A Strategic Vision: NXTPLAY’s Investment in Padel Marks a New Chapter for the Sport’s Global Reach

The investment platform co-founded by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois partners with Dubai-based Gallop Global to accelerate padel's expansion across international markets, leveraging expertise in sport and media with event delivery capabilities.

The momentum around padel continues to build across the region. NXTPLAY, an investment platform established by Thibaut Courtois and Gonzalo Vila, has committed to backing Gallop Global, a Dubai-based organisation that develops and delivers sporting events and live experiences across multiple markets. The partnership represents NXTPLAY’s first venture into the padel sector, a calculated move that recognises the sport’s accelerating growth across several regions.

Gallop Global brings considerable credentials to this collaboration. The company organises the Emaar Dubai Premier Padel P1, which forms part of the global Premier Padel circuit, and has established itself as a sophisticated operator in the event delivery landscape. The synergy between NXTPLAY’s depth of knowledge in sport and media, combined with Gallop Global’s proven capabilities in developing and executing sporting events, creates a compelling foundation for international expansion.

Courtois, whose perspective carries weight from his longstanding career in elite sport, observed that padel is experiencing meaningful growth across several markets. This observation shapes NXTPLAY’s strategy of investing in companies positioned within the sector. The partnership with Gallop Global aligns with this clear vision and reflects confidence in the organisation’s leadership and trajectory.

Iván Modia, CEO and Co-Founder of Gallop Global, emphasised that NXTPLAY’s involvement as both investor and strategic partner strengthens the company’s ambitions for international development while deepening cooperation in the creation of sporting events. The announcement arrives in parallel with the 2026 Emaar Dubai Premier Padel P1 taking place at Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, demonstrating how the emirate continues to establish itself as a destination for world-class padel competition.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The growth of padel across the Gulf reflects broader trends in how sport is evolving in the region. As Dubai and the wider UAE consolidate their position as major hosts of international sporting events, the emergence of padel as a significant competitive discipline illustrates the diversification of the sports calendar. This partnership between a strategic investor and an event organiser suggests further infrastructure development and international visibility for the sport.

For those engaged with sport and wellness in the emirate, this investment signals confidence in padel’s trajectory and suggests that opportunities for participation, spectatorship and professional development within the sport will continue to expand. The combination of international expertise and regional execution capability points toward a sustained period of growth and professional development within the padel community across the UAE.

Source: WAM

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