In our recent whitepaper, The Role of Digital in Powering Middle East Sports Ambitions, we explored how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are using technology to transform their sporting landscapes. One area where digital is already making a significant impact is elite performance and talent development.
Gulf nations are investing heavily in technology to nurture the next generation of athletes and to compete on the world stage. In this article, we take a closer look at the strategies, innovations, and opportunities shaping elite sport in the Middle East.
How technology is making a difference?
Saudi Arabia
In 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) founded the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) to drive the adoption of AI and emerging tech across the Kingdom. In early 2024, SCAI turned their attention to sport with the launch of SportNative, an AI-powered solution made up of three separate platforms covering performance analysis scouting and in-venue experience, that “integrates data from various sources into a centralized platform, enabling its users in the sports sector to make informed decisions efficiently and effectively.”
UAE
Earlier this year, the UAE unveiled its own AI-powered platform aimed at accelerating the nation’s sporting success. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the UAE National Olympic Committee, Sportifai, provides a comprehensive digital ecosystem for both elite and emerging athletes, with tools dedicated to talent identification, performance analysis, and data governance.
Qatar
The Aspire Academy in Qatar has created two different digital platforms designed to aid development of their football players.
Building on the foundations set by the Qatar Football Analytics Dashboard – an initiative they developed in partnership with the Qatar Football Association (QFA) – The Qatar Player App “empowers players with instant access to match statistics, performance analysis, and wellness updates, enhancing their training and preparation.”
Launched in 2024, their Advanced Football Performance Platform combines data from across Qatar’s football ecosystem, including the QFA, Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Aspire’s own programmes in real-time to provide a holistic view of player performance. The platform can also be used to enhance preparations by analysing opponents’ players and tactics.
TEC Take
Data drives decisions on and off the pitch and so it is crucial to have the ability to consolidate different data feeds into a single view that allows you to understand all facets of a player’s performance and their relationship with their club. Working with a leading Premier League club, TEC built an intelligence platform that combined performance data with contractual information, giving a 360 overview of player-related financial obligations and enabling the club to efficiently manage all aspects of player’s contracts, including the myriad of performance-related clauses involved. The platform also provided intel player scouting and acquisition, allowing the club to model scenarios around financial profiles and the potential impact on the overall wage bill. The intelligence platform is so successful it has been used by over 40 football clubs worldwide.
How is technology making a difference to the Middle East Sports Industry?
Download the full whitepaper to explore the strategies shaping the future of sport in the Middle East.
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