Dubai Sports Council has announced the readiness of Dubai’s sports stadiums and sports halls, both government and private, to receive audiences and open their gates to fans whenever the relevant authorities make a decision on the matter.

The announcement comes following cooperation on the issue between Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Police, and all government and private sports clubs and halls in Dubai, numbering more than 100, and various local and international institutions to develop protocols that ensure the safety of spectators and everyone involved.

Dubai Sports Council has stressed that all sports facilities in Dubai were equipped, on par with the best global standards, to ensure their full readiness to organise local and international sporting competitions, and receive fans immediately, as per the decision of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management of Dubai.

The Dubai Sports Council has taken proactive measures, setting advance plans for the return of sports activity and preparing for the return of the fans in a safe and orderly manner.

They organised a forum last month to discuss the roadmap for the safe return of sports fans, in cooperation with the Dubai Police and with the participation of clubs and local and international sports institutions, at Al Maktoum Stadium in Al Nasr Club, during which successful experiences of the relevant authorities on this subject were reviewed.

International federations, who have opened their gates to fans, were also invited to the forum to share their experience and plans.

Field visits were also organised to the main football stadiums in sports clubs in the emirate of Dubai to determine the procedures established in the event of receiving fans and mechanisms for applying protocols for each sport and each facility, and to ensure their preparations and readiness through the application of all standards, where the clubs implemented all procedures according to the issued protocols related the relationship to ensure the health and safety of participants, the public and all members of society alike.

Dubai’s sports sector has seen a gradual return to normalcy in recent weeks, with Dubai Sports Council taking a staggered, safety-first approach in opening up the sports sector, before finally giving permission to the marine sport sector last month to organise competitions.

The opening of the sports sector has been welcomed by Dubai’s diverse community, and the Emirate’s sports centres, fitness clubs and academies have been bustling with activity since the reopening, with attendance numbers almost matching pre-COVID figures.

The council last month also organised a webinar in partnership with Spanish football league, LaLiga, titled “Football Clubs’ Strategy for Recovery Post COVID-19”, which attracted 169 participants and witnessed extensive discussions as the panellists shared their insights on the way forward for the football industry in the post COVID-19 world.

In a recent meeting of the council, the Board of Directors also reviewed plans and preparations for major international sporting events that are scheduled to be held in Dubai in the coming period, and also discussed requests and proposals made by several international sports federations to organise their events in Dubai, in co-operation Dubai Sports Council.

The meeting reviewed the performance report of the Council for the period May 15 to July 1, which included the measures taken by the Council for the return of sports activity in Dubai and the safety protocols it developed for the reopening of sports and fitness centres, and academies in the Emirate of Dubai.