The artificial intelligence revolution is starting to score big in the sports world by boosting player analytics and revenue generation for organisations, and providing a level playing field for app developers, analysts say.
Generative AI, in particular, is giving more incentives for sporting bodies to invest in next-generation technology, expected to help them broaden their reach in an industry that is rapidly evolving.
The ramifications of these investments are also felt in overall economic activity, Melih Murat, an associate research director at the International Data Corporation, told The National.
"A strong sports industry that is globally competitive will attract new business opportunities, such as hosting major sports events, which in turn will create new revenue opportunities not only for the sports industry, but also for the local businesses such as restaurants and hotels," Mr Murat said.
The AI in sport market is projected to grow significantly, hitting nearly $21 billion in 2029 from an estimated $5.93 billion in 2024, at a compound annual rate of almost 30 per cent, data from Mordor Intelligence shows.
"We will see a drive to secure early benefits from the production of AI hard and software," Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economy at the Skema Business School in Paris, told The National.
"This helps to create competitive advantage, which in turn leads to job creation, income generation, export earnings and tax revenues."
Driving returns
Several AI applications are already being used in the industry.
On the app of Germany's Bundesliga, AI-driven personalisation led to a 17 per cent rise in time spent and an average 23 per cent more sessions for each user, according to Giovanni Sisinna, director of programme management at ISA Digital Consulting in Rome.
"Engagement is a cognitive-behavioural process that requires sports to understand the interaction between motives, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours," Mr Chadwick said.
"In seeking to build engagement, sports are essentially attempting to get them and keep them; in other words, turning prospective consumers into lifelong fans.
"Lifelong fans are a source of sustainable income. Try totalling up the value of match tickets and merchandise that a typical fan buys."
In Formula One, Amazon Web Services uses 300 sensors on each F1 race car to generate more than 1.1 million data points a second transmitted from the cars to their pits, showing how they perform.
This, in turn, allows F1 teams to run aerodynamic simulations to develop their next-generation cars, that are up to 70 per cent faster, AWS said in a blog.
"The attractiveness of AI influencing how sports will be held and covered will likely lead to more athletes competing at a higher level," Jad Haddad, head of digital for India, the Middle East and Africa at consultancy Oliver Wyman, told The National.
"And increased fan engagement could boost sports financials and employment opportunities."
Jobs pitch
AI is also helping to create opportunities for employment and supporting developers who create apps that aid in boosting analytics, engagement and performance.
The fear of people losing their jobs to AI may be a bit overblown, as the technology is also creating new roles, especially within sports organisations, Mr Murat said.
"It is fair to say that AI will not take jobs away but create employment opportunities for new skills," he said.
"Sports organisations should certainly have transformation programmes in place to ensure that their employees are upskilled or reskilled to leverage these technologies most effectively."
For developers, the opportunity lies in alternative technologies that track statistics and analyse data, which are likely to be more cost-effective than traditional, expensive equipment.
Smartphones, in particular, are already being used in tennis matches for this purpose.
"It would be a lot more accurate and it would be like a tenth of the cost," Swupnil Sahai, co-founder and chief executive of SwingVision, told The National.
The California start-up uses Apple iPhones on tennis courts to track matches and relay the data it gathers to its app on iPhones and Apple Watches.
The National took part in a match that used an iPhone and iPad.
"If you look at the 10-camera system, in addition to those 10 cameras, they have a gigantic server underneath the court processing everything," Mr Sahai said.
He was referring to the Hawk-Eye computer vision technology used in sports such as tennis, football, rugby, volleyball and cricket to track the trajectory of balls.
SwingVision, backed by former US tennis star Andy Roddick, claims that the shot speeds it tracks are accurate to within 10 per cent and line-calling is 97 per cent accurate for close calls landing within 10cm of a line.
Hawk-Eye is accurate up to 5mm with a 2.2mm margin for error.
"Just think about how old that is compared to something like everything in one device that feels where [the ball is] going to go," Mr Sahai said.
The company plans to bring SwingVision to the Middle East, with Dubai as a possible first stop.
"It would be so much more affordable for tournaments and be fully automated," Mr Sahai said.
The sports industry is expected to continue adopting new AI technology.
But while there is an early adopter speculative boom in sports AI investments, the market is still young and developing, Mr Chadwick said.
"Sport will not be able to resist the onset of AI, as the speculative investment suggests, but the precise way in which sport will embrace and be shaped by AI remains to be seen."
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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West Indies v India - Third ODI
India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)
India won by 93 runs
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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ELIO
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Engine: Duel electric motors
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