As announced by FIFA this Sunday, in 2009, the United Arab Emirates is hosting the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai. The announcement highlights the fact that Dubai is emerging as the sporting capital of the Middle East.  Jérôme Valcke, the General secretary of FIFA has also told that the 2008 competition will be hosted by France at the city of Marseille. Quite interestingly, this is the first time in the history of the event that it is held outside its birthplace of Brazil. The chairman and chief executive of the Emirates Airline group is an official partner of FIFA who remarked, "Dubai is the perfect choice as the venue for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009, it is through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that the infrastructure is in place for the city to be able to hold an event of this magnitude. Emirates is very pleased that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will take place on our home soil in 2009 and will provide any support necessary to make this a unique experience for all football fans from all over the world." Apart from a historical club sponsorship in 2004, Emirates was the first airline to become the partner of FIFA in 2006 tournament. Emirates fully supported the bidding of Dubai for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009.