Dubai United, La Liga join forces to drive club’s next phase of growth in UAE Pro League

Emirati football club Dubai United FC and La Liga have on Tuesday officially unveiled their collaboration agreement at an event held in Dubai, attended by La Liga President Javier Tebas and Dubai United FC President Ilie Cebanu.

Following its recent promotion to the UAE Pro League, Dubai United FC is embarking on a new phase of institutional growth alongside La Liga, with the aim of strengthening its off-pitch operations and developing the capabilities needed to compete and operate more effectively at the highest level of UAE football.

The programme will focus on key areas of the club’s professional development, including marketing, branding, content, matchday experience, hospitality and fan engagement. It will be delivered through La Liga’s Mena office, with the support of its team of professionals in Madrid.

Through its club office, La Liga has carried out more than 272 tailored consultancy projects aimed at identifying the specific needs of each club and providing solutions adapted to their challenges and objectives. This milestone reflects La Liga’s strong commitment to providing its clubs with close, ongoing and specialist support, an approach to collaboration and knowledge-sharing that will also underpin this project.

La Liga President Tebas said: “The management model we have built together with our clubs is one of La Liga’s greatest assets. Through our Club Office, we work every day with the 42 clubs across La Liga EA Sports and La Liga Hypermotion in areas such as commercial strategy, branding, content and fan experience. We are now bringing that expertise to Dubai United FC.

Their promotion to the UAE Pro League makes this the ideal moment to take this step, and our aim is to help the club develop its own capabilities so that it can compete and grow independently.”

Dubai United FC President Ilie Cebanu said: “Partnering with La Liga represents an important milestone in Dubai United FC’s journey and our long-term vision for the future. Following our promotion to the UAE Pro League, we are entering a new phase of growth, both on and off the pitch. This collaboration will allow us to benefit from La Liga’s extensive expertise in club management, commercial development, branding, and fan engagement.

“Our ambition is to build a strong, sustainable, and professionally managed football club that contributes to the continued development of UAE football and establishes a growing presence internationally.”