Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum: The program signifies our dedication to supporting athletes across all emirates through strategic action plans and international expertise, to attain our national sporting ambitions.
Safa Taryam: The program marks a pivotal milestone in athlete development, enabling sporting talents to advance to an elite level and shape the next generation of UAE sports champions.
UAE, 16 November 2025- The UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS) launched the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program at a special event held at the UAE Ministry of Sports headquarters in Dubai, with an aim to nurture a generation of athletes across the UAE
The event was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS), H.E. Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, and Safa Taryam, Chief Executive Officer of Elite Sport UAE (ESUAE), alongside ministry officials and representatives from various sports federations and media outlets. It also witnessed the participation of three exceptional talents who were selected for the first phase of the programme, including Riyan Malhan (badminton), Hussein Shawqi (swimming), and Max Hoehn (Triathlon).
The program has been designed to nurture sporting talents from all emirates and enable them to showcase high levels of competitive performance. Its integrated support system, featuring specialised training programs, regional and international camps and professional technical and administrative supervision, helps prepare athletes for elite-level and global professional sports.
The launch reflects a coordinated effort led by the Ministry of Sports to build a comprehensive sporting ecosystem capable of competing across different international stages. This forms part of a broader strategy to introduce multiple specialised initiatives and programs for nurturing athletic talents, in collaboration with the UAE National Olympic Committee and all components of the national sports sector. These collective efforts aim to support athletes to make significant progress, qualifying them to join elite programs in the future.
As part of the program, cooperation will take place between UAETSS and Elite Sport UAE to facilitate the development of talented athletes who exhibit significant improvement in their performance from the programs of UAETSS into those by Elite Sport UAE. This establishes a seamless national pathway that starts with talent discovery and culminates in the making of an Olympic champion.
H.E. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum stated that the launch of the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program is a pivotal step towards creating a sustainable, professional system for identifying and training sporting talents across the country, with the help of some of the world’s most prominent experts in the sports sector.
He said: “The ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program underscores our dedication to support the UAE’s athletes and empower them to reach competitive excellence. This initiative extends beyond merely discovering talents, it also encompasses a comprehensive development journey and a connected national pathway from the foundation to the highest level of sports. Through training, qualification and long-term planning, we aim to advance athletes to the elite and high-performance stage, preparing them to represent the UAE in regional and international sporting events. These efforts align with the objectives of the UAE National Sports Strategy 2031, which seeks to qualify over 30 champions in the UAE for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”
Furthermore, H.E. Sheikh Suhail praised the role of the Ministry of Sports, the UAE National Olympic Committee, sports councils, federations, clubs, and private academies in supporting the journey of discovering and developing athletic talents. He further stated that their joint efforts have been vital in launching this ambitious initiative, which serves as a key driver to enhance the competitiveness of UAE sports and achieve national objectives.
Safa Taryam highlighted the significance of the collaboration between the two committees in shaping the future of the UAE’s athletes. She also noted that the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program marks a pivotal milestone within the athlete development system, helping their shift from the talent development phase to the elite stage. The collaboration between both entities ensures that support and resources are directed towards athletes who showcase genuine potential to represent the UAE in global and Olympic forums.
Taryam said: “The program’s launch reiterates the commitment of our national sports sector to develop a new generation of talented athletes capable of representing the country with distinction. The move aligns with the vision and directives of our wise leadership to accelerate the sporting development journey and create future champions.”
She added: “At the ESUAE, we provide a comprehensive support system that covers technical, training, nutritional, and psychological aspects, in addition to planning for international competitions and Olympic preparation programs. We are also committed to selecting athletes based on precise criteria and scientific assessments, followed by designing individualized training pathways tailored to each athlete’s needs and aligned with global best practices.”
Also, she noted that athletes from the UAETSS Committee will also benefit from this system, as they represent the core foundation of the next generation of elite athletes.
The inclusion of three athletes in the first phase of the ‘Pathway for Sports Champion’ program comes as a culmination of a journey filled with achievements. Riyan Malhan, Hussein Shawqi, each delivered distinguished performances at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, where they succeeded in reaching the podium. Their achievements underscore the calibre of athletes from across the UAE and their ability to compete at a continental level.
The ’Pathway for Sports Champion’ program is one of the major national initiatives from the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support. Established in 2021, the Committee acts as a bridge between local sporting talents and the professional sporting world, through a comprehensive support system designed to exhibit the UAE’s potential and reinforce its reputation both regionally and globally.
The Committee’s key role is to discover, design and implement initiatives that improve the development pathways for sporting talents in the UAE. This can be attained through training programs, domestic and international camps, integrated technical and administrative support, competitive participation opportunities, as well as attracting investment and strengthening institutional partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the Committee’s talent development programs.
The Elite Sport UAE Committee is one of the national initiatives arising from the National Sports Strategy 2031. It is dedicated to offering comprehensive support to elite athletes and sports federations through intensive training programs and camps in preparation for international and Olympic qualifications, further contributing to the goal of increasing the number of UAE athletes who qualify for the Olympic Games.
