From Strategy to Success: Key Takeaways from the UAE Pro League Workshop 2025
The UAE Pro League Workshop gathered local strategic leaders and Analysts in Dubai for an exclusive two-day session on the future of performance workflows.
The football landscape in the Middle East is rapidly evolving, demanding a sophisticated, integrated approach to performance analysis and strategic decision-making. That commitment to continuous advancement was on full display at the UAE Pro League Workshop hosted in Dubai.
Hudl, in partnership with the UAE Pro League, proudly co-hosted an exclusive, two-day workshop at the Al-Maktoum Stadium. This event brought together the strategic leaders and top performance analysts from across the league for an intensive deep dive into the future of professional football workflows.
The core mission was clear: to move beyond tactical talk and demonstrate how an integrated technology ecosystem can directly bridge the gap between high-level club strategy.
This includes defining Game Models, the implementation of Data-Driven Recruitment, and the practical, daily execution delivered by club analysis departments.
Day 1: Aligning Club Strategy – The Directors' Focus
The first day was dedicated to the Sporting Directors and Heads of Performance, focusing on the strategic investment required to build a modern, high-performance club.
The sessions immediately cut to the heart of the matter: defining club identity and ensuring the analysis department is equipped to execute it.
Session Highlights: Strategy & Identity
- A Modern Approach to Game Model & Team Identity: The day kicked off with a powerful presentation by Manuel Cordeiro from Shabab Al Ahli Dubai SC. Cordeiro shared invaluable insights on how a club can codify its playing philosophy (Game Model) and how this must become the single source of truth that guides every department, from the first team down to the academy.
- The High Performance Ecosystem: What Your Analysts Should Deliver: Hudl experts led a crucial discussion on establishing clear expectations for the analysis department. This session focused on shifting the analyst's role from reactive clip-cutting to proactive, strategic problem-solving that directly informs coaching and player development.
- Strategic Investment: Recruitment in a Data-Driven World: The afternoon tackled the massive challenge of player acquisition. This discussion highlighted how the integration of video analysis, scouting data, and advanced data products is no longer optional - it's essential for smart, efficient strategic investment in the transfer market.
The takeaway from Day 1 was a unified call to action: Strategy must inform workflow, and a club’s technology partner must facilitate that alignment.
Day 2: Empowering Local Analysts with Practical, High-Performance Workflows
With the strategic framework established, Day 2 shifted focus to the practitioners: the UAE Pro League Club Analysts. The agenda was built on practical application, demonstrating the powerful, unified workflows within the Hudl Pro Suite across scouting, video, and data analysis.
A key highlight of the day was the collaboration with local experts, showcasing how top UAE Pro League clubs are currently leveraging Hudl tools to gain a competitive edge.
By featuring real-world applications from clubs like Al-Nasr SC, Al Wasl, Al Wahda, and Al Ain, the workshop provided concrete, proven blueprints for maximizing efficiency and impact within the analyst’s daily routine.
