Highly respected international entertainment and sports business executive Douglas Waller has been appointed to as Chief Operating Officer at the AEG Ogden-managed Dubai Arena, where his primary focus will be on the commercial and partnerships side of the business.
In announcing the appointment, Dubai Arena Chief Executive Guy Ngata said that Waller “brings significant experience at the highest levels of commercial partnerships negotiations and finance management to the venue.”
As a Vice President at International Management Group (IMG) for the past three years, Waller has worked closely with the organizers of the Expo 2020 Dubai to develop and execute a highly 
successful global sponsorship program. Prior to that appointment, Waller served as the head of Sponsorship and Licensing for the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai for five years where he was responsible for the sale of commercial rights and management of ICC’s key commercial relationships.
“Doug’s commercial experience and leadership in the sports and entertainment space together with his thoughtful decision making and proven leadership makes him a tremendous acquisition for the Dubai Arena team,” Ngata said. “In addition, his 10 years’ experience working and living in Dubai has given him a sound understanding of the local culture, not to mention a strong business network.”
Waller is looking forward to his new role and to be joining the AEG international family, from the beginning of 2018. “The entertainment and sports worlds are changing rapidly and the Dubai Arena will be a clear choice for new and exciting properties looking to enter or expand their presence in the MEA region,” he said. “The arena offers residents and visitors to Dubai a world class environment to experience live entertainment and sport, befitting a progressive and global city like Dubai. Through its sponsorship, digital media and hospitality offerings, the arena provides the Middle East business sector with an attractive asset for developing brand recognition and customer engagement. I am very excited to be joining a highly experienced leadership team that will support MERAAS in delivering this world-class facility to the people of Dubai and the entertainment capital of the Middle East.”
AEG Ogden will operate the 17,000-seat Dubai Arena on behalf of Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company committed to creating and delivering unique experiences. It is part of AEG Ogden’s growing network in the Asia Pacific region which includes arenas in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Newcastle and three in China, convention centers with entertainment theatre inclusions in Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, and Oman, plus the 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, and will be a valued addition to AEG Facilities’ family of 150-plus iconic venues worldwide.
