Sir Kenny Dalglish heads to Abu Dhabi for new youth sports initiative
Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish is visiting Abu Dhabi this week to help launch a new initiative combining sport and education, with the goal of creating long-term opportunities for young people in the UAE.
The former Liverpool player and manager will be in the Emirates from October 7 to 8, representing UK-based JT7Group, which he co-founded.
The new programme is being developed through a partnership between Abu Dhabi National Investment and Development PJSC (ADID) and JT7Group.
Sport and education at the centre of the project
The initiative is designed to create clearer pathways for young people interested in sport.
Its focus will extend beyond participation and competition, combining access to coaching with education and opportunities that can help young athletes develop their potential both on and off the field.
Dalglish will join representatives from ADID and JT7Group in Abu Dhabi on October 8 for the official announcement, when further details about the project are expected to be revealed.
A JT7Group spokesperson said Dalglish is looking forward to returning to the UAE and presenting the plans.
As a co-founder of the organisation, he shares its belief that young people should have access to quality coaching, education and structured opportunities to progress.
Building a long-term sports legacy in Abu Dhabi
For ADID, the partnership forms part of a wider strategy to establish international collaborations that can contribute to Abu Dhabi’s long-term development.
The organisation wants the initiative to create both social and economic value while strengthening opportunities available to young people.
The partners believe the project could make a meaningful contribution to youth sports development in the UAE before potentially expanding internationally.
Rather than focusing on a single event or short-term programme, the ambition is to build what organisers describe as a long-term sports legacy from the ground up.
Dalglish brings football experience to the UAE
Dalglish remains one of the most recognisable figures associated with Liverpool FC, having represented the club as both a player and manager.
His involvement gives the Abu Dhabi initiative a high-profile football figure with decades of experience at the highest levels of the sport.
Through JT7Group, however, the focus of his UAE visit will be on the next generation.
The organisation wants to use sport as a platform for developing talent while ensuring young people also have access to education and opportunities beyond their playing careers.
More details about how the programme will operate in the UAE are expected to be announced during Dalglish’s Abu Dhabi appearance on October 8.
For the partners behind the project, the longer-term goal is clear: to create sustainable pathways that help young people develop through sport while building a new legacy for youth development in Abu Dhabi.
