SPIA celebrates the Middle East's sports industry stars in gala evening in Abu Dhabi - Sport360 News

Hosted by Sport36X and Interact as part of Sport Industry Series, Wednesday’s gala event at the Space42 Arena welcomed over 500 guests to the capital’s Space42 Arena to honour the individuals, organizations, venues and initiatives that are shaping the sports industry across the Middle East.

Winners across 26 different categories were selected by an independent panel of judges composed of industry stalwarts, chosen for their expertise in the Middle East sports industry. DP World Tour Championship, the 3rd Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025, ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon and the ADEK All-Stars program were some of the big winners on the night.

The evening began with speeches from Bassam Nawfal, Managing Director of Sport360X and Sally Corander, Founder and CEO of Interact. H.E, Saeed Al Fazari, Strategic Affairs Executive Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi then addressed the gathering to highlight the Emirate’s unwavering commitment to promote sport in the region.

“Over thirteen editions, SPIA has grown into far more than an awards ceremony. It has become the platform that brings this industry together. It recognises excellence. It sets the benchmark for what the very best looks like in sport across the Middle East,” Bassam said in his opening address.

“Earlier this year, our region went through a period that tested us. It affected all of us in different ways, and it reached every corner of our lives – our families, our communities and our industry. But, what stands out today is not the challenge. It is the response.

“The resilience of the UAE. Of Abu Dhabi. And, of the people in this room. Welcoming so many illustrious guests to Space42 Arena is a testament to the passion and momentum behind the Middle East’s sports industry.

“From outstanding campaigns to world-class facilities, the calibre of this year’s winners was truly inspiring. We’re also grateful to all our partners and sponsors whose support made this latest celebration possible.”

The different winners were selected after an extensive process of vetting more than hundred nominees by an esteemed panel of industry titans from across the region.

These included: H.H. Princess Nouf Al Saud (General Manager – Marketing, Ministry of Sport Saudi Arabia), H.H. Ali Abdulrahman Al Ali (CEO, Dubai Racing Club), Richard Scudamore (Former Executive Chairman & CEO, Premier League), Fiona Jordan (Chief Brand Officer, Whisper), Mo Harb (Head of Partnerships, Tik Tok MENA), Melissa Moncada (CEO & Founder, Aurora Group), Danny Townsend (CEO, SURJ Sports Investment), Tom Foley (CEO, Go Sport), Shaima Alhusseini (Saudi Sports for all Federation, Managing Director), Sarah Swanson (Chief Brand Officer, WTA Ventures), Rob Pilgrim (Head of Sports EMEA, META), Jamie Dean (Executive Director – Sports, MODON), Simon Morris (Vice President, Marketing, International, Adobe), Karim Younes (Partner and COO, Entergame Sports Marketing), and Nick Pinder (Vice President of Sponsorships and Partnerships, International Cricket Council).

The DP World Tour Championship walked away with the coveted ‘Major Global Sports Event of the Year’ award while Elevate took home the ‘Best Agency of the Year’ trophy. The 3rd Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025 clinched two awards on the night in the form of ‘Best Use of Social Media in Sport’ and ‘Athlete Wellbeing and Support Programme.’

The Yas Marina Circuit won the ‘Best Venue of the Year’ trophy while the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon was the selection for ‘Best Fan Engagement in Sports.’ The ‘Amateur Sports Team/Club of the Year’ award was given to Banaat FC, while Desert Vipers were recognised for their ‘Excellence in Sustainability.’

The NBA Abu Dhabi games presented by ADQ won big by bagging the prestigious ‘Campaign of the Year’ award.

Two special recognition awards were also presented on the night. H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri was recognised as the ‘’Visionary Leader in Middle East Sport ’ while Cherie Pridham was presented with the ‘Female Leader in the Middle East’ recognition.

A highlight of the night was the interactive quiz of regional sports presented by Kahoot, with the attendees competing for lucrative prizes.

For more information, please visit spiame.com.

Sport360X has been telling the Middle East’s very best sports stories for more than a decade across video, social, gaming and events. It boasts the narrative and creative skills, in Arabic and English, to produce market-leading content that builds affinity with fans and commercial partners alike.

Access is provided to more than 15m followers on Sport360X’s native social media platforms, plus websites that generate more than 12m monthly page views.

Interact was founded in 2014 from a bold vision to inspire a healthier, more active generation.

As the owners of the Sports Industry Series, Interact partners with leading brands and government bodies to embed healthy behaviours deep within communities.

Their work spans the design, delivery and promotion of impactful, large-scale initiatives and events that boost physical activity, support healthier eating, and improve mental well-being across diverse populations.

Sport Industry Series

October 2024’s game-changing partnership saw Interact’s Sport Industry Forum and Sport360X’s SPIA come together under Sport Industry Series.

By combining the skills and network of both organisations, this union creates even greater value for the region’s sport sector.