Edinburgh Napier University

  The exploration of the phenomenon of regional development through sports related projects in the Arabian Peninsula shows ways in which urban regeneration investment projects affect the regional economy as well as the reverse injection of local capital into global markets. These are traced in the selected three case studies: the Doha 2006 Asian Games, the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Manchester United Football Academy in Dubai. The following major themes arise from the analysis: a) the profusion of risky and bold mega-sports projects that are linked to major urban developments; b) the extensive use of the intangible values and images (goodwill, fair play, and well-being) of sport, that people generally hold, for brand awareness and sales growth purposes; c) the glocalisation of the activity of the various agents (and their business interests) who engage with sport and finally; d) the central role of the royal families, both as political and a business elite, in facilitating the networking between international sport organisations and global and local business interests.