Ministry of Sports launches ‘Sportifai' platform as foundation of new AI-driven national framework to drive digital transformation and enhance sports governance
In the presence of Ministry of Sports officials, heads of Sports Federations, and technical and administrative staff.
H.E. Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi: 'The 'Sportifai' platform paves the way for a transformative shift in the UAE's sports landscape by strengthening smart governance, enhancing performance, and fostering collaboration among National Sports Councils, Federations, and Clubs to boost the competitiveness of national sports.' The Ministry of Sports hosted leaders from UAE Sports Federations at the 'Driving Digital Transformation in the UAE Sports Sector' workshop to introduce them on using the new Sportifai platform.
platform. Sportifai offers an integrated suite of digital services powered by AI and advanced technologies, enabling various stakeholders in the sports ecosystem to collaborate under a unified talent development vision.
offers an integrated suite of digital services powered by AI and advanced technologies, enabling various stakeholders in the sports ecosystem to collaborate under a unified talent development vision. The workshop emphasized the importance of strategic collaborations with national and private sports institutions to enhance governance and support elite and emerging athlete development.
UAE,May 2025- The UAE Ministry of Sports today introduced Sportifai digital platform that will provide the foundation of a fully integrated and interconnected system for enhancing sports Governance and identifying, supporting and developing athletes across the country and accelerating efforts to realize the goals of National Sports Strategy 2031.
The launch was marked by a workshop for leaders of national Sports Federations titled 'Driving Digital Transformation in the UAE Sports Sector' , aimed at equipping Federation leaders and technical staff with the knowledge to effectively use Sportifai to benefit athletes and align with national goals.
During the workshop, H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness, unveiled the platform's brand identity and its official name: ' Sportifai '.
Sportifai aims to bring about a qualitative leap in the development of the national sports sector by establishing a specialized entity chaired by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports. This entity will lead the digital transformation journey by adopting artificial intelligence applications to support athletes, sports federations, and clubs.
H.E. Dr. Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, emphasized that Sportifai represents a major leap forward for the UAE sports sector. It provides a comprehensive digital ecosystem to enhance operational efficiency and foster innovation. By harnessing AI and data analytics, the platform enables early identification and development of athletes.
H.E. added: 'Sportifai simplifies access to services for sports Federations in line with the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, further supporting performance improvement and smart governance.'
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi emphasized that Sportifai enables seamless integration across national sports organizations, providing real-time access to accurate data that supports evidence-based decision-making. He highlighted the platform's role as a foundational element of the broader digital transformation of the UAE's sports sector, in alignment with the National Sports Strategy 2031.
H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, said: ' Sportifai is designed as a technological partner for use across all Federations and Sports clubs, through developing an integrated digital infrastructure including advanced systems for athlete data management, modern talent identification solutions, and performance analysis tools.
H.E. affirmed that the next phase will empower sports professionals with digital analytics and data governance capabilities and support entrepreneurship and innovation through the development of startups in sports technology. Also, H.E. urged federations to leverage this innovative ecosystem and collaborate to enhance the transformation, aligning with national goals.
H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum extended his appreciation to the Federation leaders for their active engagement in the workshop. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among sports entities to ensure the successful implementation of the digital transformation strategy.
H.E. Sheikh Suhail said, 'The launch of Sportifai marks the beginning of a comprehensive development journey for our national sports community built on the latest technologies using the most advanced available digital tools for performance analysis, readiness assessment, and support for decision-making within sports Federations.'
'It stands as one of the most important mechanisms to empower these Federations by alleviating administrative burdens and providing accurate, analyzable data. This allows officials and specialists within the Federations to focus on technical and competitive aspects, contributing to improved athletic performance of teams and players, and enhancing the mechanisms for talent identification and sustainability within the sports sector,' H.E. added.
The workshop was divided into two sessions. The first session, dedicated to the presidents of Sports Federations, featured a detailed presentation by the Ministry on the Sportifai platform. The session underscored the importance of involving Federations in achieving digital transformation as a critical component of developing the national sports ecosystem. It outlined the platform's objectives and its role in providing sports entities with effective and comprehensive capabilities, while positioning the platform as a center of excellence for unifying efforts and driving innovation across disciplines.
The second session, attended by technical and administrative staff from the Sports Federations, focused on priority projects within the Ministry's digital transformation strategy, foremost among them, the 'Talent Identification Platform'. This platform is designed to track athletes' development from early stages through to professional and Olympic levels using a unified digital record. This approach enhances the creation of a reliable national database and supports talent development through strengthened partnerships between government institutions and Federations. The Ministry also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the technical departments of Federations and the platform to activate these initiatives and ensure their long-term success.
The Digital Transformation and Sports Innovation Platform was first introduced in March 2025 through a cooperation agreement between the Ministry and the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC), witnessed by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE NOC and H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi.
The platform will operate through strategic partnerships with key sports entities to support the objectives of the National Sports Strategy 2031. These partnerships include: The National Olympic Committee, to ensure alignment with Olympic standards.
The UAE Committee for Elite Sports, to enhance the development of competitive sports and improve athlete performance.
The UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support, to establish pathways for identifying and nurturing athletic talent.
Additionally, the platform will be supported by various Ministry of Sports committees, Federations, clubs, and academies at both the grassroots and professional levels. Private sector institutions and technology companies will also play a vital role by contributing innovative digital solutions and advancing sports data analytics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mid East Info
5 days ago
- Mid East Info
Ministry of Sports organises ‘UX Lab' event for Sports Sabbatical services as part of Zero Government Bureaucracy Program
H.E. Ghanim Al Hajeri: Including sports entities in service development is a crucial step towards simplifying service procedures without administrative complications, demonstrating our commitment to providing smart and customer-centric services The lab's key goal is to enhance sports sabbatical services and improve customer experiences in collaboration with supporting government agencies. It involves representatives from sports entities in developing solutions and evaluating customer experiences to fulfill their needs with more efficient and flexible services. Leveraging improvement and co-design tools to streamline administrative processes and align with the UAE's digital transformation initiatives. UAE, May 2025- The Ministry of Sports hosted the 'User Experience Lab' (UX Lab) at its headquarters in Dubai to enhance sports sabbatical services. The event presented an in-depth simulation of the digital customer journey, allowing participants to evaluate the sports sabbatical services offered by the Ministry. Attendees included representatives from various sports federations, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and specialists from the Ministry's digital transformation and customer happiness departments. The event highlighted the Ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of government services and simplify the processes for obtaining sports sabbatical services as part of the UAE's Government Services 2.0 framework and the Zero Government Bureaucracy program. In this context, His Excellency Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, stated that hosting the UX Lab is a testament to the Ministry's unwavering commitment to providing smart and integrated sports services that streamline transaction procedures for sports entities. In addition, he said: 'Enhancing customer experiences is one of the factors that drive our efforts to design services and simplify procedures. Through this initiative, we look forward to directly involving representatives of sports federations in the process of assessing the services and proposing solutions, further emphasising our belief that remarkable improvements in services begin with customers.' H.E. Al Hajeri added: 'We consider the UX Lab as a meaningful step towards our efforts to offer government services without any administrative complications, using optimisation tools and collaborative designs with customers. Through its results, we aim to make significant enhancements in sports sabbatical services and attain the goals of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Program.' The UX Lab will evaluate the current customers' experience with sports sabbatical services. In line with this, six representatives from sports entities who participated in the event were allocated one hour each to conduct a session assessing their digital journey and exploring opportunities for improvement. The event further aligns with the Ministry's efforts to provide seamless and effective government services focused on customer requirements. The Ministry of Sports continues its efforts to implement quality initiatives that enhance customer experiences and improve access to its services, guided by a customer-centric vision. By employing best practices in government service design, the Ministry aims to streamline processes and boost operational efficiency. This approach ensures smoother and more adaptable service experiences that align with the expectations of sports entities and support the country's digital transformation.
Mid East Info
26-05-2025
- Mid East Info
Second edition of UAE School Games concludes, honouring 1,365 male and female student winners across 12 sports categories
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi: The UAE School Games are the cornerstone of our vision to discover promising athletic talents. Moreover, collaboration between the sports and education sectors is an essential pillar for achieving national sports goals. The UAE School Games Finale was held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai, attracting wide participation of students representing schools across the nation. 2,686 male and female students from 875 schools participated in the finale, within a distinctive sports atmosphere, further highlighting the resounding success of the tournament's second edition. The tournament is organised by the Ministry of Sports and the UAE National Olympic Committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, as well as several leading sports federations and local educational authorities. The tournament primarily aims to discover athletically talented school students and prepare them through national development programs designed to strengthen sports teams and enhance the UAE's position in global sports platforms. The finale of the second edition of the UAE School Games successfully concluded at the Dubai Exhibition Center (DEC) in Expo City Dubai. The tournament was organized by the Ministry of Sports and the UAE National Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and various other sports federations and local educational authorities. The closing ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports; H.E. Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports; H.E. Mohammed Hamza Al Qassim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education; H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports; H.E. Aisha Miran, Director General of Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), H.E. Dr. Huda Al Matroushi, President of the UAE Modern Pentathlon Federation; H.E. Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation.; along with several presidents of national sports federations and officials from the nation's sports and education sectors and related fields. During the ceremony, H.E. Al Falasi honored the 1,365 male and female students who emerged as victors in various competitions from among 2,686 finalists. H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, emphasized the crucial role that the UAE School Games Championship plays in shaping the future of sports in the country. His Excellency stated: 'It serves as a platform for identifying and nurturing young talent from an early age. This initiative reflects our dedication to integrating sports into the school environment, encouraging healthy competition, and instilling core values such as discipline, teamwork, and national belonging in our youth. Throughout the championship, we have seen remarkable examples of emerging talents that signal a bright future for Emirati sports.' His Excellency further emphasized that the School Games reflect a comprehensive model of collaboration between the sports and education sectors, aligning with the UAE's vision to closely integrate athletics within the academic space. He said: 'We are committed to implementing systematic programs for talent identification in partnership with the UAE National Olympic Committee. These efforts are central to achieving one of our key strategic objectives—to have over 30 Emirati athletes compete in the Olympic Games by 2032. We are already making strong progress toward achieving this ambition.' His Excellency expressed his gratitude to all partners, including educational and sports organizations, as well as parents, for their vital role in the championship's success. He conveyed pride in the achievements made so far and emphasized the importance of continued efforts to establish school sports as a strong foundation for the long-term development of athletes. He noted that this ongoing dedication is essential for cultivating a new generation of athletes who will enhance the UAE's standing in the international sports arena. The finals showcased intense competition among students aged 9 to 17, representing 875 schools from various emirates across the UAE. Participants competed in 12 sports disciplines, including athletics, swimming, fencing, badminton, judo, taekwondo, archery, football, jiu-jitsu, shooting, chess, and table tennis. The competition concluded with a celebratory awards ceremony, honoring the top three performers in each sport. A total of 1,365 students received gold, silver, and bronze medals in recognition of their outstanding achievements. The UAE School Games welcomes participation from both public and private schools across the country. It is held in three stages. The first stage occurs within schools, where students engage in training and compete in various sports. The second stage takes place at the emirate level, where schools compete locally within their respective emirates. The final stage is when top-performing students from each emirate come together to compete for medals, ultimately determining the championship winners. Medal winners from the School Games Championship in selected sports are then invited to take part in athlete assessment and development programs organized by the Emirates Committee for Elite and High-Level Sports. These evaluations aim to assess the athlete's speed, strength, endurance, potential, and physical characteristics such as height and weight. Based on the results, athletes receive customized training and educational programs to support their development. The Committee, in collaboration with the relevant national sports federations, continually monitors each athlete's progress with the goal of preparing them to represent the UAE in international and Olympic competitions. The primary goal of the School Games is to discover and nurture sporting talent within UAE schools, creating skilled athletes through training and development programs led by the Ministry of Sports. This initiative aims to empower young athletes to strengthen national teams and play a key role in advancing the National Sports Strategy 2031 objectives.
Mid East Info
21-05-2025
- Mid East Info
UAE School Games Finals kick off today with table tennis and girls' football competitions - Middle East Business News and Information
H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum highlighted the School Games Championship's role as a platform for nurturing champions and promoting community sports, led by record participation and robust competition. 2,686 students from 875 schools qualified for the final stage of the School Games Championship, which will be held in Dubai from May 20 to 24. A total of 4,696 students, including 3,036 boys and 1,660 girls, participated in the event's latest edition, marking the highest student turnout in the School Games project's history. The event witnessed intense competition for the top three spots across 12 key sports events, in a vibrant atmosphere, reflecting the UAE's commitment to developing school-level sports and empowering talents. The UAE School Games 2025 finale officially commenced today, attracting widespread participation from 2,686 students representing 875 schools. Held from May 20 to 24, this national-level event features 12 key sports categories, including football, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, archery, fencing, badminton, laser shooting, table tennis, and chess. The finals officially began at 10:00 AM today, with the table tennis competitions and the Girls' football Matches taking place at Dubai Sports City. Swimming events are scheduled for tomorrow at the main pool of Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, starting at 9:00 AM. These events will include short-distance, mid-distance, and relay races to determine the champions of this year's edition. Athletic competitions will take place on May 22 at the track and field facility of James Modern Academy in Dubai, featuring various short, middle, and long-distance races, along with jumping and throwing events. The finals for the remaining nine sports categories will occur on May 24 at the North Halls of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City. The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held at 6 PM on the same day, attended by prominent sports figures, representatives of partners, and student parents. His Excellency Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Institutions, highlighted the remarkable success of the latest edition of the UAE School Games Championship, exemplified by the widespread participation of both students and schools. A total of 4,696 students, including 3,036 boys and 1,660 girls from 875 schools across the Emirates, participated in the event, showcasing the UAE's strong commitment to enhancing the school sports sector through early talent identification and training. His Excellency further stated: 'The School Games play a critical role in nurturing future champions, and empowering Emirati athletes to shine on the world stage, achieving great success at the Olympics, as well as various continental and international levels. Such tournaments also help foster a culture of sports within the community by inspiring young people to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. This year's edition, in particular, has truly lived up to our expectations, due to impressive participation and the strong spirit of competition displayed by the students. As the finals commence, the nation's most talented young athletes will compete for the top spots and a chance to win gold, silver, and bronze medals.' The annual School Games Championship is organised by the UAE Sports Federation for schools and University Institutions in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, the National Olympic Committee, and several sports federations and educational bodies. This strategic collaboration reflects ongoing cooperation between the sports and education sectors to support emerging athletic talents and achieve the goals of the 'National Sports Strategy 2031', which aims to increase the number of Emirati athletes qualifying for successive Olympic Games, with an ambitious target of more than 30 athletes set for the 2032 Olympics.
