Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed hails sport’s role in shaping societies ahead of World Sports Summi

“Dubai welcomes guests and participants of the World Sports Summit, including global sports leaders, presidents of international federations and organisations, investors, decision-makers, and athletes from across disciplines, who will come together over two days to discuss the current state and future of sport worldwide and its role in developing societies and empowering communities,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

Uniting the world through sport

The inaugural summit, organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan, will take place from 29 to 30 December at Madinat Jumeirah. Under the theme ‘Uniting the World Through Sport’, the event will feature over 70 speakers, including leaders, stars and legends of international sport.

Sheikh Hamdan described the gathering as a first-of-its-kind sports summit originating in the UAE. “This summit will bring together sports leaders, specialists and individuals with proven leadership and professional expertise from across the global sports sector. The summit will serve as a global platform for dialogue on sports development and for shaping its future through effective strategic initiatives, legislation and agreements,” he said.

The Crown Prince outlined the summit’s broader ambitions. “Through the World Sports Summit, we aim to unify efforts and lay strong foundations for enhancing the role of sport in empowering communities, inspiring generations, and attracting and developing talent. We are committed to launching pioneering initiatives and bringing the world together in Dubai to strengthen international cooperation and help shape the future,” he said.

Honouring global sporting excellence

The organisation of the summit aligns with the objectives of the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, particularly in supporting the hosting of major international sporting events and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for sport.

The event will honour the winners of the 13th Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award, the largest of its kind in terms of prize value and the number of categories. The award highlights the achievements of leading figures, officials and sports champions from the UAE, the Arab world and around the globe, as well as sports institutions that have achieved significant global success.

Participants and guests have begun arriving for the summit, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The organising committee has scheduled events for 28 December to provide guests with an opportunity to meet each other and explore Dubai’s sports and tourism facilities before the commencement of the two days of sessions. Activities include sporting competitions, with padel featuring prominently, alongside recreational sports, family activities, safari visits and tours of Dubai’s resorts.

The first day of the summit will begin with a speech by His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, followed by an address by Infantino titled ‘The Next 90 Minutes’.

Prominent sports figures participating include His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, MMA world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tunisian tennis champion Ons Jabeur, Spanish tennis champion Paula Badosa, Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, former boxer Oleksandr Usyk, Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario, Italian football legend Paolo Maldini and many others.