UAE Ministry of Sports Signs MoU to Advance Phygital Sports Ecosystem
The Ministry of Sports has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASPIRE and Phygital International during the Phygital Sports Summit in Abu Dhabi, an event held in parallel with the Games of the Future 2025 (GOTF). This summit convened global experts, athletes, innovators, and decision-makers to chart the evolution and future potential of phygital sports—a dynamic new field blending physical athleticism and digital innovation.
The MoU, a non-binding framework agreement, signals the shared intent of the three parties to collaborate on phygital sports initiatives in the UAE. Building on the successful hosting of Games of the Future 2025, the agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation aimed at developing, promoting, and institutionalising phygital sports within the national landscape.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, signed the MoU. The agreement aims to unify efforts to position the UAE as a global hub for phygital and future sports. It supports the country’s long-term talent development, innovation, and international visibility, aligning with national sports policy, youth development, and innovation priorities.
According to Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, this agreement “represents a key milestone in advancing future sports in the UAE” and “builds on the success of the Games of the Future 2025 hosted by Abu Dhabi, supported by our wise leadership.” He continued: “Through these strategic partnerships, we aim to reinforce the UAE’s global standing in future sports by aligning phygital initiatives with the National Sports Strategy 2031, enhancing innovation, empowering youth, and strengthening international cooperation across the phygital sports ecosystem.”
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, remarked, “This partnership is about institutionalising the future of sport. By combining technology, performance, and human potential, and building on the momentum of the Games of the Future 2025, the UAE is positioning itself as a global testbed for next-generation sports and talent development – and signing with the Ministry of Sport represents the next level of progress”.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, stated that the collaboration “reflects our shared belief that the future of sport lies at the intersection of physical performance, digital innovation, and human potential. By working alongside ASPIRE and the UAE Ministry of Sport, we are strengthening a global phygital ecosystem that advances innovation, nurtures emerging talent, and supports the sustainable growth of phygital sport worldwide.”
The MoU outlines multiple potential avenues for cooperation:
- Recurring international editions of the Games of the Future (GOTF) in the UAE, contributing to long-term legacy planning and athlete pathways.
- Hosting an international sports summit focused on future sport governance and innovation.
- Development of a nationwide network of phygital centres for training and talent development, including youth programmes, referee development, community competitions, and qualifiers.
A standout feature of the agreement is the creation of HITS Hub (High Innovative Tech Sports), a national research, development, and innovation hub dedicated to phygital sports technologies. The hub will focus on intellectual property (IP) development, testing of emerging disciplines, and will serve as an operational base for future events.
Under the MoU:
- ASPIRE will handle national coordination and strategic integration, harnessing its expertise within the ATRC innovation ecosystem to foster sustainable phygital legacy programs.
- Phygital International will contribute the Games of the Future IP, technical standards, and discipline expertise, while ensuring global alignment of phygital competition formats.
- The Ministry of Sports will ensure national policy alignment, robust athlete development pathways, and the promotion of innovation and international cooperation in this emerging field.
This collaborative framework stands to advance the UAE’s objective to become a world-leading center for phygital and future sports, marking a new chapter in the evolution of sports in the region.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
