UAE's National Sports Strategy 2031: Over 95% Of First Phase Completed In One Year

Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General for the General Authority of Sports, has confirmed that UAE sports are progressing well due to strong leadership support and stakeholder efforts. He noted that the "National Sports Strategy - 2031" launch is a crucial step in the country's sports development.

Al Hajeri discussed key strategic goals, including doubling the number of athletes qualifying for the 2032 Olympics. "This ambition underscores the necessity of talent scouting and development to international standards, with rigorous monitoring and comparison against global benchmarks," he said. The strategy aims to increase sports participation to 71 percent and raise the sector's GDP contribution to 0.5 percent by 2031.

He provided updates on the successful completion of the first phase of the National Sports Strategy - 2031, with eight projects achieving over 95 percent completion within a year. The second phase, consisting of seven projects, is underway and aims for completion in three years, with two more projects set to launch by 2031.

Al Hajeri emphasised the wide scope for development to achieve global recognition. This includes enhancing infrastructure, supporting talent discovery and nurturing programmes, improving sports governance, and modernising sports entities with advanced technologies and training programmes. He also stressed the importance of uniting efforts to broaden community participation.

Regarding sports achievements recognition regulations, Al Hajeri noted enhancements in the new framework. It offers multiple levels of recognition across various competitions, including Olympic, Asian, and global events. Financial rewards are also provided for winners in university and school competitions.

Women's Sports Progress

Significant progress has been made in women's sports, with female athletes comprising nearly 20 percent of registered practitioners. Their international presence is also increasing. "The authority is committed to empowering women in sports," Al Hajeri said. Numerous activities are organised to foster their participation, collaborating with sports federations to expand women's competitions.

International Partnerships

Al Hajeri underscored the importance of international partnerships. He mentioned recent MoUs with Bahrain and Indonesia aimed at leveraging successful global sports experiences to elevate UAE sports across various aspects.

He highlighted teamwork with the Olympic Committee and sports federations as essential for achieving national sports goals. Coordinated efforts focus on developing talent, improving facilities, and enhancing governance and management practices.

The strategy targets increasing sports participation rates significantly while boosting economic contributions from the sector by 2031.

The comprehensive approach outlined by Al Hajeri reflects a commitment to advancing UAE's position in global sports through strategic planning and collaboration.

With inputs from WAM