Sports Market Consultant
Research UAE's sports clubs, spot the gaps, and pitch recommendations to Surf House Dubai.
Section A: The Brief
Careers can start with one email, here's yours.
Welcome to the Surf House Dubai experience!
I’m Alan from Astranda, and I’ll be your mentor for this experience. You’re stepping into the role of Sports Market Consultant, helping Surf House Dubai understand where it sits in the growing sports market and providing recommendations.
Your job is to research sports clubs, academies, and workshops around the city. Look for trends and think about how Surf House Dubai could partner, stand out, or grow their Surf and SUP School. If you have experience in a particular sport (football, swimming, tennis, martial arts, athletics, etc.), focus on that first, your insider knowledge is a huge strength!
Great athletes often become great entrepreneurs because they are determined, focused and competitive. This experience trains you to think like a professional athlete and founder by analysing markets, finding opportunities, and presenting key recommendations.
Remember to aim high, stay on track, and present your ideas professionally. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
Section B: The Job
Step into the role.
Sports Market Consultant
Level: Entry-Level
Duration: ~12 Hours
Result: Performance Report
Role Description: Research Dubai’s sports schools, analyse audiences, and create recommendations to grow Surf House Dubai.
Key Performance Indicators: Smart, realistic ideas based on pricing, audience, and trend research.
Key Deliverables
By the end of this experience, you will have created:
Here are some key details to keep in mind as you work:
Why is this important: This role helps Surf House Dubai discover growth opportunities across Dubai
Expert tip: Look for white space, including seasonal opportunities, or lifestyle add-ons (nutrition, recovery)
Section C: The Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
Step 1.1 - Research
Company Overview
All great employees spend time learning everything they can about their company before starting to work. As a new Sports Market Consultant, you should start by listening to the Co-Founder and COO of Surf House Dubai, Daniel Van Dooren.
Source: UAE Forsan
Sports Market Consultants often visit the site of the client to get a feel for the company. You can do this quickly by checking out the Surf House Dubai virtual tour, which includes videos, interviews with employees, price lists and more. (LINK)
Source: Surf House Dubai
You can also visit the Surf House Dubai website and socials to discover more about their Surf and SUP School. Read about all the lessons, events, and activities they offer. Consultants often look at websites like Google Maps or TripAdvisor for reviews to understand what customers enjoyed.
As you go, write down notes and save screenshots. Pay attention to:
What services they offer (surf, SUP, yoga, café, school programs, etc.)
Who their audience is (tourists, students, families, athletes)
How they present themselves (brand style, language, values)
Strengths (things they do really well)
Gaps (areas they could improve or expand)
Source: Surf House Dubai
Prepare a 1-page Company Overview in your own words, with a focus on the Surf and SUP School. This is important because before you compare Surf House Dubai to others, you need to clearly understand the company itself.
Source: Surf House Dubai
Competitors
As a Sports Market Consultant for Surf House Dubai, you now need to research other sports clubs and workshops in Dubai to understand what is on offer to customers. New consultants often focus on one sport that they know best (like football or swimming) to provide extra insights.
For each club, take notes on:
Who they serve (youth, adults, schools, elite athletes)
Price range
What makes them unique
How Surf House Dubai is better (such as pricing, location, community, coaches)
Prepare a 2–3 page Market Scan Report that includes at least 8 clubs or service providers. Write one short paragraph about each club, covering audience, pricing, unique features, or other important details. This gives your client, Surf House Dubai, a snapshot of what else is happening in Dubai’s sports scene, showing where they fit.
Step 1.2 - Competitive Landscape Matrix
Matrix
As a Sports Market Consultant, you need to communicate your research clearly. You now need to turn your research into a simple visual map. Draw a grid with two axes focused on key characteristics, such as type of offering and pricing:
X-axis: Recreational ↔ Elite pathway
Y-axis: Low cost ↔ Premium pricing
Place each sports club you researched on the grid based on where they fit. For example, a high-priced tennis academy focused on competition goes in the top-right corner (elite + premium). Place Surf House Dubai in the right spot based on what you found in your research.
Source: Similar Web
When you build your competitive matrix, make sure to include both surf-related and non-surf examples. Create a 1 page visual matrix showing at least 8 competitors plotted, with Surf House Dubai included and short labels or logos for each brand. This helps you see patterns quickly. You’ll spot if the market is crowded in one area or if there’s space where Surf House Dubai could stand out.
Deliverable Due
Step 1.3 - Local and Global Trends
Local and Global Trends
As consultants look for new ideas, they explore what’s happening around the world in schools, sports clubs, and fitness centres. You now need to see how others attract students, what technology they use, and what makes their programs unique.
For example, some surf schools use apps to track progress and share video feedback. Fitness clubs offer loyalty points or easy online booking, helping young athletes stay involved.
For Surf House Dubai, using new technology could make surf lessons more exciting, attract tech-savvy youth, and help the brand stand out or it might not fit the company’s current culture. Research how technology is changing sports, and see if there’s a good opportunity for Surf House Dubai.
Source: G42
As a Sports Market Consultant, you also need to follow Middle East industry reports. These can help Surf House Dubai spot trends before they happen. Insights like AI training, youth-focused sports, and digital fan engagement may show how Surf House Dubai can stay ahead as a leader in the region.
Source: Deloitte
Deliverable Due
Phase 2: Opportunities
Step 2.1 - Opportunities Brief
Opportunities
Now look at your findings and ask who is being left out? Maybe certain age groups, female athletes, competitive athletes, or beginners that don’t have enough options. Or perhaps there are pricing gaps or sports that are growing but not well supported yet. As a Sports Market Consultant, you need to write a simple one-page brief to show Surf House Dubai where the “white space” is in the market. Review your documents on the market, trends, and competitive matrix. Ask yourself:
Which groups are underserved? (e.g., girls, beginners, semi-professionals, school students)
Where are there pricing gaps? (too few affordable options? too few premium ones?)
What sports or activities are growing but not well supported yet?
What tools, technology, or new ideas do you see in other places that haven’t reached Dubai yet?
Source: Surf House Dubai
Create a 1-page Opportunities Brief with 3–5 bullet points on opportunities Surf House Dubai could act on. Each should be clear, specific and should highlight the benefits of surfing over other sports.
Step 2.2 - Customer Lens Insights
Customer Lens
As a Sports Market Consultant, you must think about what makes a club, academy, or workshop appealing. Examples might include friendly coaches, affordable prices, a chance to compete, strong community, or location.
You now need to interview two or three friends or family members about their experiences with clubs or service providers in the UAE. Ask simple questions like:
“What do you look for when joining a sports club?”
“What did you like or dislike about your last sports class or academy?”
“Would you pay more for better coaching, or do you care more about cost?”
Source: Surf House Dubai
Write a 1-page report on your Customer Lens Insights that includes 3–4 points on what really matters to the people you interviewed. Surf House Dubai benefits from hearing the authentic voice of students and their customers. It shows Surf House Dubai what actually motivates young people to join and stay in a club or sports school. Consultants often use this technique to provide more power to their final recommendations.
Deliverable Due
Phase 3: Plan
Step 3.1 - Recommendation Video
Video
With the research and insights ready, it’s time to give Surf House Dubai your advice. You’ll now create a short video (30–60 seconds) that brings your core recommendation to life. The video should clearly show what Surf House Dubai could do, why it matters, and who it benefits.
Source: Surf House Dubai
Videos are one of the most powerful ways Sports Market Consultants share ideas. By creating a recommendation video, you’ll practice turning research into a clear, visual story. This skill is especially useful when presenting to busy company leaders or clients who want quick insights. Your goal is to make your audience understand not just what you found, but why it matters and leave them excited about your ideas.
Source: Flow
Deliverable Due
Step 3.2 - Executive Summary Deck
Present Your Concept
Pull everything together into a short slide presentation. Keep it simple with 5–7 slides maximum. Here is a suggested structure:
Market overview (clubs you found)
Competitive matrix (your chart)
Local and global trends
Key opportunities and gaps
Student / Athlete lens
Recommendations video
Next steps for Surf House
Create a 5–7 slide deck that is clear and visual for the reader. Use icons, logos, or screenshots instead of long text. Companies often make decisions from short presentations. Practicing this skill gets you closer to how real consultants, employees and entrepreneurs present their ideas.
Source: Surf House Dubai
Deliverable Due
Congratulations on completing the experience with Surf House. More importantly, you’ve delivered professional-level work that shows the foundational skills needed to succeed in the sports and leisure industry.
Here’s what you’ve achieved through your deliverables:
Market Reports and Competitive Landscape Matrix: You gathered data, compared competitors, and highlighted Surf House’s unique positioning.
Opportunities Brief and Customer Lens Insights: You identified growth opportunities and translated them into customer-focused strategies.
Recommendation Video: You presented your ideas with clarity and confidence, showing how to communicate insights in a compelling way.
Executive Summary Deck: You packaged all your findings into a polished, professional presentation that decision-makers can act on.
These deliverables mirror the exact outputs of roles such as Sports Market Consultant, Brand Strategist, Business Development Associate and entrepreneurs in the sports and lifestyle sector. Employers don’t just want potential, they want proof. And you now have it.
Once you submit your final work and receive feedback, add it to your CV/LinkedIn under Projects as: “Astranda × Surf House Dubai — Sports Market Consultant.”
Quick reminder, please follow the Submission Guidelines below to finalize your completion.
This is a meaningful step toward a career in the sports sector. We’re proud of your progress, and you should feel confident knowing you have what it takes to keep moving forward. Keep stacking achievements and experiences that set you apart.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
How to Submit
Submit your work, get feedback, certificates and more.
Submission Guidelines
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Enter your details below:
How to Submit Your Work (via Google Drive link)
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Copy your sharable link
Right-click the folder → Copy link.
Email your submission
Subject:
Submission: [ExperienceName] – [Your Full Name] – [School]Body: Paste the link and write a professional email including these details - Name: [Your Full Name], School: [Full School Name], Experience: [ExperienceName], Drive Link: [paste your view-only folder link]
Final checks before sending
The link opens without “Request access.”
All files load and play (videos, slides, etc.).
File names are clear and professional.
No personal data you don’t want shared.
Receive feedback
We will examine all your submitted materials
We will reply with your Performance Report and Certificate of Completion via email within 7 days
We will also share your next experience to continue your progress towards your dream career
If you want to try a different career path, please email alan@astranda.com.
Tips
Large videos? Upload to the same folder (don’t attach to the email).
Multiple versions? Keep only the final in the root folder; move drafts into a “Drafts” subfolder.
Keep a backup copy for your records.
