State-owned Abu Dhabi Media Company and Dubai Media Incorporated have agreed a three-season extension to their rights deal with the Pro League Committee, the organising body of the Arabian Gulf League – the top division of club football in the UAE.
Under the deal, which runs from 2016-17 to 2018-19, Abu Dhabi Sports Channels and Dubai Sports Channels will pay the cumulative figure of AED85m (€20.5m/$23.14m) per season for the rights.
The contract includes the Arabian Gulf League as well as the Arabian Gulf Cup, Arabian Gulf Super Cup and U21 League competitions. In addition, in a new development the Pro League Committee has appointed Live Productions as its exclusive production partner over the same three-season window.
Rights negotiations lasted two months, during which the Pro League Committee said it “quickly became clear” that all parties sought to continue a partnership which began over eight years ago with the inception of professional football in the UAE.