Emirates Sports Facilities Forum was held this year under the theme of "Innovation and Artificial Intelligence" in concurrence with the “UAE Month of Innovation” and in line with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.

The Forum aimed to develop scientific and practical links between the sports facilities and the requirements of innovation on one hand and the applications of artificial intelligence on the other hand. Smart systems have become the language of the world in terms of management of sports facilities. These systems have also become a key factor in determining the identity and value of a sports facility, including smart gates, electronic sports archiving, logistics, lighting systems, intelligent technology for stadium grounds, to name but a few.  

The forum also aimed, among its priorities, to confirm the authority's keenness to keep pace with all developments in global systems, the importance of sustainability of the smart and innovative applications in the management of sports facilities.

It is known that throughout the ages the UAE has provided a global model of creative ideas based on strategic thinking and planning embracing scientific, innovative and intelligent capabilities to become a beacon and a destination for the entire world and a hub for science, planning and future looking-ahead.  

The UAE was one of the pioneering countries to have strategically targeted and adopted smart systems, innovative methods and artificial intelligence in all fields. In turn, we are targeting these systems to be an integral part of our sporting facilities to ensure the maximum and become a strong pillar of the national economy as well as a global destination and hub for sports.

Holding this forum, the Authority sought to keep abreast with all the findings, expertise and practices of all relevant and competent bodies in line with the best international standards and practices in innovative applications and artificial intelligence to gain the maximum benefit and implement them to reach the best management and innovative systems in our sports facilities.

Saeed Abdel Ghaffar

Secretary General of Sports Authority