Sports and recreation

This page provides information on the traditional and modern sports of the UAE. It also throws light on governmental efforts to promote the uptake of sports and improve results in that field.
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Government authorities responsible for sports

General Authority of Sports is the federal authority responsible for the development of sports sector in accordance to Federal Decree-Law No. 7 of 2008. It aims to play a leading role in providing a positive attractive environment that enables youth to develop physical and mental abilities, utilise free time, improve creative skills, deepen national identity principles, instil loyalty, belonging and voluntary work sense.

It works also on developing competitive, recreational and traditional sports, providing a healthy environment to carry them out and making it possible to upgrade results at national and international levels. The authority achieves these by holding events and competitions.

In addition, there are local sport councils that aim to create an environment that contributes to enhancing the importance of sports practising and sport programmes that meets the requirements of the society. They aim to support the youth to cultivate their sporting and cultural talents in a way that leads them to compete at national, regional and international levels.

 

Some of the other regulatory bodies include:

  1. National Olympic Committee
  2. UAE Falcons Federation
  3. UAE Football Association
  4. UAE Cricket Board
  5. Emirates Golf Federation
  6. UAE Tennis Federation
  7. UAE Padel Association
  8. UAE Rugby Federation
  9. UAE Billiard & Snooker Association
  10. Emirates Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation
  11. UAE Fencing Federation
  12. Emirates Canoe & Rafting Federation
  13. UAE ice sports federation
  14. UAE equestrian and racing federation
  15. Emirates Motorsports Organization
  16. UAE Karate Federation
  17. United Arab Emirates Taekwondo Federation
  18. UAE boxing association
  19. UAE Triathlon Association
  20. UAE Archery Federation
  21. Emirates Bowling Federation
  22. Emirates Aerosports Federation
  23. UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation
  24. UAE Muay Thai & Kickboxing Federation
  25. UAE Wrestling & Judo Federation
  26. UAE Anti-Doping Agency
  27. Emirates Weightlifting Federation
  28. UAE Darts Association
  29. UAE Handball Federation
  30. UAE Cycling Federation
  31. UAE basketball association
  32. UAE table tennis association
  33. UAE Volleyball Association
  34. UAE Swimming Federation
  35. UAE Chess Federation
  36. UAE Paralympic Committee
  37. UAE sports for all federation
  38. Emirates Arabian Horse Society
  39. Emirates Women's Sports Federation
  40. UAE Police Sports Federation.

 

Sports Councils

Find a list of sports federations, committees and councils along with their websites - (PDF, 509 KB).

 

Related links:

The UAE’s Sports law

Federal Law No. 4 of 2023 Concerning Sports (the Sports law), establishes the regulatory framework for sports and sports infrastructure in the UAE. This law unifies and aligns the objectives for the development of the sports sector, at both the federal and local levels. It promotes greater sports participation throughout the society and strengthens the capacity of competent authorities to offer accessible sports and physical activities.

The law targets three key segments, as follows:

  1. Community sports players - The law encourages individuals from all sections of society to engage in physical and sporting activities. Its objective is to raise the participation rate of individuals in diverse sports to 71 per cent, in line with the National Sports Strategy 2031.
  2. Competitive sports players – The law aims to assist sports entities in achieving sports excellence on a local and global scale by promoting competition and the discovery of talent
  3. People of determination - The law promotes the participation of people of determination in physical and sporting activities within clubs, schools and workplaces. It allows them to form national teams to participate in major sporting events.

Highlights of the Sports law

The law provides a guidance on distinguishing between sports that are pursued as a hobby and those that are pursued as a profession. In addition, it:

  • outlines the activities that require approval from General Authority of Sports (GAS)
  • regulates international coordination with GAS
  • addresses issues related to the international participation of various sports entities and their registration with foreign sports organisations
  • permits sports federations to form partnerships with national and foreign sporting and non-sporting institutions within and outside the UAE
  • incorporates the Special Olympics UAE and the UAE Hearing Impairment Committee to represent the nation in regional and international competitions.

Read news coverage on WAM.

Refer to General Authority of Sports for more information.

Sports in the UAE

Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, the political leadership has given every attention to the growth, welfare and institutionalisation of sport sector in view of the significant role it plays in the development and advancement of the nation. Establishing and maintaining sports clubs is under the scope of social development services.

The UAE is keen on providing the necessary support for sports in the country, through the construction of many modern sports facilities such as football (soccer) stadiums, car-racing tracks, golf courses and training centres throughout the country, to serve professionals and beginners.

Sports and Vision 2071

The fourth pillar of the UAE Vision 2071 prioritises the quality of sports, recognizing its role in fostering a harmonious and cohesive society while instilling a sense of pride and patriotism within the country. Sports play a major role in cultivating the skills of the next generation, enabling them to represent the UAE on international platforms.

 

Participation in competitions open for all residents

In April 2018,  the UAE Government approved a federal law which allows all UAE residents, regardless of their nationalities, to participate in national sports competitions held in the country. The law applies to children of Emirati mothers, UAE passport holders and all those born in the UAE along with residents of all nationalities.

The move aims to promote sports in the UAE and widen the base of talented participants in various sports. It also seeks to instill the value of loyalty to UAE and the government agenda of integrating all segments of society in a peaceful co-existence.

Traditional sports

Traditionally, the Emiratis engaged in falconry and racing horses, camels, salukis and dhows as a way of survival. However, with changing times and laws these activities are now practised purely as a regulated sport.

Falconry

At the end of the annual hunting season, falcons undergo medical check-ups at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and only the healthy birds are let into the wild. Others are treated at the hospital. Each falcon is micro-chipped for identification and protection.

 

Equestrian sports

Equestrian sports in the UAE include endurance, show jumping, eventing, dressage and racing. The late H. H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan started endurance rides in the UAE. Even today, several members of the royal families in the UAE passionately pursue equestrian sports.

Both H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his son H. H. Sheikh Hamdan are exceptionally gifted endurance riders and have won several international endurance rides. H. H. Sheikh Mohammed owns the Godolphin stable in Dubai and runs Darley, the global thoroughbred breeding operation from the United Kingdom.

 

Camel racing

Camel racing was mainly staged to mark important social occasions such as wedding ceremonies, community festivals or the visits of Sheikhs to Bedouin villages. Today, it is an organised sport involving valuable prizes and cash awards worth millions of Dirhams.

The local breed - Mahaliyat, the Omani breed - Omaniyat, the Sudanese camels - Sudaniyat and the interbred - Muhajanat are the main breeds used in the racing competitions.

 

Bull-fighting

Bull-fighting still takes place in the emirate of Fujairah. It is a weekly activity practised during the cooler months.

Modern sports

The modern era brought several sports to the UAE such as football, golf, polo, tennis, rugby, sailing, yacht and motor racing. Emiratis are zealous fans of football.

Recreational and adventure activities

Popular recreational and adventure activities include sky diving, golfing, desert safari, dune buggy riding, cycling, land sailing, quad biking, dune bashing, sandboarding, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, ice-skating and snow skiing.

Sports events

The UAE regularly hosts championships, which involve renowned international players, big rewards and huge public following. Some of the major championships include UAE Pro League, Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Tennis Championships, Rugby Sevens and Dubai World Cup.

The UAE is the host for several international cricket tournaments.

Dubai holds the annual Dubai Marathon which attracts thousands of enthusiasts and professional runners. The prize money involves a few hundred thousand US dollars.

Some of the popular sports events in the other fields of sports are:

View the sports events in the calendar.

Sports infrastructure

Since the UAE hosts several major international tournaments, it provides the best of facilities in terms of cricket/football stadiums, equestrian clubs, tennis courts, racetracks and a circuit for Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Some of the facilities in the different fields of sports are:

Equestrian

 

Motor sports

  • Dubai Autodrome

 

Marine sports

 

Golf

 

Skiing

 

Ice Skating

 

Cricket

 

General

Free zones for promoting sports

The UAE Government has established free zone sports cities/complexes to promote the uptake of sports. The sports cities are mixed-use properties with sports clubs, stadiums, training academies, residential areas, commercial spaces, restaurants etc. The free zones for sports in the UAE are:

Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi offers practice facilities for basketball, billiards, football, paintball and more.

Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai has two swimming pools, each 50 metres long constructed with advanced technology of moveable floors enabling the swimming pools to be transformed into a pool that is 25 metres long with varying depth. Pools are maintained at a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.

Hamdan Sports Complex has a stadium that can seat 15,000 spectators at the three-tier horseshoe-shaped seating bowl in the competition arena.

Outdoor lights in Hamdan Sports Complex are solar-powered.

Dubai International Stadium in Dubai Sports City can seat 25,000. Dubai Sports City offers practice facilities for football, golf, cricket and more.

  • Dubai Motor City

Dubai Motor City comprises Dubai Autodrome and an F1 circuit.

 

Useful links:

Updated On :

29 Oct 2024