Key location, generous financial and logistic support helped emirate clinch the honour.
Ehsan Mani was the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) when the world governing body took the decision of shifting the headquarters from Lord's in London to UAE.
Mani, in an exclusive interview with Gulf News revealed the factors that helped the UAE win the honour despite strong competition from many nations. "The ICC members agreed that if the ICC was to move from Lord's it should not be to another full member [Test playing] country. During 2004, Malcolm Speed [chief executive] and I had discussions with the governments …including Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, Monaco and Dubai.
"We also received very attractive offers from Singapore, Malaysia and Ireland. Ultimately, we recommended Dubai to the ICC Board due to the location of Dubai and the impressive vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in transforming Dubai into an international business hub," remarked Mani.
"The government of Dubai provided the necessary long term assurances with regards to tax exemptions, visa and work permit clearances and relocation support.
"Dubai Sports City provided the ICC with generous financial and logistical support in the move to Dubai and the building of the ICC's Global Head Office. Dubai Sports City also gave the land on which the ICC offices stand today free of cost. Logistically, Dubai was the best location for Asia and Africa, two regions which would be the critical for the growth of the game," added Mani.
Was he aware of UAE's impact on cricket before the decision was taken?
"We had seen Dubai and the UAE develop at an impressive rate. We knew that UAE had a significant expatriate population from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa and Australia; all cricket playing nations. Abdul Rahman Bukhatir had put UAE on the world cricket map by hosting over 100 CBSF One Day International matches in Sharjah. UAE's proximity to the subcontinent would ensure that ICC could engage with its largest market both in terms of commercial arrangements as well as playing numbers. We took all these factors into account in choosing Dubai," he said.
After many years now does he feel it was the right decision? "Yes, I do. Today the ICC has its own superb modern offices at Dubai Sports City. The ICC staff enjoys the excellent quality of life that Dubai has to offer; of the ICC staff members who moved from London and Monaco most are still in Dubai with the ICC four years after the move.
"The ICC Global Cricket Academy is located a cricket ball throw from the ICC Head Office. Dubai has met or exceeded all the criteria ICC had set as a benchmark for the move."
