Dubai Unveils Plan To Triple Sports Participation To 2.6m Residents By 2033

The Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033 sets out a long-term vision to establish the emirate as one of the world’s leading sports destinations, anchored by community participation, major events and talent development.

The Plan, overseen by the Dubai Sports Council, is built around four central pillars:

• Community
• Events
• Clubs
• Talent

Sport in Dubai

It includes 19 programmes and 75 initiatives designed to create a sustainable, accessible and high-quality sports ecosystem across the emirate.

Khalfan Jumaa Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said: “This Plan aims to enhance community well-being and overall quality of life. Our goal is for Dubai to be the most active and sports-friendly city in the world, and we will work to triple the number of people actively engaged in sports in Dubai to reach 2.6 million by 2033.

“The Plan includes three major community programmes designed to diversify sports activities for all segments of society. These range from individual programmes for senior citizens to public activities in parks and neighbourhood facilities across Dubai, culminating in an annual series of events and tournaments dedicated to People of Determination to enhance their social and sporting participation.”

Women, youth and community sport

The Plan will place significant emphasis on women’s tournaments, youth activities and school sports programmes.

Thirteen leading community initiatives will be launched, including the expanded Sheikha Hind Women’s Sports Initiative and the new ‘Dubai District Games’, ensuring every resident has access to sports opportunities across the emirate.

The Sheikha Hind Women’s Sports Initiative will evolve into a year-round programme offering women’s championships, events and health campaigns, targeting more than 200,000 participants over the next two years.

It will begin with the first-ever World Triathlon Women’s Cup on December 7, followed by a packed series of women’s sports competitions catering to different nationalities and age groups.

The Plan also aims to increase the number of students participating in school sports to 70,000 annually — a 3.5-fold rise — through an expansion of the School Games Programme, which will feature 26 sports competitions held over 107 days and draw an expected 25,000 participants in designated tournaments.

A flagship initiative, the “Dubai District Games”, will promote healthy lifestyles and community engagement through tournaments in:

• Football
• 3×3 basketball
• Volleyball
• Badminton

More than 3,800 participants aged 18 and above will compete over 16 days from 4–19 December across several locations, with finals scheduled for December 17–19 at a central venue yet to be announced.

Each team will represent the residential district its members belong to, with competitions spread across eight zones:

• Central Zone: Jumeirah, Zabeel, Ras Al Khor
• Northern Zone: Bur Dubai, Deira Corniche
• Western Deira (Deira 1)
• Eastern Deira (Deira 2)
• District 1 (Mohammed bin Rashid City)
• Mushrif
• Southern Zone: Jebel Ali, Hessian, Mina Jebel Ali, Al Maktoum City
• Eastern Zone: Saih Al Salam, Wadi Al Safa, Hind City, Hatta, Al Faqa, Margham, Al Awir

The competitions will take place in two stages: zone-level matches that crown the top three teams in each zone, followed by city-wide finals where qualifiers compete for the title of “Dubai Champions”. The games will take place in top-tier facilities, giving athletes and spectators a professional experience.

Sports for all

The Plan also includes year-round youth sports centres, annual activities for People of Determination, and sports competitions for labour communities across 10 locations covering 12 sports.

Innovation in sports urban planning is another key focus, with sports facilities to be integrated into new communities and upgrades made to older areas to ensure equitable access. The Dubai Sports Council is coordinating with Dubai Municipality and the Roads and Transport Authority to embed sports spaces into future urban development projects.