World Sports Summit In Dubai Opens With Global Leaders And Experts

The first edition of the World Sports Summit is set to begin in Dubai on 29 December under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, bringing leading figures from global sport to Madinat Jumeirah.

Across 29 and 30 December, the gathering will assemble more than 1,500 participants, including elite athletes, administrators, executives and analysts. The event is organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the theme ‘Uniting the World Through Sport,’ highlighting the role of sport in social connection and youth inspiration worldwide.

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, explains that the World Sports Summit is designed as an international platform to examine the future of the sports industry, recognise standout performers, highlight sport’s unifying role, and encourage support for emerging talent across diverse disciplines and regions.

H.H. Sheikh Mansoor stated, "The World Sports Summit will bring together in Dubai the most prominent decision-makers from sports organisations, international federations, major clubs and companies operating in the sports industry, as well as champions, stars and coaches. This global gathering will include dialogue sessions, workshops, seminars and numerous meetings that will shed light on the current state of global sports, the challenges it faces, its development prospects and promising opportunities. It will also discuss various ideas to develop effective and impactful initiatives that support the growth of the sports sector worldwide."

The summit spans two days of discussions, workshops and keynote talks, with 70 speakers from playing and administrative backgrounds. Dubai Sports Council has structured the agenda so that major policy conversations, high-profile interviews and sport-specific panels sit side by side, allowing participants to examine governance, commercial trends and athlete experiences in one setting.

The opening day begins with institutional perspectives. Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, delivers the first address, followed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaking under the title ‘The Next 90 Minutes.’ H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, also gives an address on day one.

Day one then shifts towards athlete-focused sessions. Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic joins a panel discussion, before another session brings together Tunisian tennis champion Ons Jabeur and Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa. Later, Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain and Chairman of the European Club Association, appears in a panel moderated by former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch.

Combat sports and basketball management form another major segment of the first day’s schedule. Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao takes part in a panel before a speech by Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports. Former boxer Oleksandr Usyk then joins a separate discussion, followed by two sessions featuring former NBA players and current managers Tamika Termaglio, Terry Smith, Michelle Roberts and Danita Johnson.

The closing discussion on 29 December centres on Brazilian and international football legend Ronaldo Nazario. The two-time World Cup winner shares experiences from both club and national careers, including years collecting multiple club and individual honours. This final panel for the day concludes the first day’s deliberations and links on-field performance to long-term roles in the football ecosystem.

World Sports Summit sessions on fashion, management and EuroLeague

The second day opens with a session on the trajectory of combat sports. Mixed Martial Arts figure Khabib Nurmagomedov examines future trends for the sector, while former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand moderates. Their discussion explores athlete welfare, commercial growth and global audiences for combat disciplines.

Football heritage is addressed through a session featuring former Italian football star Roberto Baggio, his daughter Valentina Baggio, and Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero, a 2006 World Cup winner. Another session gathers American football names Reggie Bush, Baron Davis, Marquez Colston and Swin Cash to analyse how experience on the field can translate into sports management roles.

The relationship between sport, fashion and commercial strategy also appears on the second day. One session studies how sports championships and leading athletes influence the global fashion industry. Speakers include Jamie Wynne, president of fashion company Jimmy Choo; American football figure Victor Cruz; and Michael Utley, commercial director of AC Milan, who discuss branding, sponsorship and style trends connected to major clubs.

Attention then turns to the EuroLeague basketball structure and Dubai’s involvement. In a specialised session, Abdullah Al Naboodah, founder and owner of the Dubai Basketball Club, which competes in the EuroLeague, participates alongside French basketball legend Tony Parker, owner of Lyon, and Paulios Mottijonas, CEO of the EuroLeague, outlining organisational models, club ownership and league development.

By combining leaders from football, basketball, combat sports, tennis, boxing and American football, the World Sports Summit in Dubai offers a concentrated review of how different sports operate worldwide, while Dubai Sports Council uses the event to support discussion on talent, governance and commercial growth from a Middle East perspective.

With inputs from WAM