- AC Milan opens Dubai HQ in Middle East expansion push

AC Milan has established a presence in Dubai to strengthen its connections with key partners in the Middle East and take advantage of commercial opportunities in the region, according to the Italian soccer club. The Gulf region has become increasingly significant in global soccer, with wealthy nations like the UAE and Qatar acquiring top-level clubs such as Paris St Germain and Manchester City. Additionally, prominent players like Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal are now playing in Saudi Arabia, and Qatar recently hosted the men’s World Cup. AC Milan, which boasts 2.5 million fans in the Middle East, had previously announced plans to open an office in the UAE. This move is particularly significant as the UAE is home to the club’s main partner, Emirates airline, which has been a sponsor since 2007 and has had its logo on the team’s shirts since 2010. The establishment of the Dubai headquarters is another step in the club’s development under the ownership of U.S. investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, who acquired the seven-time European Cup champions in a 1.2 billion euro ($1.28 billion) deal in 2022. Currently, AC Milan is ranked third in Italy’s Serie A standings with 23 points, although they recently drew 2-2 with Lecce after squandering a two-goal lead. Their last league title victory occurred in 2022.