LALIGA and STRIVE launch strategic joint venture in MENA and South Asia

LALIGA and STRIVE Sports & Entertainment, a Bahrain- based global sports, media and entertainment company, announced today the signing of a joint venture (JV) to accelerate LALIGA´s growth and strengthen its long-term presence in the MENA and South Asia markets.

Through this strategic alliance, STRIVE has acquired 50% stake in LALIGA MENA & South Asia, a company based in Dubai from where LALIGA has operated in the region for over 11 years.

This joint venture aims to accelerate the growth and positioning of the LALIGA brand in a key market, while also enabling the joint development of new business opportunitiesin one of the most dynamic regions worldwide.

The MENA and South Asia region continues to be one of LALIGA’s most promising international markets. The company has currently a team of 20 professionals based across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, India, Jordan, and Turkey. From these strategic locations, LALIGA works hand-in-hand with public institutions, private companies, and sports stakeholders to drive development across the football ecosystem.

LALIGA's trajectory in the region reflects significant consolidation: over 40 partners, 5 football academies, and a strategic consultancy agreement in Iraq underscore its commitment to long-term, sustainable sports development. LALIGA’s reach in MENA and South Asia also speaks volumes: the league boasts over 500 million cumulative audience and more than 55 million followers across regional social media channels, a testament to the strong connection and passion of local fans for LALIGA.

Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, stated: "In such a strategically important market for LALIGA as MENA and South Asia, this agreement with STRIVE will allow us to grow at a faster pace and unlock new markets and opportunities, working hand in hand with a partner that brings strong professionalism, reputation, and influence across the region."

His Excellency Abdulla Al Zain, the Chairman of  STRIVE Sports & Entertainment, stated “We are pleased to embark on this new Joint Venture which unlocks the full potential of LALIGA as a global brand, and expanding regional reach. This partnership represents an important step in advancing STRIVE’s regional and global portfolio, and we look forward to the opportunities it will create.”

Maite Ventura, Managing Director of LALIGA MENA and South Asia, added: "This agreement reinforces our long-term commitment to a region we view as essential to LALIGA’s global growth. We aim to be closer to our fans, better understand their habits, and forge local alliances that will allow us to continue delivering sustainable value over time."

The signing of this agreement comes at a time of consolidation and strategic expansion for LALIGA in MENA and South Asia. In this context, clubs are increasing their local engagement through on-the-ground activations aimed at building deeper connections with fans, expanding their supporter base, and uncovering new development opportunities in key markets.