Dubai Crown Prince Visits Dubai Sports Retreat to Shape Future of Sports in Dubai
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited the Dubai Sports Retreat today, accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
Organised by the Dubai Sports Council at the Museum of the Future, the retreat convenes influential decision-makers, industry experts, and renowned sports personalities to map out a transformative vision for sports in Dubai from 2025 to 2033. Praising the Dubai Sports Council’s initiative, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan highlighted sports as a catalyst for social development, economic growth, and job creation. He described the retreat as reflective of Dubai’s ongoing dedication to cultivating sporting excellence on both the local and global levels.
Sheikh Hamdan, along with Sheikh Mansoor, toured the retreat, engaging with diverse participants, and lauded their active contributions to strengthening Dubai’s status as a global hub for sports. H.H. met with Dubai’s sports ambassadors, a distinguished group of Arab and international athletes residing in Dubai, and expressed appreciation for their role in enhancing the city’s sporting profile. He underscored the unifying values of sports, such as fair play, mutual respect, and collaboration, noting that Dubai seeks to embody these ideals across all sporting initiatives.
The Dubai Sports Ambassadors initiative, aimed at fostering strong ties with the global sports community, featured renowned figures, including MMA champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, French football legend Patrice Evra, Lebanese basketball icon Fadi Al Khatib, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, French footballer Bacary Sagna, and Iraqi football star Nashat Akram. The initiative promotes continuous engagement between the Dubai Sports Council and prominent international athletes, supporting their professional pursuits and expanding opportunities for young athletes in Dubai.
In attendance were key government and sports sector figures, including Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; and Abdullah Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, alongside over 100 prominent sports stars from around the world.
Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the transformative impact of sports on societies, economies, and individuals. The retreat featured two dialogue sessions, “The Power of Sports… An Impact Beyond the Field” and “Dubai: Land of Talents… Towards a Promising Future,” alongside working group discussions focused on community sports, infrastructure, major event hosting, sports clubs, football, and talent development. Recommendations developed during the retreat aim to align Dubai’s sports growth strategy with its broader development objectives.
