UAE Advances International Sports Cooperation at BRICS Sports Ministers' Meeting in India
UAE, represented by the Ministry of Sports, participated in the 2026 BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting held in Visakhapatnam, India, under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability". Led by Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, UAE discussed ways to enhance sports cooperation among BRICS nations.
The meetings explored topics such as:
- Exchanging expertise and best practices across areas like sports technology, innovation, traditional and indigenous sports, athlete exchanges, and industry collaboration.
- Translating these priorities into actionable frameworks for future cooperation.
- The power of sports in promoting development and community connections.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum highlighted UAE's commitment to international cooperation and its belief in sports' ability to drive growth and foster global partnerships. He mentioned the National Sports Strategy 2031, which outlines a competitive, sustainable sports ecosystem focusing on talent development, athlete empowerment, high-performance pathways, and international recognition.
The meetings also delved into harnessing technology and innovation within the sports sector, from athlete performance to infrastructure. Participants emphasized the need for responsible use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
UAE's delegation showcased its proactive approach to future sports industry transformations through events like the World Sports Summit in Dubai.