Dubai: The Emirates Journalists Association hosted the Second Arab Sports Tourism Forum, titled “New Horizons for Investment and Integration,” at its headquarters in Dubai. Organised by the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism, the forum brought together prominent leaders, experts, media professionals and specialists from the tourism, travel, sports and media sectors.

The event was attended by Kamel Abu Ali, President of the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism; Dr. Sultan Al Yahyai, Secretary-General of the Federation; Mustafa Abdel Moneim, CEO of the Federation; H.E. Fadheela Al Muaini, Chairperson of the Emirates Journalists Association; Dr. Khaled Al Nabulsi, Chairman of Ultimate Power Group; and Omar Al Ali, CEO of Nirvana Travel and Tourism, along with a number of journalists, industry experts and professionals interested in sports tourism.

During the opening session, speakers highlighted the growing importance of sports tourism as one of the promising sectors of the global tourism industry. They noted its potential to generate investment and economic opportunities, attract visitors, promote tourism destinations and strengthen integration between the tourism, sports and media sectors.

Kamel Abu Ali said the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism is working to establish a platform that brings together decision-makers, investors, experts and media professionals to help transform sports tourism into a more organised and influential sector supporting Arab economies and tourism.

He noted that choosing Dubai to host the forum reflects the emirate’s position as a leading global destination for major events, international sporting competitions and innovative tourism experiences.

Mustafa Abdel Moneim explained that the establishment of the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism was driven by the need to strengthen Arab cooperation in a sector that brings together sports, tourism, investment and media. He said the coming phase would focus on initiatives and programmes aimed at promoting Arab destinations through sporting events.

Dr. Sultan Al Yahyai stressed the importance of achieving genuine integration among institutions, federations, the private sector and media organisations to support the growth of sports tourism across the Arab world. He also highlighted the need to enhance the ability of Arab destinations to host and benefit from major international sporting events.

H.E. Fadheela Al Muaini underlined the significance of hosting the forum at the Emirates Journalists Association, emphasising that the media is a key partner in promoting tourism and sports opportunities, highlighting successful experiences and supporting efforts to develop the sports tourism industry across the region.

Dr. Khaled Al Nabulsi highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure and services linked to sports tourism, describing the sector as a promising opportunity for investors.

Omar Al Ali pointed out that the travel and tourism industry is among the major beneficiaries of the growth of sports tourism. Major sporting events generate increased demand for travel, accommodation, transportation and other tourism-related services. He also praised the Federation’s efforts to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders.

The forum also featured a panel discussion moderated by Bahraini media professional Mona Al Mutawa, with the participation of Hussein Al Manaei, Vice President of the Gulf Tourism Media Association; Dr. Ahmed Noor, President of the Arab Media Professionals Union and the Arab Union of Creatives; writer, journalist and sports expert Daoud Al Shezawi; Anwar Al Hasawi, Editor-in-Chief of Photo magazine; and Mohamed Saber, Director of City Seasons Hotels Group.

The interactive session examined several key issues related to the future of sports tourism, the role of media in promoting the sector, the importance of visual content and specialised journalism, and the contribution of hotels and the hospitality industry to sporting events. Participants also discussed investment opportunities and ways to strengthen integration between different sectors.

Each speaker was given an opportunity to present his or her vision and professional experience before Mona Al Mutawa led an interactive discussion featuring specialised questions tailored to the participants’ respective fields. The discussion also explored how their areas of expertise could contribute to the future development of sports tourism.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants presented a series of recommendations focusing on strengthening Arab cooperation in sports tourism, encouraging investment in the sector, enhancing the role of specialised media in promoting destinations and sporting events, and developing partnerships among tourism, sports, media and hospitality organisations.

The Arab Federation for Sports Tourism reaffirmed that the forum forms part of its efforts to place sports tourism firmly on the map of promising tourism and investment sectors in the Arab world, while strengthening cooperation among institutions and the private sector and creating a more integrated and globally competitive Arab sports tourism industry.