Rugby league is the latest sport to be targeted by an oil-rich gulf state – as part of a growing trend of Middle Eastern countries seeking to establish themselves as credible destinations for international sports events.

Sol Mokdad, president of United Arab Emirates Rugby League ,has announced plans to host the Rugby League World Cup in the country in 2021.

Speaking to UAE newspaper The National, Mokdad said the emirate would be an “ideal location” for the event.

“We are exactly between Australia and the UK and there is always talk in the media about the big events being hosted in Dubai,” he said.

“With Expo 2020 being here, with all the infrastructure being created, it will be the perfect time.”

Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) launched the bidding process for the 2021 World Cup in October 2014 and expects to announce a host in October 2016.

Despite being minnows in most competitive sports, the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are aiming to become big hitters when it comes to hosting major sports events.

UAE is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow gulf states Bahrain and Qatar, which have already laid claims to some of the most prestigious events in world sport.

The FIFA World Cup is heading – somewhat controversially – to Qatar in 2022, while Bahrain built a US$150m racetrack in 2002 to be able to hold an annual F1 Grand Prix (the latest of which took place yesterday – Sunday 20 April).

• To read more about how the power of hosting international sports events is shifting into the hands of new, emerging markets, see the latest issue of Sports Management by clicking here.