THE STORY
ABBES. HOLDING was born from a simple conviction: the MENA region deserves world-class sports advisory that understands both global best practices and local dynamics.
DR. ZIED ABBES
GCC Sport Commercialization · Ph.D. · PMP
Zied Abbes has spent 14 years inside the GCC sport system — from the FIFA World Cup pitch to Olympic Committee boardrooms, from federation partnerships to multi-million dollar brand deals. He is one of the few people in the region who understands both how Gulf sport gets built and how it gets monetized.
As Expert at the Qatar Olympic Committee, Head of Planning & Integration for the GCC Games 2026, and a key contributor to the Qatar 2036 Olympic Bid, Zied operates at the intersection of institutional sport and commercial strategy. His track record spans the FIFA World Cup 2022, World Aquatics Championships 2024, ANOC World Beach Games 2019, and Asian Games Doha 2030.
Before founding ABBES Consulting, he built and operated businesses across sport distribution, aquatics education, and event delivery in the Gulf. He holds a PhD in Sport Sciences from Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, speaks five languages (Arabic, French, English, Spanish, Serbian), and is the author of two books on sport performance and personal development.
Zied doesn't advise from the outside. He's built from within — and that's the difference.
ACTIVE ROLES
Expert — Marketing & International Cooperation
Qatar Olympic Committee (2024–Present)
Head of Planning & Integration
GCC Games 2026 (2025–Present)
Lead of Stakeholders Engagement
Qatar 2036 Olympic Games Bid Committee (2025–Present)
Expert — Marketing, Communication & Intl. Cooperation
Asian Games 2030 (2025–Present)
EDUCATION
Project Management Program (PMP)
Excellence Training, Doha
Diploma in Digital Marketing, Sponsorships & Communication
Barça Innovation Hub – Universitat
D.U.G.O.S — Sports Management & Administration
Claude Bernard University, France
Ph.D. Sport Sciences & Management
Claude Bernard University, France
CERTIFICATIONS
TV Sports Presentation
Al Jazeera Media Institute
Sports Facilities Management
Barça Innovation Hub – Universités
THE TIMELINE
Project Manager — Qatar Swimming Association
Began managing national teams in world-class competitions and training camps under the Qatar Olympic Committee. Supported over 12 government initiatives including Kun Riyadhi sports and school programs.
FINA Swimming World Cup — Sport Operations Manager
Delivered sports operations and live presentations across 6 World Cup editions (2016–2021), coordinating athlete services and competition scheduling for 200+ international participants.
FINA Marathon Swim World Series
Managed open-water operations and live presentations across 4 editions (2018–2021), serving 150+ participants from around the globe. Reduced ceremony time by 30%.
ANOC World Beach Games — Head of Administration
Directed administration, accreditation, and athlete services for Open Water & Triathlon, coordinating 200+ participants at the ANOC World Beach Games in Doha.
Ph.D. Sport Sciences & Management
Earned doctorate from Claude Bernard University, France. Also completed D.U.G.O.S in Sports Management & Administration. Began adjunct lecturing at Qatar University.
FINA General Congress — Operations & Delivery
Hosted over 200 international delegates representing all member federations. Managed event planning, logistics, and protocol under COVID regulations. Earned Barça Innovation Hub Diploma.
FIFA World Cup Qatar — Team Base Camp Manager
Served as Team Base Camp Manager for Team Cameroon. Oversaw logistics, schedule planning, and secure operations for 50+ personnel. Central liaison for security, medical, and technical units.
World Aquatics & Master Championships 2024
Appointed Deputy Director of Sports Operations (2022–2024). Planning and delivery across 6 aquatic sports and 5 Olympic disciplines. Supervised international teams, venue readiness, and technical delivery.
Expert — Qatar Olympic Committee
Joined the Marketing & International Cooperation Sector. Coordinating multi-project pipelines aligned with mega-event objectives across directorates.
GCC Games 2026, Qatar 2036 Bid & Asian Games 2030
Head of Planning & Integration for GCC Games 2026 (1,000+ personnel, 19 sports). Lead Stakeholder Engagement for Qatar 2036 Olympic Bid (66+ stakeholders). Marketing Expert for Asian Games 2030. Earned PMP certification.
ABBES. HOLDING Founded
Launched ABBES. HOLDING to bring world-class sports advisory to the MENA region, combining 13+ years of operational and strategic expertise.