The UAE has revealed its comprehensive national sports strategy, aiming to achieve success in the upcoming 2024 Olympics and beyond. The strategy encompasses investment in sports, along with the establishment of societal and economic targets.
The UAE sport strategy will set guidelines for funding elite athletes, promoting participation, and fostering the growth of the sports industry within the country.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the General Authority of Sports, provided an overview of the National Sports Strategy 2031, recently approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.
Establishment of the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Level Sports
A notable initiative resulting from the strategy is the launch of the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Level Sports, which will play a significant role in supporting and implementing various strategic initiatives. The committee will focus on talent supervision, athlete development through specialized programs, and providing necessary support to sports federations and elite athletes in terms of funding, preparation, and other factors.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics approaching, the committee’s actions hold particular significance. It has selected 22 talented Emirati athletes from eight different sports to participate in the Professional Elite Programme, aimed at enhancing their chances of success and distinction in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Dr. Al Falasi highlighted the consistent development of sports in the UAE over the years, thanks to the priority given by the country’s smart leadership. This has led to the establishment of a solid institutional foundation and an integrated governance system, which has helped shape the identity of Emirati sports on regional and international platforms.
He said: “A significant improvement in national efforts has been represented by the National Sports Strategy 2031 for a promising future for Emirati sports.
“It has been created based on the greatest studies, experiences and international best practices, and it is the product of coordinated work from several national partners and sporting institutions”.
He emphasised that the UAE sport strategy’s introduction shows how important the sports industry is to wise leadership’s future vision as well as how much the government will be investing in sports development in the next years.
He said: “The launch of the strategy is an integrated roadmap to make a fresh leap for Emirati sports towards global leadership, inspired by the vision of our wise leadership.”
“The most notable of the aims are raising involvement in sports to 71 percent of the population, increasing the number of athletes who qualify for the Olympics to over 30, and increasing the contribution of sports to the gross domestic product to 0.5 percent by 2031.”
Objectives and Targets of the UAE Sport Strategy
The UAE has introduced its comprehensive sports sector strategy for 2031, which centers around three strategic directions: encouraging community participation in sports, developing sports talent and excelling in professional elite sports, and supporting the overall expansion of sports institutions.
To enable these initiatives, the strategy emphasizes the development of sports infrastructure, creating a conducive regulatory environment, and enhancing the profile of Emirati sports at both domestic and international levels.
The strategy comprises 17 core initiatives, including the establishment of a center for elite and high-level sports and modernizing sports federations, according to Arabian Business.
Additionally, there are 14 strategic initiatives, such as the national sports survey, updated sports education methodologies, community participation programs, funding for gifted and elite athletes, professional athlete career development, workforce development in the sports industry, and the development of sports laws, among others.
