Bundesliga and UAE Pro League sign strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi academy launch

The Bundesliga and the UAE Pro League have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to deepen cooperation across football development and commercial growth, with the agreement anchored by the launch of an official Bundesliga Academy in Abu Dhabi.The partnership was announced during an official state visit, with the memorandum exchanged by UAE Pro League chairman and UAE FA senior vice-president Abdullah Nasser Al Junaibi and Bundesliga International chief executive Peer Naubert. The agreement sets out collaboration in technical expertise, broadcasting, youth player development, fan engagement and commercial and marketing work.The Bundesliga Academy will be based at Sport X Domes in Abu Dhabi, a facility that was inaugurated as part of the announcement. Bundesliga International said the academy will be built around the Bundesliga’s youth development philosophy and is intended to create a pathway for local talent, with a focus on elite training standards alongside educational and community programmes.Peer Naubert said the agreement is intended to signal long-term intent rather than a short-term activation. “These announcements represent much more than a symbolic partnership – it is a clear statement of intent,” he said. “By formalising our collaboration with the UAE Pro League – witnessed by the respective heads of state – and launching a Bundesliga Academy in Abu Dhabi, we establish a permanent presence in the region and demonstrate long-term commitment to developing football at every level.“The MENA region, and the UAE in particular, is a key strategic market for the Bundesliga, with enormous potential both on and off the pitch.“The Bundesliga has a proven track record of youth development, innovation, and fan engagement. Through this partnership with the UAE Pro League, we want to share our expertise, support the next generation of players and coaches, and contribute meaningfully to the continued growth of football across the region.”Al Junaibi framed the agreement as part of broader cooperation between the UAE and Germany. He said: “This agreement, and the opportunities it creates, stands as another positive outcome of the close ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Federal Republic of Germany, and a foundation for meaningful collaboration in the field of football development."Bundesliga International also confirmed it has opened a regional office in Abu Dhabi, underlining a wider push across the Middle East and North Africa. The Bundesliga has pointed to an established broadcast relationship in the region and increased localisation activity, including the launch of an Arabic-language Instagram channel, as it looks to grow audiences and deepen engagement beyond live match consumption.The academy project is being delivered in collaboration with local partner Target Global Sports, with the Bundesliga also planning to bring UAE talents to Germany through existing ‘Bundesliga Dream’ initiatives.