Global Fútbol

As part of their internationalisation efforts, Granada CF have capitalised on the opportunities that exist in the Arab world by building up strong relationships with various partners and institutions over the past few years. They continue to do so, most recently welcoming Dr. Khaled Hanafy, the Secretary General at the Union of Arab Chambers, to visit the Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes. He was joined by Malek Twal, Ambassador of the Arab League and Santiago Velo, President of the Academy of Diplomacy of Spain.

With this visit, Granada CF looked to strengthen their connections with this region and strategic market. Dr. Khaled Hanafy was able to visit the installations and speak to club directors and also to club sponsors, with all parties keen to develop future business relationships across the 22 member countries that form the Arab League.

How Granada CF have built on their historic links with the Arab world

On the pitch, Granada CF have enjoyed a very successful 2022/23 campaign, winning LaLiga SmartBank to secure a return to LaLiga Santander. This means Los Nazaríes will be competing against the best teams in the world again in 2023/24 and that makes the club even more attractive to their partners in the Middle East and North Africa.

Even when they were playing in Spanish football’s second tier, Granada CF continued to make the MENA region a priority as the club want to build on the historic links the city has with the Arab world. There is strong Arab heritage in Granada, most famously with the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The club even has a dedicated director for MENA, in Khaled Shagwara. He explained why this is such a strategic market for Granada CF, stating: “The Arab region is especially relevant to Granada CF due to its potential as an emerging market in the sporting world and due to its historical and cultural connections to the city of Granada and its iconic Alhambra Palace. The Arab region offers opportunities for the expansion of the club’s brand, the discovery of talent and the creation of new revenue streams.”

In order to develop these connections, Granada CF have set up an Arabic language Twitter account and have launched an international expansion plan which includes the 'Qarib' project, with the translation of this word from Arabic meaning ‘close’ or ‘nearby’. “The 'Qarib' project aims to strengthen and consolidate relations by integrating Arab culture into the city of Granada and into our shared passion for football,” added Shagwara.

On the other ways in which the club is developing relationships in this part of the world, Shagwara said: “Granada CF is working in the Arab world through various projects and initiatives, such as the creation of sports science universities, football academies and club acquisitions in the region. The main objective is to strengthen the club’s presence in the Arab region, to attract new supporters and fans and to diversify revenue streams through the implementation of these initiatives.”

The fact that Granada CF kept prioritising the MENA region even when playing in Spanish football’s second division means that Los Nazaríes have continued to consolidate their position over the past year. Now, as they prepare for promotion to LaLiga Santander and as they build on the contacts made during Dr. Khaled Hanafy’s visit, Granada CF can take the next step in securing lucrative agreements with the Arab world.