News DeskDUBAI, UAE – Baseball United, the pioneering professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, has unveiled plans for the evolution and expansion of its UAE-based franchises in response to the escalating demand for professional baseball in the region. In a landmark announcement today, the Dubai Wolves have been rebranded as the Arabia Wolves, while the Abu Dhabi Falcons will now be known as the Mid East Falcons.
While maintaining their original colors, emblems, and brand identities, both franchises will undergo creative adjustments to their letter marks and wordmarks, incorporating the new Arabia and Mid East nomenclature. These strategic shifts aim to broaden the appeal of the franchises across the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which encompasses six nations within the Arabian Peninsula.
Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Baseball United, expressed enthusiasm for the league’s progress within the region, stating, “Over the past two years, as we’ve cultivated our presence in the Middle East, we’ve been heartened by the burgeoning community of baseball enthusiasts throughout the GCC. Approximately 7% of the GCC population now identifies as baseball fans, providing a robust foundation of nearly five million fans across the Arabian Peninsula. These fans, predominantly young, educated, and socially active, yearn for local teams with distinctive identities. By extending the reach of our founding Middle East franchises to encompass the broader region, we aim to forge deeper connections with fans across all six GCC countries.”
The Arabia Wolves’ new typography incorporates Arabic-inspired lettering and design elements, featuring a stylized “A” guarding a four-point, i‘jām-inspired compass symbolizing connectivity across the Arabian Peninsula. Meanwhile, the Mid East Falcons’ revamped letter mark refines the original Abu Dhabi branding into an “ME” design, employing a Tuscan serif font reminiscent of traditional Major League Baseball insignias. The shift from “Middle East” to “Mid East” reflects a deliberate effort to infuse the brand with a youthful, contemporary vibe.
Shaikh emphasized the league’s commitment to meticulous brand development and marketing strategies, asserting, “Our brand strategy, identity, and creative approach are fundamental to our mission, and we’re witnessing a tremendous resonance with sports enthusiasts globally. I eagerly anticipate seeing Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons merchandise proliferate across the Peninsula.”
The Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons join the Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs as Baseball United’s founding franchises. The league recently revealed plans to introduce three new franchises within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this year, with a total of eight franchises slated for its inaugural full season commencing in winter 2025.
Notably, Baseball United made history with its inaugural All-Star Showcase last November, marking the first-ever professional baseball games in the Middle East and South Asia. Hosted at Dubai International Stadium, the event garnered widespread attention, reaching nearly 200 million households across 127 countries. The showcase featured players from 16 countries, including former Major League Baseball (MLB) luminaries such as Robinson Cano, Pablo Sandoval, Bartolo Colon, and Andrelton Simmons.
Cano, an eight-time MLB All-Star, headlines a star-studded roster for the Arabia Wolves, alongside former New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and ex-Atlanta Braves standout Jair Jurrjens. Meanwhile, Sandoval, a two-time MLB All-Star and former World Series MVP, anchors the Mid East Falcons alongside former big leaguers Alex Liddi and Dillon Thomas.
The league is poised to unveil its 2024 gameplay plans, as well as details regarding its Saudi expansion franchises, later this year, promising further excitement and growth for baseball enthusiasts across the region.
