World Sports Summit Concludes, Signals Dubai's Growing Influence On Global Stage

When the world's leading sports stars and legends come together under one roof, it sends a clear message about the host city.

At the recently concluded World Sports Summit, the air was nothing short of inspiring. From tennis to MMA to football, the topics shared were as wide-ranging as the attendants themselves. Athletes, coaches, investors, fashion icons from around the globe united in Dubai, driven by a shared belief in the power of sport.

On the sidelines of the event, the Brazilian football living legend Marcos Evangelista de Morais, better known as Cafu, told Khaleej Times why he keeps coming back to Dubai and how“fascinated” he is with it, saying“I'm very proud, very happy to have been invited and honoured to be part of this wonderful event.”

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Held under the theme 'Uniting the World Through Sport', the summit was organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.

One of the most compelling moments of the summit came from Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, who addressed the deeper role of sport in modern society. He spoke about how life has shifted from naturally active to increasingly sedentary, with technology reshaping daily habits.

Drawing attention to rising obesity, diabetes and mental health challenges, he emphasised that sport is no longer optional. According to him, sport is one of the most effective tools to improve cognitive development, resilience, leadership, emotional intelligence and social cohesion, especially for younger generations.

During the closing ceremony of the Summit, Belhoul gave a memorable speech, one that spoke of the collective nature of Dubai. Although the World Sports Summit was organised by the Dubai Sports Council, it involved partnerships with several different entities, from Omniyat to Dubai Future Foundation. Belhoul, the CEO of DFF, said that this was a collective effort, citing that it is“not a Dubai entities thing, it's a Dubai thing.”

To add to this, the Summit closed with all staff members and organisers being brought up on stage to claim their recognition and hardworking efforts to mark the World Sports Summit's successful debut.

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