ABSTRACT
In an overarching sense this chapter examines the central themes of sport event management and specifically their application to the Gulf region. Indeed, in the latter part of this chapter these issues are examined in the context of the favourable international profile currently being experienced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the field of sport. This chapter is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to event management, nor a step-by-step approach to successfully hosting a major sporting event. Rather it draws the reader's attention to a fundamental need to understand the different types of sporting events that exist, the strategic value they offer, in both economic and sporting terms, and how the wider global profiling of a specific country or city may be enhanced through its effective engagement with certain sport events. The latter part of the chapter details a series of events that take place on an annual 104basis in the UAE and explains how by doing so they serve an important role in embellishing that country's image as an evolving international business, tourist and leisure destination.
