Sara Essa is a sports presenter and commentator whose work spans some of the most prominent stages in global sport, including Formula 1, Red Bull TV, Premier Padel, the World Padel Championships, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Dubai 24H, and the Burj2Burj Half Marathon. She is known for her dynamic on air presence and ability to connect with athletes and audiences alike.
Beyond broadcasting, Sara is the founder of Padel Collective, a platform created to make padel more inclusive and accessible. What began as community matchplay has expanded into leagues, tournaments, corporate events, and women’s programs, including the introduction of padel at the Emirates Dubai 7s in 2023. She also founded Women in Sport MENA, a network for women working across the sports industry that encourages collaboration, mentorship, and shared growth.
At BRIDGE Summit, Sara will talk about building inclusive communities in sport, the rise of padel and emerging sports in the region, and how media and grassroots initiatives together can shift culture.
Legacy, passion, and expertise are powerful currencies, but only if transformed into platforms that back and scale new ideas. The sports tech investment industry stands at an inflection point where heritage meets innovation. How can investors and founders convert legacy into leverage and turn passion into profitable, next-generation ventures?
CEO, Higgsfield AI
Executive Editor, TIME
Co-founder & General Partner, Village Global
Secretary General & Member of the Board of Trustees, Alwaleed Philanthropies; CEO, Rotana Media Group
Host, Al Basheer Show
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