Ministry of Sports launches ‘Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform’ in collaboration with National Olympic Committee to drive sports excellence

• His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: “The ‘Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform’ marks the beginning of a new phase focused on knowledge and technology, aimed at enhancing the role of sports in national development, while supporting the Olympic movement.”
• His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi: “The platform’s launch symbolises a qualitative leap in the development of the sports sector by promoting latest technological solutions to enhance efficiency and governance, as well as to discover and nurture new talents.”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 28, 2025:

His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, attended the signing ceremony formalising the partnership between the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee, to launch the innovative ‘Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform’, in the esteemed presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).

The platform marks a qualitative leap in the ongoing development of the sports sector through the establishment of a specialised entity, chaired by His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, to catalyse the sector’s digital transformation. This strategic move will facilitate the adoption of AI-powered solutions to support athletes, federations and sports clubs, further enhancing performance governance and achieving the objectives of the ‘National Sports Strategy 2031’.

Qualitative leap in development of national sports ecosystem

The partnership programme was signed by His Excellency Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, and His Excellency Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee. The partnership aims to nurture a data-based digital sports infrastructure, consolidating the UAE’s leading position in the sports sector both regionally and globally.

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “True sports development is not just achieved solely through accomplishments, but also by building a sustainable system that can keep pace with changes and anticipate the future. In this regard, the Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform represents a new beginning for the Emirati sports sector, led by an unwavering focus on knowledge and innovation to enhance the competitiveness of athletes and establish sports as a key enabler of national development.”

His Highness further stated: “Sports cannot be separated from the broader national vision and is an integral part of the wise leadership’s strategy for the future. In line with this, the National Olympic Committee remains committed to not just supporting athletes, but also spearheading a wider qualitative transformation, which can enhance the nation’s presence in the Olympic movement.”

Supporting digital transformation and smart governance

His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi stated: "Digital transformation is no longer an option, but a necessity for achieving sustainable progress in the sports sector."

He further underscored that the platform will provide an integrated environment based on modern technologies to analyse performance, develop talent and streamline processes, contributing to increased efficiency and smart governance.

H.E. Al Falasi added: “We have already started establishing the executive framework for this ambitious transformation.”

His Excellency also highlighted that the launch of the platform reflects the ministry’s commitment to unifying the wider national vision for sports and enhancing the integration of policies through well-thought-out programs that can improve competitiveness, creating sustainable economic and societal impact.

Digital infrastructure and specialised skills

The Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform aims to establish an integrated infrastructure with advanced systems for managing athletes’ data, analysing their performances, and promoting talent discovery. Its key objectives are to provide smart digital solutions for clubs and federations, and analyse big data to make accurate, AI-driven decisions, further promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in sports technology.

The platform will also offer specialised training programs to improve the technical capabilities of staff in clubs and federations. This will help enhance their proficiency in digital analysis, data governance and modern sports technology.

Strategic partnerships and national integration

The platform will form key strategic partnerships with leading national and international sports entities, particularly the National Olympic Committee, the UAE Committee for Elite and High-Performance Sports, and the UAE Talent Development Committee. Moreover, partnerships with private sector companies will also be explored to develop innovative sports solutions.

In the upcoming weeks, the platform’s institutional identity will be unveiled, along with the formation of its board of directors, which is expected to feature a distinguished lineup of pioneers from the sports and technology sectors. As a one-of-its-kind initiative set to positively transform the regional sports landscape, the platform’s launch reflects the UAE’s commitment to nurturing a robust sports sector, rooted in knowledge, innovation and data.