The Anti-Doping in Sport Forum will convene under the theme Protecting Sports Protecting the Community as Dubai’s busy sporting calendar for the season gets underway with numerous competitions and events that draw growing numbers of athletes. Organised by Dubai Police in partnership with the UAE National Anti-Doping Agency and the Dubai Sports Council the gathering seeks to reinforce a culture of fair and responsible participation while highlighting the health legal and ethical risks associated with prohibited substances. According to the Emirates News Agency the initiative specifically targets young athletes by providing them with reliable information to support informed decision-making in their careers.
Engineers Abdullah Ahmad Al Shehhi the Secretary General of the UAE National Anti-Doping Agency joined Dubai Police representatives including Brigadier Dr Jassim Mohammad Hassan Abdullah and Lieutenant Colonel Salem bin Ghalaita Al Muhairi at the announcement held at the Dubai Police Officers Club. Ali Omar Al Balooshi the Director of the Sports Development Department at the Dubai Sports Council also attended the event where details of the forum were outlined. A WAM report indicated that the collaboration among these entities underscores coordinated efforts across law enforcement health and sports governance in the emirate.
The one-day programme on 17 September will draw experts specialists officials and researchers from both the UAE and international organisations along with representatives from sporting health security and academic institutions. Discussions are scheduled to cover recent developments in anti-doping strategies prevention and awareness campaigns athlete safeguards emerging substances and detection methods as well as the roles of institutions and opportunities for cross-border cooperation. The Emirates News Agency reported that these topics reflect ongoing priorities in maintaining integrity across competitive events.
The UAE National Anti-Doping Agency has maintained an active role in global efforts having participated in the adoption of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code at the WADA conference in South Korea last December according to agency statements. Earlier in 2025 the UAE hosted the 20th Asia and Oceania Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Doping in Sport in Dubai where government support for the code and WADA’s strategic plan were emphasised. UAE NADA data highlights the agency’s focus on education intelligence gathering and testing at events across the country to align with international standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
World Anti-Doping Agency figures show that more than 300 sanctions resulted from the investigation into the Moscow laboratory with weightlifting and athletics accounting for the majority of cases across 22 sports. Separate WADA statistics from 2025 recorded over 4 200 therapeutic use exemptions processed globally while national anti-doping bodies reported thousands of testing decisions. In the UAE context such global benchmarks have informed the National Anti-Doping Agency’s programmes that extend to amateur clubs and youth development to curb violations before they occur.
The forum arrives amid the UAE’s continued alignment with UNESCO’s international convention against doping which the country signed alongside the Copenhagen Declaration to support worldwide eradication efforts. A review of UAE sports law published by Chambers and Partners notes that the National Anti-Doping Agency operates under Federal Law No 4 of 2023 coordinating with the Ministry of Sports and federations on compliance and awareness. Officials at the press conference positioned the September event as a timely platform to share best practices ahead of major upcoming competitions in the region.
