Abu Dhabi Sports Council Gets New Licensing Powers for Sports Sector

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has issued a resolution expanding the regulatory mandate of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC). Under the new mandate, ADSC will be responsible for regulating and licensing sporting establishments and entities across the emirate, in coordination with the relevant government authorities.

The change strengthens ADSC’s role beyond sports development, events and participation by giving the Council a more direct regulatory function within Abu Dhabi’s sports sector.

The new mandate also gives ADSC responsibility for granting professional accreditation to sports professionals and issuing licences allowing them to practise at sporting establishments and entities in Abu Dhabi. This means the regulatory framework will address both sides of the market:

• the establishments and entities providing sporting activities or services; and

• the professionals working within those establishments.

The practical licensing requirements, professional categories, qualification standards, fees and implementation procedures have not yet been detailed in the Executive Council announcement.

The Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Sports Council is responsible for issuing the regulations governing:

• licensing of sporting establishments;

• licensing of sporting entities;

• professional accreditation of sports professionals; and

• licences allowing sports professionals to practise in Abu Dhabi.

Those regulations will be subject to the approval of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Businesses should therefore distinguish between the new regulatory mandate, which has now been formally established, and the detailed operational rules, which are still to be issued.

The Executive Council said the expanded mandate is intended to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s regulatory and professional framework for sport, improve service quality and increase the efficiency of the sector’s workforce.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council already has an established role in developing the emirate’s sports ecosystem and works with a wide range of sports clubs, federations and sporting organisations. The new resolution therefore introduces a more formal licensing and professional-accreditation layer into that wider ecosystem.

NUR Advisory Note

Businesses operating in Abu Dhabi’s sports and fitness sector should monitor the implementing regulations closely. The changes may be relevant to businesses including:

• sports academies;

• fitness and training establishments;

• specialist sports centres;

• sports clubs and entities;

• coaching and training businesses; and

• companies employing or contracting sports professionals.

Existing commercial licensing should not automatically be assumed to satisfy the forthcoming ADSC requirements. Depending on the final regulations, a business may need both its normal economic licence and separate sector-specific approval from Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

Sports professionals may also need to demonstrate recognised qualifications or professional credentials before obtaining ADSC accreditation and permission to practise.

Businesses planning to establish a sports-related activity in Abu Dhabi should therefore assess sector approval requirements alongside the commercial licence, rather than treating licensing as a single-step company-formation process.