AI, emerging technologies transform UAE sports sector

Abu Dhabi [UAE], August 22: The sports sector in the UAE is witnessing rapid growth in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications and advanced technologies, with these tools moving beyond experimentation and innovation to become practical solutions supporting planning, physical preparation and training.
They also provide accurate indicators that help technical and administrative teams assess and improve performance, strengthening efforts to identify talent and develop elite athletes.
Digital technologies have become a key component of modern sports preparation. Assessments of athletes are no longer based solely on direct observation and competition results but increasingly draw on the analysis of data related to movement and speed, exertion and recovery rates, sleep quality and physiological indicators. This provides a more comprehensive picture of an athlete's readiness and ability to cope with training loads.
Data analytics and AI offer advanced capabilities to process large volumes of information and connect multiple data sources, including physical test results, tracking-device data and video recordings. These are transformed into practical indicators that technical teams can use to monitor performance development, identify strengths and determine areas requiring further improvement.
Alex Bronori, Vice President of Brand at G42, said the company is working to build an integrated ecosystem of data centres and computing infrastructure to deploy AI across various sectors, including sports. He noted that the technologies being developed by the company are aimed at supporting national sectors and enhancing their efficiency.
He added that the ecosystem being developed by the company enables individuals and institutions to benefit from the capabilities of AI and drive greater innovation and creativity, contributing to the wider adoption of its applications across different fields.
The impact of advanced technologies also extends to injury prevention and rehabilitation. Accumulated data on an athlete's history, training loads, fatigue levels and response to exercise can provide additional indicators to support medical and technical teams when making decisions related to rest, rehabilitation and a safe return to competition.
Talent identification is another key area benefiting from digital transformation. The development of databases tracking athletes' physical and technical indicators and competitive results from an early age provides sports federations and clubs with more accurate tools to monitor players' development and assess their long-term potential.
UAE sports are also seeing growing collaboration between sports institutions and technology companies, reflecting increasing interest in AI applications to enhance athletic performance, drive innovation and strengthen engagement with fans.
Among these initiatives is the use of AI technologies in the design of sports equipment and products, demonstrating how technology is expanding beyond performance analysis during competition to the development of innovative solutions that enhance the experience of athletes and spectators alike.
In this context, Mauro Gianetti, CEO of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, said the team continues to invest in the latest AI-powered technologies to drive innovation and enhance performance. He noted that the team will use a new helmet designed using AI technologies during the 2027 UAE Tour.
He added that AI has become an integrated system supporting various aspects of cyclists' lives, helping develop their capabilities, enhance performance and facilitate many of the daily tasks associated with preparation and competition.
Partnerships between technology companies and sports teams provide an important platform for testing new applications that connect digital capabilities with the sports sector, opening broader prospects for developing interactive experiences and engaging fans in different aspects of sporting activity.
These initiatives also reflect a growing trend towards integrating AI across the sports ecosystem, with its role extending beyond data analysis to innovation, design and audience engagement. This gives sports institutions new opportunities to develop more advanced and interactive services, products and experiences.
Abdullah Al Samahi, Secretary-General of the UAE Taekwondo Federation, said the federation is moving towards deploying smart-system technologies to analyse athletes' data and support talent identification and development. This includes the use of smart protective equipment and advanced monitoring systems to collect accurate data on physical and technical performance during training and competitions.
He added that this data helps technical teams identify promising athletes and develop preparation programmes tailored to the needs of each player. He stressed that AI serves as a supporting tool to accelerate the identification of future champions across different sports by analysing large volumes of data and linking technical and physical indicators with competition results, providing a more comprehensive view of athletes' development trajectories.
He noted that the federation is working in coordination with the UAE Committee for Sports Talent Development and Support for National Sports, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports, to leverage these technologies in preparing national teams and enhancing their readiness and competitiveness at upcoming continental and international championships.
At the same time, digital platforms provide advanced capabilities for remotely monitoring athletes and sharing reports between technical and medical teams, while presenting data through unified dashboards. This helps accelerate performance analysis, support decision-making and enhance the efficiency of the UAE's sports ecosystem, in line with the country's drive to build a more innovative, sustainable and competitive sports sector.
Source: Emirates News Agency