We recently had the opportunity to interview Patrick Chucri, Founder & CEO of Picklers, a pioneering indoor luxury pickleball club in the Middle East. Creating an ecosystem for pickleball in the region, Patrick’s club offers curated experiences of the sport. As a forefront name in the industry, Picklers offers the best experience to everyone who steps onto the court.
From representing his country in Davis Cup to being in the corporate world for over 15 years and currently leading his venture, Patrick has earned it all through his unwavering resilience and execution. With a vision to expand the club and transform the regional sports industry, Patrick Chucri is leading Picklers to become a dominant player in the Middle East.
Patrick Chucri’s Career Trajectory
We started the interview by asking, “How did you get started, and what led you to where you are today?”
Patrick shared, “After a career as a professional tennis player, reaching the Top 500 in the world and representing my country in Davis Cup, I spent nearly two decades in the media industry in Dubai. But I always knew I’d return to racket sports. The hunger to build something meaningful never left me. When I discovered pickleball, I immediately saw what was coming. I didn’t just want to be part of it; I wanted to help lead it in this part of the world.
Dubai was the natural place to launch. Not just because I’ve lived here for 18 years and call it home, but because of the vision this city promotes: health, community, innovation, and excellence. With the government pushing for an active lifestyle and community wellbeing, the timing and environment were perfect.”
Building an Ecosystem for Pickleball
Intrigued to learn more about Patrick Chucri’s role in leading Picklers, we asked, “Can you share more about your current role and the business you lead?”
“I’m the Founder and CEO of Picklers, the first indoor luxury pickleball club in the Middle East. We’re more than a club; we’re building the ecosystem for pickleball in the region. The club features what many consider the best indoor pickleball courts in the world, and offers lessons, leagues, social sessions, tournaments, a bistro, pro shop, and curated community experiences. We’ve already become the go-to name for pickleball in the Middle East, and we’re just getting started,” he mentioned.
Adaptability Amidst Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of every business. To learn how Patrick Chucri overcame the challenges as a business leader, we requested him to share his experience.
Patrick explained, “Being first is both a blessing and a massive challenge. There’s no roadmap, we’re setting the benchmark. That means we must constantly adapt, refine, and improve, because everyone who follows will be compared to us. But that’s also the opportunity. It forces us to do things well, build a strong foundation, and lead by example.
Entrepreneurship is hard. It looks glamorous from the outside, but the truth is, it’s a grind. It’s a series of small wins, tight decisions, and endless pivots. You can’t be rigid; you have to adapt quickly. For me, even the smallest victories matter, every happy member, every returning player, every message of encouragement. They remind you why you’re doing it. We’re open every day from 8 AM to 11 PM, days off are very rare. That’s the startup life, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Redefining Businesses with AI
We further asked, “How do you see technology, especially AI, impacting your industry?”
“AI is already helping us optimize everything from scheduling and player ratings to marketing automation and customer feedback. We’re leveraging tech to streamline operations, personalize experiences, and scale efficiently, especially with our new app and DUPR integration. Tech will be central in making pickleball smarter, more connected, and easier to scale, especially for a club model like ours that’s built to grow fast and adapt to multiple markets,” he added.
Envisioning the Future
We asked Patrick Chucri to share his views on the future of the industry you’re associated with.
He reflected, “Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and that’s not slowing down anytime soon. It’s fun, social, easy to learn, and hard to master, the perfect combination for long-term success. It’s also backed by some of the biggest names in sports and business, from LeBron James and Tom Brady to major venture funds. The opportunity in this space is enormous, especially in regions like the Middle East where the market is still wide open. There is a clear first-mover advantage, and we’re sitting in it right now.
We’ve proven the model, we will be profitable in our first year in Dubai, no less, where setup costs are high and competition is fierce. Now it’s time to scale, but not with just anyone. We’re only looking for the right partners, groups, or individuals who bring more than capital. We want people who see the vision, understand the opportunity, and can bring real value to what we’re building. Pickleball is here to stay, and Picklers is here to lead.”
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
Addressing the beginners of his field, we posed the question, “What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or leaders looking to make an impact in your industry?”
Patrick mentioned, “Don’t wait until it’s perfect. Start with a clear purpose, move fast, and stay close to your community. Build something people actually care about. And understand that the journey will test you. Nothing great gets built without your full commitment. If you’re entering a new market or trying something no one’s done before, be ready for it to be 10x harder, and 10x more meaningful when it works. The pressure will be high, but so will be the reward.”
The Art of Balancing
Ensuring a balance between personal and professional life can be a daunting task. To learn how Patrick Chucri does the same, we asked, “How do you maintain a work-life balance while managing a business?”
“I won’t sugarcoat it, balance is tough, especially when you’re in deep building mode. But I’m lucky. My wife is incredibly supportive, and she understands how much this project means to me. As for my kids, we don’t always get quantity, but I make sure we get quality. That time is sacred. I strongly believe in being present when it matters most. They’re also part of the journey, in many ways, they see the effort and the passion behind it all,” he added.
Follow Patrick Chucri on LinkedIn.
Find Picklers on LinkedIn and visit their website http://www.picklers.ae
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