The Dubai Sports Council has unveiled the Club Accelerators Programme, a new initiative designed to transform the emirate's government and private sports clubs and boost their contribution to GDP.
The announcement came during a press conference at Emirates Towers' Creative Hall, where Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, addressed sports stars, club leaders and football executives. The event also saw cooperation agreements signed with Dubai's four government owned clubs, Al Wasl, Al Nasr, Shabab Al Ahli and Hatta, along with ten private clubs including Dubai City, Golf United and Royal.
The programme forms part of the Clubs pillar within the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033 and aims to strengthen institutional and professional standards across clubs while improving their ability to attract investment and develop local talent.
Belhoul said the initiative reflects months of coordinated planning between the council and club stakeholders. He noted that updated legislation and improved facilities would support the sector's broader economic role, pointing to recent successes such as Dubai Basketball Club's growth in marketing and fan engagement as evidence of momentum already building.
The programme's first phase targets the four government clubs competing in the UAE Pro League, measuring performance across five pillars including football development, administrative and commercial growth, community engagement and governance. Clubs meeting these benchmarks will receive additional support.
Private clubs across the Pro League and lower divisions will also gain access to tailored technical and operational plans rather than a fixed performance framework, giving them flexibility to address individual challenges.
Belhoul said the coming period would bring closer collaboration among stakeholders, describing the programme as the start of a new phase in Dubai's sporting and administrative development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
