DUBAI could become the world’s next football capital, but it will need to play catch up with Saudi Arabia, a football agent has said.
Charles Cardoso says the Emirate city is the talk of the town as it’s investing millions in football in a bid to not to be left behind by the booming Saudis.
Dubai was once one of the promising football powerhouses as it had its “Golden Age” in the sport from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
The difference, Cardoso told The Sun, was that Saudi Arabia was the one able to properly attract the West to the Middle East.
He said: “The Saudis attracted the big names and managed to gain prominence.
“And that’s Dubai’s focus now – bringing in its own top-level athletes and taking the spotlight back to them.
“In this transfer window alone, I had requests from several athletes whose names I cannot reveal at the moment, but two of them play for top-league Brazilian clubs and another in the Premier League.
“The agents in Dubai even told me: ‘Don’t worry about the money’.”
Saudi Arabia’s aggressive and strategic investments in football have made it more difficult for Dubai and the UAE to maintain their earlier prominence in the sport.
This shift has created a more competitive landscape in the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a dominant force in regional football.
Cardoso explained: “After Saudi Arabia signed big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Dubai fell into oblivion, so Dubai’s intention today is to take their name back to the world stage and rekindle the flame of football in the Emirates.”
Dubai has the potential to be as strong as its Saudi counterpart, the football agent said, as the city is also very strong financially as it is also a major oil exporter.
But it missed the chance to get the big football stars back in the day as great offers were first made to the Emirates.
Cardoso said: “They decided to begin investing in the sport again soon after Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo were signed to play in Saudi Arabia.
“But Dubai has lost momentum and now that the Saudis are skyrocketing, it will need to play some catch-up to get back on track.
“It had the chance to get the big football stars, but clubs and agents in Dubai did not believe that the big players would be so successful in the Middle East.
“At that time the focus was on Europe, with the Prem and Spain’s La Liga being the big favourites.”
Dubai will need to chase Saudi Arabia, but I don’t think they will have much difficulty, as the Emirates have as much money as the Saudis
Charles Cardoso
Cardoso, who owns a football club in his native Brazil, says any top-level athlete who goes to play in Dubai will have a very similar lifestyle as those who go to Saudi Arabia.
The warm climate is very appealing as many players adapt very easily.
The amenities that Dubai offers – cars, housing, security – are also a big selling point, according to the agent.
And just like in Saudi Arabia, he said, top-level players in Dubai pay no fees and receive very competitive salaries, approximately $1 million per month, or around $250,000 per week.
But one advantage that Dubai may have over Saudi Arabia is that it is a slightly more westernised community.
Cardoso revealed: “There might be less chance of wives being required to wear a headscarf or covered clothing.”
The football agent hopes Dubai gets the spotlight back, as he believes it has a huge chance of becoming the next great football capital.
He said: “It will need to chase Saudi Arabia, but I don’t think Dubai will have much difficulty, as the Emirates have as much money as the Saudis.
“Dubai also already has clubs with great infrastructure and means to improve the sport, they just need dedication and time to bring the spotlight back to the United Arab Emirates.”
Dubai’s “Golden Age of Football” is generally considered to be the period from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
This era was marked by the rise of strong local clubs, increased investment in football infrastructure, and the emergence of talented players who gained recognition both regionally and internationally.
During this time, clubs like Al Nasr, Al Wasl, and Al Shabab became dominant forces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) football scene.
Al Wasl, in particular, was highly successful, winning several league titles and cups.
The UAE national team also saw significant progress, with a key highlight being their qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, marking the first time the UAE participated in the tournament.
This period was also marked by a strong sense of local pride in football, with packed stadiums and a vibrant football culture that permeated through Dubai and the wider UAE.
But Dubai’s golden era soon fell into decline in the 1990s and early 2000s, sending the promising Middle Eastern football capital into oblivion.
The rapid economic growth and urbanisation in Dubai and the UAE led to significant social changes.
As Dubai evolved into a global financial and tourism hub, there was a shift in public interests and priorities.
The influx of expatriates with different cultural backgrounds also diversified the local population’s interests, leading to less focus on local football.
It will need to chase Saudi Arabia, but I don’t think Dubai will have much difficulty, as the Emirates have as much money as the Saudis
Charles Cardosa
The rise of other sports, such as cricket and basketball, along with the growing availability of international sports broadcasts, gave people more options for entertainment – diluting the previously concentrated interest in football.
As Dubai’s clubs sought to maintain their dominance, there was an increasing reliance on foreign players, which sometimes stunted the development of local talent.
While these players brought short-term success, it led to a decline in the nurturing of homegrown talent that had been key to the earlier successes.
After the UAE’s successful qualification for the 1990 World Cup, the national team struggled to replicate this success. The lack of strong performances on the international stage dampened the excitement and investment in local football.
Some clubs faced administrative challenges and financial mismanagement, which affected their operations and ability to attract top talent, both locally and internationally.
This instability often led to inconsistent performances and reduced fan engagement.
Football in Dubai, like in many parts of the world, became more commercialised.
The focus shifted from community-based clubs and local talent development to commercialization and profit-making.
This shift alienated some fans who felt disconnected from the increasingly corporatised football scene.
SAUDI Arabia has made significant investments in football, particularly in recent years, aiming to raise the profile of its domestic league.
Some of the biggest transfers include:
Cristiano Ronaldo: Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United. His contract reportedly included a salary worth around $200 million (£158m) per year, including commercial deals.
Karim Benzema: Benzema signed with Al-Ittihad in June 2023 on a free transfer from Real Madrid. His salary was reported to be around $200 (£158m) million over two years.
Neymar: Neymar moved to Al-Hilal in August 2023 for an estimated transfer fee of around £90 million ($100 million). His contract was worth approximately £150 million ($165 million) per year.
Sadio Mané: Mané joined Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich in 2023 for a fee of approximately £30 million ($32 million).
Sergej Milinković-Savić: Milinković-Savić moved to Al-Hilal from Lazio in 2023 for around £40 million ($43 million).
Aleksandar Mitrović: Mitrović moved to Al-Hilal from Fulham in 2023 for around £46 million ($55 million).
Jordan Henderson: Henderson transferred to Al-Ettifaq from Liverpool in 2023 for an estimated fee of £12 million ($15 million).
Kalvin Phillips: Phillips transferred to Al-Ittihad from Manchester City in 2023 for around £45 million ($55 million).
Roberto Firmino: Firmino joined Al-Ahli on a free transfer in 2023 after leaving Liverpool, with his contract reportedly worth around £20 million ($22 million) per year.
Edouard Mendy: Mendy transferred to Al-Ahli from Chelsea in 2023 for a fee of around £18 million ($19.5 million).
