SPIA Awards celebrate Middle East sports excellence in Abu Dhabi, honoring DP World Tour Championship and ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon
SPIA Awards in Abu Dhabi honoured Middle East sports excellence, crowning DP World Tour Championship, ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon and Bahrain’s Asian Youth Games.
The SPIA Awards returned to Abu Dhabi for its thirteenth edition, bringing together leading figures from the region’s sports sector to recognise excellence across 26 categories. The SPIA Awards night celebrated events, venues, agencies and programmes including the DP World Tour Championship and the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Winners were chosen by an independent regional panel after a vetting process that reviewed more than 100 nominations.
Major winners at the SPIA Awards
The DP World Tour Championship took home the headline prize of Major Global Sports Event of the Year, reflecting its international profile and operational delivery. Elevate was named Best Agency of the Year, while the 3rd Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025 secured two awards for social media use and athlete wellbeing.
Yas Marina Circuit was recognised as Best Venue of the Year, and the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon won Best Fan Engagement in Sports for its community reach. Amateur side Banaat FC was honoured as Amateur Sports Team/Club of the Year, and Desert Vipers received acclaim for Excellence in Sustainability.
Judging panel and selection process
An independent judging panel of industry leaders assessed entries across all categories, bringing experience from sport governance, marketing and global events. The jury included senior figures from national sport ministries, international leagues and commercial partners, selected for their regional expertise and impartiality.
Nominees underwent a multi-stage vetting process that narrowed over a hundred applications to category finalists, with judges evaluating impact, innovation and legacy when deciding winners.
Speeches emphasised resilience and regional ambition
Opening remarks set the tone for the evening, with Sport360X’s leadership and the founders of Interact underscoring the SPIA Awards’ role in uniting the sector. Officials from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi also addressed attendees, reiterating the Emirate’s commitment to sport development and international hosting.
Speakers highlighted recent challenges the region has faced and praised the industry’s response, noting how events, campaigns and venues have adapted to sustain fan engagement and athlete support across the Middle East.
Special recognitions and campaign highlights
Two special recognition awards acknowledged individual leadership in the sector, with H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri named Visionary Leader in Middle East Sport. Cherie Pridham received the Female Leader in the Middle East recognition for her contributions to coaching and leadership.
The NBA Abu Dhabi games presented by ADQ won Campaign of the Year, while the Asian Youth Games and other campaigns were spotlighted for effective digital engagement and athlete welfare initiatives. The awards emphasised both commercial success and community impact.
Interactive elements, industry networking and community engagement
The ceremony incorporated an interactive regional sports quiz powered by Kahoot, providing attendees with a light-hearted competition and networking opportunity. The event also served as a platform for sponsors and partners to showcase initiatives and announce collaborations.
Organisers said the evening was designed not only to hand out trophies but to stimulate dialogue on best practice, sustainability and talent pathways across the region’s sporting ecosystem.
Organisers and the Sport Industry Series partnership
The SPIA Awards are delivered by Sport360X in partnership with Interact under the Sport Industry Series banner, a collaboration formed in October 2024 to deepen the region’s sport-sector capabilities. Sport360X brings wide digital reach and content expertise, while Interact contributes large-scale health and activity programmes.
Organisers highlighted their combined networks and resources as key to expanding opportunities for event delivery, audience development and cross-border partnerships throughout the Middle East.
The awards night reflected a maturing sports industry in the region, with recognition spanning grassroots clubs to major international events. By celebrating operational excellence, community impact and innovation, the SPIA Awards aim to set benchmarks for future delivery and to foster collaboration among federations, commercial partners and venues across the Gulf and wider Middle East.
