Dubai hosted the inaugural World Sports Summit 2025 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. Organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the summit brought together over 1,500 sports leaders, stars, and decision-makers from more than 50 countries at Madinat Jumeirah on 29–30 December.
Themed “Uniting the World Through Sport,” the summit aimed to create a global platform for shaping the future of sports, nurturing talent, advancing training and fitness approaches, and strengthening the role of clubs, federations, and sports institutions worldwide.
Opening Day Highlights
The event opened with speeches from His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, followed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with his keynote titled “The Next 90 Minutes.” His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in Bahrain, also delivered an opening address.
Novak Djokovic joined a panel highlighting tennis development, while Ons Jabeur and Paula Badosa shared insights on professional tennis. Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, discussed football leadership, moderated by former England striker Peter Crouch.
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao participated in a boxing-focused panel. Former NBA stars and managers, including Tamika Termaglio, Terry Smith, Michelle Roberts, and Danita Johnson, explored basketball’s evolution. Football legend Ronaldo Nazario wrapped up the first day with insights from his global career.
List Of Attendees On Day 2
Mina Rzouki, Sports Reporter and Football Broadcaster, The National
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Former Russian MMA Fighter
Rio Ferdinand, Former English Footballer
Roberto Baggio, Former Italian Footballer
Valentina Baggio, Social Media Influencer
Alessandro Del Piero, Former Italian Footballer
Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Swin Cash, Baron Davis
Cari Champion, CNN Journalist
Kayla Itsines, Personal Trainer, Author, Entrepreneur
Llani Belle
Jaime Wynn, Victor Cruz, Maikel Oettle, Jon Carney
Sunny Hostin
Abdulla Al Naboodah, Paulius Motiejunas, Jorge Garbajosa, Tony Parker
Chiney Ogwumike
Amanda Staveley, Mary Owen, Mehrdad Ghodoussi
Mina Rzouki
Nick Santonastasso, Global Speaker & Peak Performance Expert
Wyc Grousbeck, CEO, Boston Celtics, Chiney Ogwumike
Ronaldo, Cafu, Didier Deschamps, Fabio Cannavaro, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol
Alessandro Del Piero
Mina Rzouki and Hamed Al Harthi
Honouring Global Sports Icons
During the summit, Sheikh Hamdan awarded international sports figures at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Sports Award:
Nasser Al Khelaifi, Global Sports Leadership Award
FIFA, Global Sports Organisation Award
Novak Djokovic, Global Lifetime Achievement Award
Manny Pacquiao, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, and Andrés Iniesta, Global Sports Career Awards
Regional recognition included:
Emirati Sports Personality Award – Crown Prince of Fujairah
Arab Sports Personality Award – Chairman of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Youth and Sports
On the sidelines, Sheikh Hamdan met FIFA President Gianni Infantino, emphasizing football’s global influence. “Dubai’s hosting of the World Sports Summit reflects our commitment to shaping the future of global sport. By bringing together expertise and ideas from across the world, we aim to unlock new opportunities to support talent, encourage creativity, and stimulate investment in technology and knowledge.”
Gianni Infantino praised Dubai’s leadership: “Hosting a summit of this scale, which brings together senior decision makers and leading figures from across the international sports community, reflects Dubai’s forward-looking vision and long-term commitment.”
The World Sports Summit 2025 positioned Dubai as a global hub for sports leadership, innovation, and collaboration, inspiring future generations and strengthening international cooperation in sport.
