Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders Group acquires Abu Dhabi franchise in UAE T20 League

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will be part of the flagship franchise league

Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Sportzpics for IPL

Franchise cricket's most diverse entity - the Knight Riders Group - is all set to enter UAE cricket after it acquired the rights to own and operate the Abu Dhabi franchise in the UAE’s flagship T20 league.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan heads the Knight Riders Group, along with actor Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta. The group owns successful franchises like the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. Recently, the group made a significant investment in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA and also plan to build a world-class cricket stadium in Los Angeles.

Now, they are set to enter the UAE market through their latest franchise - the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

UAE’s T20 League chairman Khalid Al Zarooni said: “The commitment to grow the T20 format and the expertise gathered by the Knight Riders Group, through their involvement in franchise cricket across the world, is undisputed. We are exceptionally pleased with their foresight to join forces with the UAE’s T20 League and firmly believe it will elevate the reputation, and professionalism of the league throughout the cricket community.”

Shah Rukh Khan watches IPL match in UAE

Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, left, with his son Aryan Khan during the IPL match between Kolkata and Chennai Super Kings at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shah Rukh Khan was in attendance as his Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shah Rukh Khan, right, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shah Rukh Khan witnessed Kolkata defeat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shah Rukh Khan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shah Rukh Khan attended Wednesday's IPL match with his kids in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Nitish Rana of Kolkata Knight Riders plays a shot during the match against Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Rahul Tripathi of Kolkata Knight Riders hit 81 against Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shardul Thakur of Chennai Super Kings picked up 2-28. Sportzpics for BCCI

Commenting on the long-term agreement, Shah Rukh Khan said: "For several years now, we have been expanding the Knight Riders brand globally and closely watching the potential for T20 cricket in the UAE. We are excited about becoming part of UAE’s T20 League, which no doubt will become hugely successful."

Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR and Red Chillies Entertainment, added: "We feel fortunate to have been consistently recognised as a global brand in T20 cricket. As T20 cricket expands around the world, we are flattered by the regular invitations to play a major role in growing the sport across the world. We have had a keen interest in the developments in the UAE and our expansion is consistent with our long-term strategy”.

The UAE T20 League is expected to be launched early next year. Among the other industry leaders who have acquired franchises in the league are Indian conglomerates Adani Group and Reliance Industries - who run the Mumbai Indians franchise - and Lancer Capital, whose chairman is Avram Glazer, the co-chairman of Manchester United and owner of NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Celebrities who have attended IPL

Shah Rukh Khan is the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders and the biggest Bollywood star associated with the IPL. AFP

Shah Rukh Khan watches the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 12, 2020. Sportzpics for BCCI

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during the 2014 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai. Courtesy Dubai Government Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watches the 2014 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Courtesy Dubai Government Media Office

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif waves to the crowd while watching the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on May 23, 2009. AFP

Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput during the 2015 IPL match between Chennai Superkings and Rajasthan Royals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Sportzpics / IPL

Late actor Irrfan Khan, left, Deepika Padukone, centre, and legendary star Amitabh Bachchan during the 2015 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Sportzpics / IPL

Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings, during the match against Chennai Super Kings at the Dubai International Stadium on October 7, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL

Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings (then the Kings XI Punjab), during a match against Royal Challengers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Anushka Sharma, actress and wife Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli, during the 2018 IPL match against Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore AFP

Preeti Zinta and actor Ranbir Kapoor during the match between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi on May 15, 2012. Getty

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan watches the match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 11, 2012. AFP

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar with Delhi Daredevils players Virender Sehwag, left, Shoaib Malik, second right, and Mohammad Asif in New Delhi on March 31, 2008. AFP

Actor Venkatesh, left, and former Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad during the 2017 IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Hyderabad. Sportzpics / IPL

Actor Vivek Oberoi watches the match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Dubai International Stadium on September 22, 2021. Sportzpics / IPL

Actress Nargis Fakhri during the match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, on May 1, 2016. Sportzpics/ IPL

Late actor Irrfan Khan during the 2016 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi. Sportzpics / IPL

Tennis star Sania Mirza during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on May 18, 2014. Sportzpics/ IPL

Actor Venkatesh with Rana Daggubati, left, and music director Anu Malik during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on April 18, 2016. Sportzpics / IPL