The Dubai Sports Council has approved its sporting events calendar for the 2026-27 season, following a board meeting chaired by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
Sheikh Mansoor directed that the hundreds of events held in Dubai each year be more actively promoted, with the aim of increasing attendance at international tournaments and raising awareness of the range of sporting experiences on offer across the emirate.
The board reviewed progress under the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, which sets out a coordinated framework covering talent development, clubs, community engagement, infrastructure, and investment, with the objective of achieving sustainable growth in the sector.
“Cooperation between sports federations and clubs in Dubai and at the UAE level represents a vital pillar in the development of the sports sector and the realisation of its national goals. We value the sincere efforts of all those striving to develop our athletes, nurture talent, and supply our national teams with true champions, which reinforces the leadership’s steadfast support for the sports sector and highlights sports as an integral aspect of our society that exemplifies its advancement across diverse fields,” Sheikh Mansoor said in a statement.
“The exceptional results achieved by our athletes represents the start of a new phase of continental and global achievement, and confirms that our sports sector is moving in the right direction thanks to the leaderships’ constant support and care. There is no doubt that our sports sector is witnessing tremendous development and sustainable growth, and we are proud of the efforts exerted by our sports clubs and federations as key partners in achieving this success. The next stage calls for redoubling efforts to foster an integrated and sustainable sports sector that enables talented athletes to elevate their performances and push for podium finishes, in line with Dubai’s ambitious vision for the sports sector and consolidating its standing as a global destination for sporting events and fostering champions,” he added.
The board also discussed preparations for the second edition of the World Sports Summit, scheduled for 28 and 29 December under the slogan “Uniting the World Through Sports.” The event is designed to bring together sporting icons, administrators, decision-makers, and representatives of global sports organisations.
A briefing on the 7th edition of the Dubai School Games showed the competition has grown to 23,000 students from 210 schools competing across 31 sports tournaments. The DSC said the programme has become a key pipeline for identifying young talent feeding into clubs and national teams.
The meeting also covered a report from the Basketball Sector Development Committee in Dubai, which is working to expand the number of players, academies, and competitions at both local and international levels throughout the year.
