When the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix roars into Yas Marina Circuit, it’s more than a spectacular season finale. It is a showcase of how sport drives national ambition. The UAE’s ability to host one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events reflects the core objectives of its Vision 2031: economic diversification, global competitiveness, and enhancing quality of life. Like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the UAE uses major sporting events as a strategic tool to position itself as a global hub for innovation, tourism, and investment.
This article explores how national sports strategies in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar go beyond entertainment, creating frameworks for infrastructure development, elite talent cultivation, and digital innovation. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a perfect example of these visions in action, where sport meets strategy to shape the future of the region.
Core Objectives
At the core of each national vision for Saudi, UAE and Qatar are three objectives:
- To improve the quality of life for their citizens
- To diversify their economies
- To enhance their global presence
In terms of sport, and the role it can play in achieving these aims, each nation’s vision or national sports strategy outlines a series of strategic pillars which serve to create a framework for all state, federation and private sector implementation.
Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan puts the emphasis on investment – both domestically and internationally – in building a thriving sports economy and establishing a position of sporting influence on the global stage. The plan sets out the following strategic aims for sport:
- To create a healthier, more active society that is more engaged in sports and athletic activities. The goal is to raise the percentage of people exercising at least once a week from 13% to 40% by 2030. The integration of sports into education is also viewed as key to helping develop students’ characters, talents, and wellbeing.
- To invest in state-of-the-art sports facilities that promote participation, support athletic development, and facilitate the hosting of international events which create tourism, economic growth and global awareness.
- To identify and develop elite sports talent within the country that can propel Saudi to both regional and global success in targeted professional sports.
- To improve the domestic sporting product by focusing on governance and the professionalisation of sports management in order to help attract elite talent and investment.
- To invest in the hosting of major sporting events that position Saudi as a global sports hub.
From data analysis tools to smart venue technology, digital innovations are viewed as the primary enabler in fulfilling Saudi’s different sporting aims. State-backed entities have invested heavily both in securing the services of international experts but also in funding Saudi’s own burgeoning sports tech ecosystem – especially around Esports, where Saudi sees a real opportunity to dominate the global landscape.
UAE Vision 2031
UAE has a national sports strategy as part of its Vision 2031 plan. This serves as a national directive for individual emirates like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, who have their own Sports Councils that operate semi-autonomously to achieve their own Emirate’s vision, but still in line with the framework of overarching national sports policy.
There are a number of shared strategic pillars with Saudi such as promoting participation, investing in the sporting infrastructure and developing elite talent. There is also a strong focus on social impact, community initiatives and promoting opportunities for women and youth in sport.
Digital innovation is at the heart of their ambitions with a drive to use the latest technology to improve governance, participation and the identification and development of talent. At an individual Emirates level, there are localised initiatives around sustainability, inclusion and social responsibility.
Qatar National Vision 2030
Qatar’s sports strategy is built around four core objectives:
- The growth of the Qatari sports economy
- Encouraging and facilitating participation
- The creation of sustainable sports facilities
- The development of elite talent.
A lot of their community and infrastructure initiatives are underpinned by the investment and development that went into hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. This momentous occasion – the first time a World Cup or Olympics was hosted in the Middle East – was a catalyst for sports investment and there have been numerous legacies both in terms of the infrastructure and the digital platforms brought in for the tournament.
Qatar has also put a significant focus on innovation at their world renowned Aspire Academy, where the sports science team use the latest technology to better monitor, understand and improve sports performance.
Shared strategic pillars
Healthy living through participation in sport
Sports venues, infrastructure & events
Elite Performance & Talent Development
Improving governance & professionalism in domestic sport
For each of these shared pillars, Saudi Arabia, UAE & Qatar have already implemented, or are in the process of implementing, innovative apps, websites and other digital platforms to achieve their strategic aims.
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