Building on the momentum and global success of the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025, Phygital International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Ministry of Sports and ASPIRE establishing a clear framework for cooperation to develop, promote, and institutionalize phygital sports within the UAE’s national sports ecosystem.
Signed on the sidelines of the Phygital Sports Summit in Abu Dhabi during GOTF 2025, the MoU sets out a long-term framework to build sustainable sport structures, grow talent pathways and support innovation across the phygital ecosystem.
The agreement builds on the successful delivery of the Games of the Future 2025 and reinforces the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for phygital and future sports, aligned with national sports policy, youth development and innovation priorities.
Key areas of collaboration will focus on:
- The organization of recurring international editions of the Games of the Future (GOTF) in the UAE, contributing to long-term legacy planning and athlete pathways.
- The hosting of an international sports summit focused on future sport governance and innovation.
- The development of a nationwide network of phygital centres for training and talent development, encompassing youth programs, referee development, community competitions, and ranking competitions.
The agreement also includes the establishment of HITS Hub (High Innovative Tech Sports), a national research, development, and innovation hub dedicated to phygital sports technologies. This hub will support intellectual property (IP) development, testing of emerging disciplines, and serve as an operational base for future events.
Under the MoU, Phygital International will contribute the Games of the Future intellectual property, technical standards, and discipline expertise, supporting global alignment, governance consistency, and competition integrity. ASPIRE will lead national coordination and strategic integration, while the UAE Ministry of Sports will ensure alignment with national policy, approved standards and athlete development pathways.
The agreement was signed by Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, alongside Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, and Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International.
Reflecting on the partnership, Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, commented: “This collaboration reflects our shared belief that the future of sport lies at the intersection of physical performance, digital innovation, and human potential. By working alongside ASPIRE and the UAE Ministry of Sport, we are strengthening a global phygital ecosystem that that advances innovation, nurtures emerging talent, and supports the sustainable growth of phygital sport worldwide.”
Together, the partnership marks another step forward in strengthening the foundations for sustainable phygital sport development in the UAE and beyond.
