testament to Dubai’s commitment to providing incredible experiences for both athletes and fans.”

Martial arts competitions are expanding in Arabian Gulf nations with Abu Dhabi having hosted Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events since 2010, and PFL having held five events in Saudi Arabia this year, including former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA for the first time in nearly three years.

Saudi-based SRJ Sports Investments owns a minority equity ownership stake in PFL.

Images: Action from a Professional Fighters League bout earlier this year (top, credit: Shutterstock) and promotion for the PFL's Champions Series World Title event in Dubai on 25th January next year (below).

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