The Dubai Sports broadcaster has secured exclusive rights to Dutch soccer’s top-tier Eredivisie for the next three seasons.
In a significant move unveiled earlier this week, Dubai Sports, a key player in the Dubai Media empire, will provide exclusive live coverage of the Eredivisie for the 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 seasons across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. This partnership bolsters the visibility of Dutch football in a region with a growing appetite for European leagues.
Previously, MENA fans could catch live matches through Starzplay, a pay-TV service, which had secured rights for just one season last year. The transition to a more stable and long-term partnership with Dubai Sports signals a commitment to providing fans in the region with consistent and high-quality access to one of Europe’s beloved leagues.
The Eredivisie has seen an impressive influx of talent from across the MENA region in recent years, highlighting its universal appeal. Notably, there are currently twelve Moroccan players contracted within the league, alongside others from Algeria, Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia. This diverse representation speaks volumes about the league’s ability to attract top talents and foster international connections.
This deal follows another significant milestone for the Eredivisie and the heavyweight sports agency IMG, which extended their international rights agreement for an additional five years last October. With over two decades of collaboration, IMG has been instrumental in selling the global media rights for the Dutch league, thereby enhancing its international profile.
When considering the competition for broadcast rights in the MENA region, other European soccer leagues are also vying for attention. For instance, Starzplay holds the broadcasting rights for the Italian Serie A, while Qatari broadcaster BeIN provides coverage for France’s Ligue 1 through 2029, along with Spain’s LaLiga until 2027-28. This competitive landscape underscores the MENA region’s status as a key market for European football.
Within the Netherlands, live Eredivisie matches will continue to be broadcast on ESPN until 2030, with further highlights available for free via the public-service broadcaster NOS. This ensures that local fans remain well-connected with their favorite teams, anticipating every match and celebratory moment.
As the 2024-25 Eredivisie season approaches its conclusion, Ajax is currently leading the pack, sitting comfortably at the top of the table with a seven-point advantage over PSV Eindhoven, who do have one game in hand. This positioning is a testament to Ajax’s historic prowess in Dutch football and raises the stakes for the remaining matches as teams vie for glory.
