Interest in extreme sports in the Middle East has escalated since originating out of urban games popular with the regions youth in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. Its is now not at all unusual to find skate parks in the depths of Saudi Arabia or more metropolitan areas with the most profilfic being Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. . There are many extrinsic factors that bode well for extreme sports in the Middle East. Adrenaline Fueled activities and events in the region are on the rise, in 2008 over 19,000 visited the Adrenaline Sports event billed as the regions number one adrenaline and extreme sports festival it saw hundreds of exhibitors and showcase’s of international sports and equipment.
2009 is set to continue its growth despite a slow economy, this is due mainly to the regions young demographic when compared to more traditional markets in Europe and the USA. In Europe and the USA there is a 7% projected growth of 18-30-year-olds between 2005 and 2010 but in the Middle East the estimate is 12%, this growth coupled with a change in culture and a passion for Adrenaline and Extreme sports among most of the youth means that Extreme Sports suppliers, tour operators and companies are establishing in the region as quickly as they can. The Middle East will certainly provide a greater potential base for the sports, particularly as this growth is marginally higher amongst men, who tend to dominate extreme sports participation and interest in the Middle East region. Abu Dhabi is taking a lead as the regions extreme sports hub, it is where XGames, the Adrenaline Sports Festival and a number of high profile sports events such as the Red Bull Air Race are helf.
The strength of the GCC economy is also an encouraging factor. As disposable income and consumer confidence continues to rise then those interested in the sports will be more able to spend money on the appropriate equipment and participation. Where extreme sports holidays are considered, a strong economy is even more essential as they are more likely to be a secondary break and thus ones which might be foregone if the economy is perceived as weak. The Middle East region certainly has a consumer base with a disposable income, many of which have been involved in a number of extreme sports as diverse as sky dives, dune bashing and adventure diving. With a wide terrain of Middle Eastern countries offering tours well within budget and with budget airline operators starting to operate in the region, nowhere is inaccessible to the budding extreme sports fanatic.
Extreme sports sometimes also called action sports, adventure sports or adrenaline sports is a media term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger. These activities often involve speed, height, high level of physical exertion, highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts but in the Middle East there really are no such boundaries. An A-Z of extreme sports available in the Middle East is available on the Adrenaline.ae website and serves as a good point of reference to those interested in extreme sports activities in the region.
While use of the term "extreme sport" has spread far and wide to describe a multitude of different activities, exactly which sports are considered 'extreme' is debatable. There are however several characteristics common to most extreme sports. While not the exclusive domain of youth, extreme sports tend to have a younger-than-average target demographic. Extreme sports are rarely sanctioned by schools.
