From the tennis courts of Belgium and the US to launching Dubai’s first pickleball-only club, Patrick Chucri’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and passion turned into purpose. In this episode, the founder of Picklers and former professional tennis player opens up about his journey from sports to entrepreneurship, what it takes to build a community-driven business in Dubai, and how pickleball became one of the city’s fastest-growing movements. Topics: Pickleball in Dubai Paddle vs pickleball Sports entrepreneurship Community building and startup lessons Chapters: 00:00 — Trends vs. movements 00:15 — Meet Patrick and Picklers 00:40 — Early life and tennis start 02:22 — US academy and Ole Miss scholarship 03:49 — Pro tour and Davis Cup for Lebanon 05:20 — Media career in Dubai 08:07 — Launching a touch tennis club 13:21 — Why not paddle; turning to pickleball 21:47 — Rebrand to Picklers; community and programming 24:45 — Global growth: US and Asia; pickleball vs paddle 29:50 — Money lessons, founder advice, future of sport About Patrick Chucri: Founder of Picklers, former professional tennis player, Davis Cup athlete for Lebanon, and ex-media executive with over 16 years in Dubai’s entertainment industry. Patrick is known for pioneering the pickleball movement in the UAE and transforming his lifelong passion for sport into a community-focused success story. Connect & Next Steps: Learn more about business setup and growth in the UAE: https://virtuzone.com Follow Real Talk Dubai for more conversations with founders and creators building in the UAE. New episodes biweekly. Subscribe and hit the bell icon.