49ers Kick Off New Community Supporters Program to Grow Flag Football in UAE
The San Francisco 49ers have officially launched a bold new initiative aimed at expanding grassroots development of flag football and strengthening local community ties across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Community Supporters Program is designed to partner with regional flag football organizations, bringing increased resources and visibility to one of America’s fastest-growing sports in the international arena.
Under this initiative, local flag football organizations are invited to collaborate with the 49ers to advance the sport’s reach and impact in UAE communities. Participating groups will gain access to coaching education, formal certification programs, development camps, and enhanced supplies, including kits and equipment. The collaboration emphasizes broadening participation while delivering enriching, skill-building experiences for athletes of all ages.
The first official entrants into the program are the well-established Emirates American Football League (EAFL) and the Emirates Flag Football League (EFFL). Both organizations manage popular youth and adult leagues that collectively engage hundreds of players throughout the year. These leagues will also support the 49ers’ fan engagement and flag football initiatives with the shared objective of enlarging the 49ers fanbase in the Middle East.
In the words of Stephanie Rogers, 49ers EVP of Marketing:
“Our overarching goal in the UAE, and across all of our global markets, is to grow the game of football and the 49ers Faithful. This new Community Supporter initiative is an important step in continuing efforts towards those goals. The EAFL and EFFL have already made incredible progress in growing American flag football in the UAE through youth and adult leagues. We look forward to joining forces, learning from their experiences, and helping them host impactful events for flag football players of all ages.”
The announcement is part of a broader expansion under the NFL’s Global Markets Program, initiated earlier this year. As part of the program, the 49ers have been working closely with UAE-based sports organizations to adapt their decades of community-centered operations in the Bay Area to meet the needs and opportunities in an international context. In fact, this past spring, the 49ers hosted the first-ever UAE Flag Football Coaching Clinic, training over 50 local coaches and youth players in the fundamentals of the sport.
Justin Prettyman, 49ers VP of Philanthropy, noted:
“Using flag football to promote healthy and active lifestyles for youth is a cornerstone of the 49ers Foundation. We recently updated our mission statement to, ‘educate and empower youth in the Bay Area and beyond,’ to include the UAE and our other global markets. Thanks to our new community supporters, we will be able to draw insights and learnings from local flag football operators and leave a lasting impact on the lives of youth across the UAE.”
With this new investment in international outreach, the 49ers aim to build a lasting presence in the UAE while helping to grow a new generation of athletes and sports fans united under the banner of flag football and community excellence.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
