PFL Secures Major Investment from Dubai Royal
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum Joins Global Ownership Group
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced a significant expansion in the Middle East, welcoming Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum to its global ownership ranks. This strategic alliance underscores the league’s commitment to growing MMA in the UAE and the wider region.
Driving Regional MMA Growth
Sheikh Mohammed, founder and Chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. He stated, I am delighted to join the PFL’s ownership group as I believe in PFL’s global vision to grow the sport of MMA, and I am excited by PFL’s momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region.
Alpha MBM Investments is a diversified Dubai-based firm with interests spanning real estate, technology, energy, and sports.
The PFL’s presence in Dubai has already been impactful, marked by its groundbreaking Champions Series event earlier this year. This event, a collaboration with Dubai Economy & Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council, featured a highly anticipated lightweight title bout between Usman Magomedov and Paul Hughes.
PFL today announced that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum has joined the PFL’s global ownership group. This strategic addition strengthens PFL’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and supporting the growth of mixed martial arts across the UAE and the region.
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 24, 2025
PFL Eyes Deeper MENA Integration
Peter Murray, CEO of PFL International, highlighted the importance of this new ownership. PFL is excited to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his expertise to our ownership group. This marks another major milestone in our global expansion strategy and reinforces our long-term commitment to expanding our presence in the Middle East.
This move is expected to enhance premium MMA experiences in the UAE and MENA, while also creating more opportunities for regional athletes on the international stage.
The PFL MENA franchise, currently in its second season, has been instrumental in fostering local talent. The league has successfully produced regional stars such as PFL MENA Champions Abdullah Al Qahtani and Omar El Dafrawy, alongside women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif. The third event of the current PFL MENA season is scheduled for September. The global MMA market is projected to reach $13.9 billion by 2027, indicating significant growth potential in emerging regions like the Middle East (Statista, 2024).