
MESIF MADRID 2025
Set in one of Europe’s most dynamic sporting capitals, MESIF Madrid 2025 is the next in our series of global investment roadshows in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia.
This unique VIP gathering will connect the Middle East region with leading international sports stakeholders and investors from Spain, Europe, North Africa and Latin America. As Madrid prepares to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030, the city offers the perfect backdrop to discuss the rise of sports tourism, mega-event hosting and the infrastructure needed to support regional ambitions.
With a particular focus on knowledge exchange, deal creation and global best practice, attendees will gain exclusive insights into the latest trends shaping the MENA sports sector.
WHY ATTEND?
Top Level Ministerial Participation - Meet the key Ministries of Sports & Investment from across the region.
Exclusive Contract Discussions - Participate in intimate discussions on upcoming regional sports projects.
Industry Education and Insights - Gain unique and practical knowledge from leading experts.
121 Meetings - Enjoy exclusive opportunities for one-on-one meetings with top decision-makers.
Grow your Presence - Develop your Middle East footprint in sports and showcase your unique credentials and commitment to the region.
One-of-a-kind VIP Experience - Network in a relaxed environment with our VIP guests.

200 DELEGATES
VIP EXPERIENCE
20+ SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

His Excellency Issa Hilal Al-Hazami is a dynamic leader in the UAE sports community, currently serving as the Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council since July 2020. With a passion for advancing sports and community well-being, he has driven significant initiatives that have shaped the sports landscape in Sharjah. Prior to this, he served as the Secretary General of the Council from 2018 to 2020, and played a key role in national disaster management efforts at the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) from 2011 to 2020.
Al-Hazami's leadership experience extends to his tenure as General Secretary of Sharjah Sports Club (2009–2011) and Private Office Director for His Highness Prince Talal Bin Bader Al Suad (2006–2009). His career began in the skies as a Police Helicopter Pilot, where he served from 1986 to 2006. His Excellency’s diverse experience makes him a driving force in the UAE's sports and public service sectors.

Hanan Al Mahmoud is Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS) and a member of the UAE National Olympic Committee.
She leads an umbrella organization comprising four women’s sports clubs, collectively serving over 1,000 female athletes.
Under her leadership, SWS also operates a comprehensive network of specialized centers offering holistic services for athletes, from training and sports science to mental wellness and medical services.
She is Vice Chairperson of the Higher Committee and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Arab Women Sports Tournament in its 2024 and 2026 Editions, one of the region’s premier multi-sport events.
Previously, as CEO of Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre (2012–2023), she positioned the venue as Sharjah’s top event destination, hosting over 3,000 events and one million visitors.
Her earlier career included serving as Head of Business Management at Sharjah Ladies Club, overseeing 200 staff and 3,500 services and products.
Hanan also holds key governance roles, including on the Board of Trustees of Rubu’ Qarn Establishment and the Consultative Board of Sharjah Hospitality Group.
She has a B.S. in Management Information Systems & Marketing (Honors) from the University of Sharjah, plus multiple leadership and protocol certifications.
Her career blends business acumen, sports governance expertise, and a commitment to empowering women through sport.
Beyond her professional roles, Hanan is a dedicated mentor, mother of three, and advocate for self-development and community impact.

Mansour Al Mokbel is the the new CEO at the Saudi Motorsports Company.
Mansour continues to also serve as the General Manager for Investments in the Ministry of Sport. He is responsible for catalysing investment-led growth in the sport sector through private sector participation. He leads a team that not only creates investment opportunities, but also enables a conducive environment for the private sector to profitably engage and flourish. Simultaneously, he leads monetization of infrastructure and assets of the Ministry and the commercialization of Ministry’s events and activities.
Prior to joining the Ministry of Sport, he served as the General Director for Delivery in the Ministry of Defence, leading a successful transformation program.
Mansour holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals and his Executive MBA from the George Washington University. He also has a Certificate in Management (CiM) from London Business School and Managing Successful Programmes MSP® Practitioner Certificate.


Basim K. Ibrahim, CLSS, CIPM, is passionate about the opportunities for sport development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is a seasoned Investment Attraction & Development Manager with 20 years of diverse professional experience in Investment, IT, Training, Project Management, and Research.
A former Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, Basim is a member of various professional organizations. He founded BMA Engineering in 2011 and co-founded BoardMaps in 2015, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit.
His extensive international experience includes roles with INSPUR in China and CONCO in South Africa. Basim was a pivotal member of the joint technical team between SAP and Saudi Aramco from 2000 to 2005. Passionate about volunteering and dedicated to serving his country, Basim is a dynamic leader in the field of Business and Investment Development.

Vicente Azpitarte Pérez (Granada, 1983). Journalist and Senator of the XIII and XV Legislature. Between 2019 and 2023 he served as Government Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Madrid. As a journalist he was Press Officer of the National Basketball Team; he worked for a decade for the Grupo Libertad Digital-esRadio as Head of Sports and collaborated assiduously for media such as Ondacero or El Mundo. He was spokesman for Sports in the Senate and a member of the CFSP (Common Foreign Security Policy). He has been a professor in different master's degrees and has been appointed honorary master's professor by the School of Communication of Granada (ESCO) where he also graduated in journalism. He is the author of the biography translated into numerous languages of the Real Madrid player, Luka Modric.

In addition to his role in the Ministry of Sport, Abdullah acquires over a decade of an enriched, diversified experience in Private & Public sectors. Starting from the Banking industry in the Cash Management field with an exposure on Operations, Business Implementation, Product Creation & Management, to contributing into building the Strategic Partnership foundation with the private sector throughout his career in LCGPA.
Abdullah has a successful track record of building strong, sustainable partnerships with the private sector & state-owned companies, launching new innovative products into the market, and managing national initiatives which serves the national strategies.


With over a decade of experience driving digital transformation across sport, tourism, health, and central government sectors, Abdullateef currently serves as Sport & Tourism Director at Microsoft Arabia, leading strategic initiatives that shape the region’s sports innovation landscape. In this role, Abdullateef has collaborated with global sports entities to adapt Microsoft’s cutting-edge technologies to local market needs, unlocking new opportunities and setting a blueprint for industry-wide adoption.
Previously, as Senior Account Executive for the health sector, Abdullateef partnered with the Ministry of Health and medical cities to accelerate the health digital transformation journey. Earlier roles at Microsoft included Government Technology Strategist, where Abdullateef developed digital transformation roadmaps on adopting Microsoft technologies for over 20 government entities, and Enterprise Marketing Lead, where Abdullateef successfully launched flagship products like Windows 10 and Surface in Saudi Arabia.
Starting his career as an Engineer at Kemya, an ExxonMobil & SABIC joint venture, Abdullateef honed an operational mindset that continues to inform his approach to strategic execution.
A graduate of EDHEC Business School’s Global MBA program and holder of a BS in Engineering from the University of New Brunswick, Abdullateef brings a unique combination of technical expertise, commercial strategy, and leadership in emerging sectors. His work sits at the intersection of innovation, business growth, and social impact with a strong commitment to advancing the role of sport and tourism as catalysts for economic development and community engagement.

Aphrodite Moschoudi is an accomplished professional with expertise in major sports projects and events. Her career highlights include extensive involvement in bidding, strategic planning and delivery of major events, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Arab Games, FIFA World Cup, FIFA Arab Cup, Asian Cup, World Championships in Athletics and IPC Para-Athletics. She has also been instrumental in setting up key sport projects such as the Schools Olympic Programme, the Olympic & Sport Museum, the National Sport Day as well as sport investments and partnerships.
During her time at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Aphrodite led the Planning & Integration of Host Country Operations for the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022, to include the tournament readiness and ultimately the delivery of the Main Operations Centre as the central point of command.
Aphrodite’s approach is that talent and technical expertise are not sufficient and should be complemented by positive spirit, practical thinking, human relations and ethos all the way.
Aphrodite is now working at Qatar Tourism as a Director of Planning and Quality.

Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, a Saudi civil engineer, has served as President of the International Association of Public Transport (IAPT) since June 2021. He is the first Arab president and the second foreign president to hold this position. He also serves as CEO and Managing Director of the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO).

Abdulhadi Al-Hababi is a prominent Saudi businessman and the Chairman of the Sports Committee at the Saudi-Spanish Business Council, under the Federation of Saudi Chambers. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Al-Othaim Investment Company. With a distinguished career in the investment and real estate sectors, Mr. Al-Hababi has been instrumental in driving strategic initiatives to foster international partnerships and elevate Saudi Arabia’s presence in global platforms. His leadership aligns closely with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, particularly in the areas of sports diplomacy and international economic collaboration.

Kamel Badawy is a distinguished business leader with over 20 years of experience across sports operations management, Investments, strategic partnerships, sponsorship, events management, and commercialization. As Chief of Data and Strategic Alliance at Aspire Zone Foundation, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s international reputation as a premier sports destination.
With expertise spanning marketing, business intelligence, procurement, and supply chain management, Kamel combines strategic vision with commercial acumen to deliver sustainable business growth. His leadership has driven high-impact collaborations, advanced data-driven strategies, and created new opportunities for innovation in the global sports industry.
Recognized as a visionary, he continues to champion excellence and inspire innovation, positioning Aspire Zone Foundation at the forefront of sports and business worldwide.

Carlos Canto has 30+ years of experience in the sports and entertainment-leisure industry. After an initial stint at the tourism – leisure industry, he moved to IMG (currently, part of Endeavor), as VicePresident of the Consulting division. After 10+ years, he moved to Lagardère Sports (currently, SportFive), also as VicePresident of the Consulting Division. In 2016, he created SPSG Consulting, a boutique consulting firm specialized in the sport and entertainment sector, advising clubs, federations, leagues, events, investors, media and sponsors (in strategy, marketing, innovation, business development, sponsorship, sport tourism and research). He has led consulting projects in 25+ countries. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Marketing Association (AMKT) and the head of the chapter dedicated to Sports. In addition, President of the “Sport, Tourism and Lifestyle” committee of the French-Spanish Chamber of Commerce. Also, for 2.5 years, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of RCDeportivo de La Coruña (football club in Spain that won the Spanish league in 1999-2000). He is a Sport Business professor at ESADE Business School, and a Sponsorship professor at IE-Instituto de Empresa. In addition, he is lecturing at LALIGA Business School. Carlos is also a member of the Advisory Board of BStadium (Spain), Q-Lac (Poland), Eastern Flames FC (KSA) and f2o Sports (USA). Carlos has a BBA + MBA by ESADE Business School, and he also participated at CEMS Master at HEC (France). He is a marathoner (seven, so far) and practices several sports

Patricia Rodríguez Barrios is a senior sports executive with over 15 years of experience across consulting and professional football. She began her career at PwC before joining SD Eibar in 2014, first as CFO and later as General Manager, becoming the first woman to hold such a role in a LaLiga club. She went on to serve as CEO of Elche CF and Granada CF, as well as Vice President of LaLiga. Internationally, Patricia has advised Middle Eastern clubs on governance, finance, and organizational transformation. Today, she leads Bare, a consultancy focused on leadership and sports management, while serving on the ACB’s Economic Control Commission, the Advisory Board of World Football Summit, and mentoring at Sportboost.

Julio Senn began his career at Arthur Andersen in 1990, joining the Prisa Group's AS newspaper in 1998 as Assistant General Manager, Finance and HR. He joined Real Madrid Club de Fútbol in 1999, working as General Manager, executing the project of reorganization and integral modernization of the club. He joined Garrigues in 2002 as the Partner in charge of the Sports & Entertainment area, where he has provided comprehensive advice to entities in the world of sports and entertainment, as well as providing comprehensive advice to athletes, artists, and professionals in these sectors. In 2011, together with Javier Ferrero, they founded SENN FERRERO ASOCIADOS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT SLP, which is the largest boutique in Europe specialized in the world of sports and entertainment, where they have continued to lead the industry in professional advisory work.
He is an advisory member of the Center of Sports Business Management (CSBM), holds the title of auditor of the Official Register of Account Auditors (ROAC) and is a member of the Madrid College of Economists.
Due to his experience and international professional career, he is a regular speaker in different master’s degrees and training courses related to the management of the professional sports world at national and international level.


Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director at Generation Amazing Foundation, leads the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022's social legacy initiative. He focuses on sports for social development in underprivileged areas, including work with refugees and IDPs. Nasser, with significant non-profit experience, has formed crucial partnerships and is part of the UNESCO Chair in sport governance. He holds an MBA in Educational Leadership from UCL and a BSc from Carnegie Mellon University.

Iñigo Fernandez de Mesa is currently Chairman of the Board of Rothschild & Co in Spain, Vice President of CEOE, President of the Economic and Tax Commissions at the CEOE, President of the IEE (Economic Studies Institute), member of the Altamar International Advisory Board, member of the Scottish Power Limited Board of Directors and President of the Audit Committee at the same company.
He studied Economics at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and belongs to the High Corps of Spanish State Economists and Trade Experts
Iñigo retired from public office at the end of 2016, having served for five years in senior positions in the Spanish Government, most recently as Secretary of State of Economy and before that as Secretary of the Treasury from 2012 to 2014. During this period, Iñigo also served as Vice President of FROB (the fund for the orderly restructuring of the financial sector), Board Member of the CNMV (Stock Market Regulator) and the Bank of Spain, and as the representative of Spain in the Euro Working Group and the Financial Stability Board.
His stewardship of the Spanish Treasury, securing access by the Kingdom of Spain to the public capital markets during the peak of the European Sovereign Crisis in 2012, as well as his leadership role in the negotiations of the financial restructuring of the Spanish Banking sector with the European Union were some of the achievements of the ministry.
Prior to joining the public sector, Iñigo held positions at the World Bank, Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital, where he worked as Managing Director in charge of the Public Sector.

Razan is a senior football producer and reporter with over a decade of experience in the industry. Holding a Master’s degree in Public Policy, she brings a unique perspective to sports journalism, combining analytical skills with her passion for storytelling.
Her love for football began before she even watched cartoons, shaping a lifelong dedication to the sport. Razan has worked extensively with international players, creating compelling content that showcases their journeys both on and off the pitch.
With an eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Razan continues to make an impact in the world of sports media, sharing stories that inspire and connect fans globally.

Eduardo is the COO of Blue Crow Sports Group, an American multiclub ownership group that controls three professional football clubs (CD Leganes in Spain, Le Havre AC in France and Cancun FC in Mexico) and has interests in other sports businesses across North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Prior to that, he worked for the Saudi Arabian sovereign fund (PIF) across different portfolio entities in the sports, entertainment and travel and tourism sectors as well as for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as an strategic consultant focused on the same fields. Eduardo has also served as member of LaLiga's executive committee and Board Member of AMC Cinemas Saudi Arabia.

Fatema Masoud Hayat is a Kuwaiti sports leader and strategist with extensive experience in organizational development, governance, and international relations. She currently serves as the Director of International Relations and Cooperation at the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), where she plays a pivotal role in fostering global sports collaboration among the 57 National Olympic Committees of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.
Since 2019, Hayat has been an elected board member of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC), where she also leads the Women’s Committee, championing initiatives that have significantly advanced women’s sports in Kuwait. In addition, she serves as the Chair of the GCC Women’s Sports Advisory Committee, promoting regional cooperation and the empowerment of women in sport across the Gulf.
Hayat has represented Kuwait on the international stage as Chef de Mission for national delegations at various major sporting events, including the Olympic Games, GCC Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Asian Games. She is also a board member and Chair of the Women’s Football Committee at the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), where she collaborates with FIFA to develop and promote women’s football and futsal in Kuwait.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs, with a concentration in Governance and Rights, and has long been an advocate for sports as a tool for empowerment. Her activism includes involvement in Kuwait’s women’s suffrage movement.
Hayat has been invited to speak at globally recognized events such as FIFA’s Women’s Football Convention and UEFA’s Women in Football Leadership Programme, further solidifying her reputation as a prominent voice in the global sports community.

Architect with more than 18 years of experience in the design and management of industrial, transport and sports complex projects around the world, including references in Spain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Egypt and Panama. In recent years he has focused his activity in the area of sports facilities, specifically in developments related to innovative systems for stadiums. Among his references, stand out the original conception, conceptual development and subsequent drafting of the Execution Project for the implementation of the Fully Automated Pitch Changeover System in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

David Green is a pioneer of MMA in the UK and Europe, with a storied history in sports broadcasting and operations. His roots in the sport originate as the founder and CEO of BAMMA (The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts) in 2009, becoming the UK’s most premier MMA promotion. The brand would host future UFC World Champions including Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards, cementing its importance in the history of UK MMA. Such was the boom of BAMMA under Green’s leadership, it would become the first MMA show to feature on terrestrial TV in the UK through a Channel 5 deal.
Green would then become Head of Bellator Europe, spearheading MMA’s growth in the continent with live events held in new markets such as Dublin, London, Paris and more, ensuring a European platform to stage Bellator’s events outside of the US. Green’s efforts were rewarded through a historic partnership with BBC, a major move in making MMA mainstream in the UK.
In his current role as General Manager of PFL Europe, Green is responsible for all facets of PFL’s European league, from live event and broadcast to sponsorships and partnerships. His leadership and expertise have allowed the promotion to flourish, holding sold-out shows in France, Belgium, the UK, Ireland and more. He works closely with all leagues, including PFL MENA, the groundbreaking MMA arm of PFL set in the Middle East featuring the region's biggest fighters.

Joan Suasi is a founding member and current Commercial Director at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Mallorca. As one of the academy's key leaders since its early days, Suasi has played a central role in shaping its identity and global reach RFIRTVE.
In his capacity, he spearheads the organization of high-profile sporting events at the academy, including the prestigious ATP Challenger Tour tournament, the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar. As tournament director, Suasi ensures these events provide visibility for the academy and invite public engagement—many tournaments are open to spectators at no cost elconfidencial.comtenniscourtsmap.com.
Beyond tennis, Suasi emphasizes the academy’s mission as a community hub. He oversaw the launch of competitions in disciplines like padel and pickleball, supported the creation of a local club with over 2,500 members, and helped nurture an inclusive atmosphere by balancing elite training with access to broader audiences RFI2Playbookelconfidencial.com.
He also brings vision and emotional depth to his leadership. Reflecting on Rafael Nadal’s retirement, Suasi described it as “emotional and heartfelt,” underscoring his personal connection to the project and to Rafa’s journey La RazónRFI.

With a degree in Law from the University of Navarra and a Master's degree in Sports Law, University of Lleida, Fernando has spent his entire professional career working in the field of sport.
Fernando is currently the Director of Legal Affairs at Athletic Club de Bilbao and a member of Spain's First Administrative Court for Sport.
Prior to serving as General Manager of the ASOBAL Professional Handball League, he held the same position at Real Gimnástica de Torrelavega.
During one legislative term, he was Vice-President of the Cantabrian Football Federation.
FIFA CIES Special Award for his work: Crisis in football clubs, causes and solutions.
Coordinator in Spain for FIFA CIES, University of Neuchâtel-Rey Juan Carlos University.
Member of the Royal Order of Sports Merit, the highest distinction awarded in sport in Spain.

Richa Singh is the Co-Founder of Spectatr.ai, a UK-headquartered sports technology company that is redefining how sports content is created, packaged, and delivered. With a vision to make sports experiences more engaging and accessible, Spectatr.ai leverages cutting-edge AI to automatically meta-tag content, generate real-time clips and highlights, translate commentary into 20+ languages, and deploy intelligent AI agents to deliver hyper-personalised content to fans across the globe.
Under Richa’s leadership, the company has rapidly scaled its capabilities and impact. She recently steered Spectatr.ai through a successful Series B funding round, backed by marquee investors including Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital), Info Edge, and Alpha Wave. Today, she leads a talented team of over 50 data scientists, ML engineers, and product experts, all working to solve some of the most complex challenges in content distribution and fan engagement for sports leagues, broadcasters, and teams worldwide.
Richa brings a unique perspective shaped by her expertise across AI, sports tech, and esports, which allows her to identify new opportunities where technology can unlock significant value for rights holders. Her journey as a tech entrepreneur demonstrates her ability to blend technical innovation with strategic business execution.
An alumna of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad, Richa combines deep technical grounding with sharp business acumen. Currently based in Dubai, she continues to drive Spectatr.ai’s innovation roadmap and global expansion, positioning the company as a leader at the intersection of sports and artificial intelligence.
More To Be Announced Soon!
SPONSORS & PARTNERS


VENUE & GALLERY
BERNABÉU STADIUM, MADRID







Set to host EuroBasket 2029 and serve as a venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco, the Bernabéu continues to reaffirm its status as one of the most prestigious and versatile sporting venues in the world.
MESIF Madrid 2025 will be hosted at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – home to Real Madrid CF. With a capacity of 84,000 and a €1.2 billion renovation nearing completion, the stadium now features a retractable roof, underground pitch storage, 360-degree screen, esports zone and a multi-purpose design.
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