Hamdan Bin Mohammed Meets FIFA President At World Sports Summit In Dubai

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the World Sports Summit, where 1,500 sports leaders and decision makers gathered from more than 50 countries to discuss sport’s global impact and explore how international cooperation can strengthen the role of football and other disciplines in connecting societies.

Gianni Infantino praised the UAE’s contribution to the global sports sector and highlighted Dubai’s ongoing efforts to support international sport, saying that hosting an event that attracts senior decision makers and prominent figures from across the sports community reflects Dubai’s long-term vision and its sustained commitment to sector development.

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During their meeting on the sidelines of the Summit, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and Gianni Infantino discussed how joint action between countries and institutions can help use sport, especially football, to generate positive social impact, noting football’s wide following and influence across continents and its value as a shared international language.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan stated that sport continues to be one of the most effective tools for coexistence, mutual understanding and building closer ties between nations and communities, and commended FIFA for its ongoing work to advance the global football ecosystem with a comprehensive vision aimed at creating a more innovative and inclusive future for the game.

His Highness underlined that the World Sports Summit is designed as a global platform for shaping the future of sport and is expected to act as a launchpad for cross-border initiatives and partnerships that encourage deeper collaboration between societies, support the development of different sports, and help decision makers share ideas on sector priorities.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan said: "Dubai’s hosting and organisation of the World Sports Summit reflects our commitment to being an active partner in shaping the future of global sport. By bringing together ideas and expertise from around the world, we aim to unlock new opportunities to support talent, encourage creativity, and stimulate investment in technology and knowledge. Our overarching goal is to create a sustainable, positive impact that enhances the growth and prosperity of sport across different countries and regions."

Expanding on this vision, His Highness noted that the annual Summit provides space to examine how different sports can grow, how emerging talent can be identified and supported, and how training and fitness methods can evolve, while also reinforcing the roles of clubs, academies, federations and sports institutions at national, regional and global levels.

Gianni Infantino also recognised Dubai’s contribution to sports development, observing that the organisation of a summit of this scale reflects a forward-looking approach to global sport and sends a signal about the UAE’s intention to support continued progress in the sector, adding good wishes for further success for the UAE and its sports community.

The event’s scale is central to its ambition, bringing together a large international group of experts and leaders who influence policy, investment and governance in sport across many countries and disciplines.

The meeting between H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and Gianni Infantino was attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council; H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; as well as several ministers and senior officials.

H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended in his capacity as Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, while H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa participated as First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.

The discussions at the World Sports Summit, including the meeting between H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and Gianni Infantino, underline Dubai’s role in international sport, highlight the UAE’s engagement with global football governance, and show how regional and international leaders seek to use major events and partnerships to support sports growth, talent pathways and wider social benefits linked to athletic activity.

With inputs from WAM