UAE Launches Unified Talent Committee Platform to Propel Future Athletic Champions
In a landmark move aimed at revolutionizing the UAE’s sports development framework, the Ministry of Sports has announced the launch of the Talent Committee Platform — a cutting-edge initiative designed to nurture young athletic talent and integrate every stakeholder in the national sports ecosystem.
This new platform, under the oversight of the UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support (UAETSS), will serve as a centralized digital hub for athletes, parents, coaches, scouts, clubs, sports federations, and educational institutions. By delivering seamless access to a comprehensive and accurate national database, the platform promises to streamline talent discovery and support ongoing athlete development throughout their careers.
Fully integrated with the Ministry’s ‘Sportifai’ platform, the Talent Committee Platform offers real-time, data-driven performance tracking for athletes. This digital synergy enables transparent and objective assessments of each individual’s technical abilities and physical growth, ensuring that scouting and selection processes are both fair and efficient.
“The introduction of the ‘Talent Committee Platform’ represents a major milestone in establishing an intelligent, integrated sports ecosystem – one that can identify promising talent from an early stage and support their growth through structured development programmes driven by data, digital governance, and partnership. This platform not only offers advanced digital tools but also creates a comprehensive national framework that links schools, academies, clubs, and federations. Using digital governance, it streamlines talent identification and development processes, enhances overall performance, and makes access to emerging athletic potential across the UAE easier,” said Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports.
He further emphasized the initiative’s contribution toward achieving the National Sports Strategy 2031, noting: “Recognising talent from a young age is fundamental to shaping elite athletes and is the central factor in achieving success in Olympics and international competitions. This project will significantly contribute to the objectives of the National Sports Strategy 2031 by increasing the number of Emirati athletes qualifying for the Olympic Games. Our current priority is to establish a sustainable national system that not only identifies promising talent but also supports their growth toward the highest standards of competitive performance.”
Echoing this vision, Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector and Chairman of UAETSS, remarked: “This new platform is a key component of the Ministry’s broader digital transformation strategy. It plays a central role in the talent discovery system by integrating digital analytics, data, and technical assessments with personalised talent development pathways. With the aid of advanced technology and a well-defined strategic vision, the platform lays the foundation for a sustainable national system to discover and develop talent, while enhancing the competitiveness of UAE sports and reinforcing its presence on the global stage.
“The platform plays a crucial role in creating a unified, science-based framework for talent evaluation, ensuring fairness and transparency throughout the selection process. It offers advanced analytical tools to track development and performance metrics, enabling informed decisions on the qualification and advancement of athletes at every stage. By providing an integrated environment that includes technical support, training camps, opportunities for local and international competition, and academic guidance, the platform ensures that the athletes see a balanced growth, both in sports and academic careers.”
As part of the inaugural rollout, 58 outstanding athletic talents from across the UAE have been selected to join the platform’s first official batch of supported athletes. These individuals were chosen based on a rigorous evaluation process carried out in collaboration with sports federations and specialized scouts.
The selection includes representation across 13 diverse sports disciplines, reflecting the platform’s commitment to inclusivity and multi-sport development. The athlete numbers per sport are as follows: badminton (12 athletes), swimming (7), archery (7), taekwondo (6), athletics (5), chess (5), rowing and sailing (4), fencing (3), shooting (2), golf (2), football (2), table tennis (2), and triathlon (1 athlete).
This bold step toward digitalization, integration, and long-term talent development marks a transformative era for sports in the UAE — one that is driven by transparency, analytics, and sustained support for emerging champions.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
