Inside Dubai’s Fastest-Growing Sport | The Pickleball Revolution | Real Talk Dubai Podcast Ep.3

Описание: From the tennis courts of Belgium and the US to launching Dubai’s first pickleball-only club, Patrick Chucri’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and passion turned into purpose.

In this episode, the founder of Picklers and former professional tennis player opens up about his journey from sports to entrepreneurship, what it takes to build a community-driven business in Dubai, and how pickleball became one of the city’s fastest-growing movements.

Topics: pickleball in Dubai, paddle vs pickleball, sports entrepreneurship, community building and startup lessons.

Chapters:
00:00 Trends vs. movements
00:15 Meet Patrick and Picklers
00:40 Early life and tennis start
02:22 US academy and Ole Miss scholarship
03:49 Pro tour and Davis Cup for Lebanon
05:20 Media career in Dubai
08:07 Launching a touch tennis club
13:21 Why not paddle; turning to pickleball
21:47 Rebrand to Picklers; community and programming
24:45 Global growth: US and Asia; pickleball vs paddle
29:50 Money lessons, founder advice, future of sport

About Patrick Chucri:

Founder of Picklers, former professional tennis player, Davis Cup athlete for Lebanon, and ex-media executive with over 16 years in Dubai’s entertainment industry. Patrick is known for pioneering the pickleball movement in the UAE and transforming his lifelong passion for sport into a community-focused success story.

Connect & Next Steps:

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