Baseball United competition reveals franchises for Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Baseball United, the new professional baseball league that will be played in the Middle East and on the Indian subcontinent, has unveiled Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises as the latest additions to its debut event at Dubai International Stadium.

The Dubai Wolves and Abu Dhabi Falcons - the first professional baseball franchises in the history of the Arabian Gulf region - will compete against the Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs in the league’s Dubai Showcase later this year.

The Dubai Wolves brand marks centre on the signature Dubai ‘D’, as well as a wolf visage that pays homage to the Arabian Wolf that once roamed local deserts in vast numbers. The Wolves name honours Dubai’s adaptation from vast, empty desert, to thriving, urban metropolis.

The Abu Dhabi brand marks include a stylised ‘AD’ monogram, as well as the profile view of a peregrine falcon, the national bird of the UAE.

The Dubai colours will be red, white and black while Abu Dhabi’s colours are white, gray and teal.

Speaking at yesterday's launch, Kash Shaikh, President, Chief Executive, board Chairman and majority owner of Baseball United, advised “this is a historic day for our organisation, for baseball, and for the UAE.

“We are so grateful and proud of these two milestone franchises that we now get to share with our fans across the UAE. The Dubai Wolves and Abu Dhabi Falcons will be iconic brands that inspire millions of people here in this great nation, and all across the world.”

The new franchises follow an announcement in June that Baseball United had agreed a historic partnership with Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), giving the new competition a 15-year term to host its league in the United Arab Emirates, which will include games and franchises in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The partnership will allow Baseball United to help drive the commercial and community-focused growth of baseball within the UAE at the youth, amateur, and professional levels. As part of the terms, Baseball United will be responsible for organising all aspects of its league, including facilitating stadium partnerships and leading all marketing and operational activities. ECB will handle government-focused communication, regulations and policy work.

John Miedreich, Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations, Vice-Chairman of the board, and co-owner of Baseball United, added “the partnerships that we continue to forge here in the UAE have given us the momentum and support necessary to build this league the right way.

“We are grateful to all the people and organisations who have joined us on this pursuit, and we’re looking forward to even more partners teaming with us in the future.”

First known as the United International Baseball League (UIBL), as of November last year the new league was renamed Baseball United, the new brand resulting from incremental funding from a new round of owners and investors.

Baseball United's ownership group includes baseball hall of famers Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera, Shaikh and former New York Police Department Commander of International Intelligence.

The Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchise announcements come nearly a year on from Dubai International Stadium being named as the host venue for the inaugural UIBL.

Image: Yesterday's announcement of the Baseball United's Dubai Wolves and Abu Dhabi Falcons franchises. Credit: Supplied.