Abdul Rahman Bukhatir
{{Short description|Emirati businessman and cricket patron}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abdul Rahman Bukhatir
| nationality = Emirati
| occupation = Businessman, media entrepreneur, and cricket administrator
}}
Abdul Rahman Bukhatir is an Emirati businessman, media entrepreneur, and cricket administrator. He is the founder of the Bukhatir Group which has business interests in construction, education, information technology, real estate, shopping, sports, and leisure sectors.{{Cite web |title=Founder and President - Abdul Rahman Bukhatir |url=https://bukhatirgroup.com/founder-and-president.php |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Bukhatir Group}}{{Cite web |date=16 March 2004 |title=Who owns Ten Sports? |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2004/mar/16bspec.htm |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Rediff.com}} He also founded the sports TV channel Ten Sports.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2010 |title=Importance of TV production and cricket commentary |url=https://www.dawn.com/2010/12/12/importance-of-television-production-and-cricket-commentar/ |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Dawn |language=en}} He is known as the Kerry Packer of the Gulf region.{{cite web |date=31 May 1990 |title=The cricket scene is here: Abdul Rahman Bukhatir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19900531-cricket-is-now-more-international-than-before-abdul-rahman-bukhatir-812653-1990-05-31 |accessdate=22 October 2022 |publisher=India Today}}{{Cite web |last=Borkakoty |first=Rituraj |date=3 November 2021 |title=Meet the Kerry Packer of the Arabian Gulf |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/cricket/meet-the-kerry-packer-of-the-arabian-gulf |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}} He was the founder of Cricketers Benefit Fund Series, which aimed to benefit retired cricketers from the Indian subcontinent.{{Cite web |date=27 November 1993 |title=Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, the man behind cricket in Sharjah |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/sharjah-controversies-money-india-pakistan-matches-bcci-pcb-cbfs-celebrities-cricketers-benefit-fund-series-abdul-rehman-bukhatir-sports-news/article31434097.ece |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Laha |first=Somshuvra |date=17 September 2020 |title=Back to Sharjah, home of rivalries and controversy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/back-to-sharjah-home-of-rivalries-and-controversy/story-o5wpmkxBK9dedRC0c6pMbK.html |accessdate=22 October 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times}}{{Cite web |date=15 August 2020 |title=Abdul Rehman Bukhatir wants to resume rewarding players with big purses |url=http://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/Abdul-Rehman-Bukhatir-wants-to-resume-rewarding-players-with-big-purses-22934282 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Mid-day |language=en}} He is the father of Nasheed singer Ahmed Bukhatir.
Early life
Abdul Rahman Bukhatir was born in an Arab family.{{Cite web |last=Memon |first=Ayaz |date=7 October 2020 |title=The rise and fall of Sharjah, Cricket's el Dorado |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2020/oct/07/the-rise-and-fall-of-sharjah-crickets-el-dorado-2206905.html |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite web |last=Radley |first=Paul |date=28 October 2021 |title=T20 World Cup: The football-mad son helping deliver his father's cricket dreams in Sharjah |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2021/10/28/t20-world-cup-the-football-mad-son-helping-deliver-his-fathers-cricket-dreams-in-sharjah/ |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=The National |language=en}} Bukhatir studied at BVS Parsi School in Karachi, Pakistan. While studying, he was introduced to cricket by his neighbours in Karachi. When he came back to the UAE, he got a few like-minded people together and started playing cricket on matting wickets.{{Cite web |last=Radley |first=Paul |date=30 August 2022 |title='It was way beyond time that we set this up' – How Sharjah helped create Asia Cup |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2022/08/30/it-was-way-beyond-time-that-we-set-this-up-how-sharjah-helped-create-asia-cup/ |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=The National |language=en}}
Career
= Cricket patron =
He transformed the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, from a stadium in the desert to one of the historic Guinness World Records-holder cricket grounds.{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/man-with-a-mission-who-changed-uae-into-a-cricket-oasis-1.501689 |title=Man with a mission who changed UAE into a cricket oasis | Cricket – Gulf News |publisher=Gulfnews.com |date=2009-07-17 |accessdate=2021-09-08}} In 1981, he organised a cricket match between Gavaskar XI and Miandad XI.
He helped set up the Al Dhaid Cricket Village.{{cite web |author=K. R. |first=Nayar |date=27 February 2018 |title=Bukhatir to receive Lifetime Achievement award |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/bukhatir-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-1.2180171 |accessdate=23 October 2022 |website=Gulf News |publisher=}} He also served as the chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board.{{cite web |date=2005-05-04 |title=Bukhatir defends the reputation of UAE venues | Cricket – Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/bukhatir-defends-the-reputation-of-uae-venues-1.286615 |accessdate=2021-09-08 |publisher=Gulfnews.com}}
= Media =
In January 2001, Bukhatir founded Taj Television Ltd in Dubai.The company launched the TV channel TEN Sports (as part of its Taj Entertainment Network), dedicated to sports on 1 April 2002.{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Alokananda |date=26 March 2002 |title=TEN Sports to hit airwaves on April 1 |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/4124_ten-sports-to-hit-airwaves-on-april-1 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=afaqs!}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2002 |title=Ten Sports launching 1 April |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k2/mar/mar62.htm |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Indiantelevision.com}} Zee Telefilms (Essel Group) bought 50 per cent stake in TEN Sports at an enterprise value of $114 million ({{Indian Rupee}}800 crores) in 2006 and completely acquired it in 2010.{{Cite web |last=Malvania |first=Urvi |date=2016-09-01 |title=ZEE sells Ten Sports to Sony for $385 mn |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/zee-sells-ten-sports-to-sony-for-385-mn-116083100446_1.html |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Business Standard |language=en}}
Awards
References
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Category:Emirati businesspeople