Ministry of Sports organises strategic planning session to shape UAE’s national sports vision
The Ministry of Sports has successfully concluded its two-day ‘Strategic Planning Session’, held at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai from September 2 to 3, 2025. The event aimed to reinforce strategic planning across the sports sector and establish an integrated national framework to guide the future of UAE sports.
The session brought together more than 40 participants, including senior officials, directors, section heads, and representatives from national sports institutions. Key attendees included H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports; H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports; H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector; Eisa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; and H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdulrahman bin Sultan, Member of the Sharjah Sports Council’s Board of Directors.
Entities represented included the three Sports Councils, sports federations, and national committees. The gathering served as a platform to align efforts with the National Sports Strategy 2031 and the wider ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, ensuring that Emirati sports achieve new levels of competitiveness and excellence.
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi stressed the importance of the initiative, stating:
“Sports remain a cornerstone of the UAE’s future vision. The strategic planning session serves as a vital platform to unify efforts, share insights and accelerate the development of the national sports ecosystem.”
He added that the Sports Sector Strategic Plan would serve as a national roadmap to embed sports as a daily practice in society, enhance the global competitiveness of UAE athletes, and increase the sector’s economic contribution by attracting investment and talent.
During the session, participants presented achievements and future programmes through a series of presentations from the Ministry of Sports, the Sharjah Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, and various national sports committees.
Eisa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, described the event as a milestone in strengthening cooperation and integration among the country’s sports institutions. He emphasized that Sharjah’s strategy aligns with national objectives to enhance the UAE’s sporting reputation on regional and global stages.
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, underlined the importance of collective responsibility in nurturing sporting talent. He noted that the Council currently oversees 13 championships across 22 sports, with participation from over 25,000 athletes, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to sustainable sports development.
Similarly, H.E. Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, highlighted the session’s role as a platform for sharing expertise and best practices to support the UAE’s long-term sporting aspirations.
The session featured workshops that encouraged stakeholder engagement, allowing entities to present proposals for joint initiatives designed to create a fully integrated sports ecosystem. These discussions reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and innovation while driving institutional excellence and preparing UAE sports for the next chapter.
