Welcome to this
month's Law Update.
As the Middle East looks set to see one of the fastest growing sports sector in the world over the next 5 years and Qatar gets ready to host one of the most elite global spectacles of the sports calendar, we have pulled together a collection of articles for the Law Update which demonstrate the variety and scale of work required of a sports and events practice; from the actual staging of the event, the commercialisation and revenue generating opportunities around it, to the ever growing challenges facing the sports sector as the fame and accessibility of its stars grows.
Through our collection of articles, we have sought to provide an insight into the diverse nature of the legal work required to support the sports sector. With the World Cup just around the corner, we have highlighted the complexity and scale of what is required to stage such events. We have looked at the commercialisation around sports and events, how such is developing in light of new technologies, when sponsorship works well and how it can go horribly wrong. We have also included an article which sets out the specificities around gambling in the UAE, as an example of what would be required to exercise an extremely common sponsorship asset in the UAE; competition giveaways. We also include an article around the growth of the sports sector in Bahrain, given the growth of motor sport as well as boxing, football and cricket, there is no ceiling to the potential for hosting large scale events in the region.
Due to the ever increasing demand in this sector, we have grown our sports and events practice by acquiring talent who have invaluable sector expertise on both an international and local regional basis, ready for what is next to come on the cusp of this hugely exciting time for the region. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Law Update and we would be keen to receive any questions or feedback you have on any of the topics raised.
