Ministry warns sports federations against dealing with unlicensed companies

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed the boards of sports federations to comply strictly with their legal powers and stop issuing documents that could allow clubs, companies or other entities to operate sports-related activities without the required licences.

In an official circular sent to the chairmen of sports federation boards, the ministry said only its Office for Licensing Sports Services Companies has the legal authority to issue licences to sports services companies and businesses operating in sports investment.

The office’s role covers the licensing of companies working in both sports services and sports investment, in line with the laws and decisions governing those areas.

The ministry said the circular was issued as part of efforts to regulate sports investment and standardise the procedures governing sports activities and services. It added that the measures were intended to ensure the proper application of the law, protect the financial resources of sports organisations, and strengthen the principles of governance, transparency and the rule of law.

The warning follows the ministry’s recent identification of cases in which some sports federations issued certificates or other documents relating to the licensing of entities working in sports services.

According to the ministry, such documents could be interpreted as giving those entities permission to operate, despite the fact that licensing falls outside the legal powers of sports federations. The ministry described this as an overstepping of the authority assigned to federations under the law.

Federations have been told to review regularly the status of all entities and companies with which they deal. They must confirm that the relevant legal licences have been issued and remain valid before continuing any relationship with them.

The ministry also instructed federations not to deal with any company or entity that does not hold the required legal licence, or whose licence has expired.

The circular specifically prohibits sports federations from issuing licences, certificates, letters or any other documents that could approve, recognise or authorise the operation of an investment or sports services activity. The ban also covers documents that might be understood as granting an entity legal status to carry out such work.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports stressed that these responsibilities belong exclusively to the ministry, through its Office for Licensing Sports Services Companies.

Federations have been ordered to comply fully with the circular and implement its provisions from the date it was issued. They must also cancel or suspend any procedures or practices that conflict with its requirements.

The directive was issued on Saturday, 8 August 2026, and signed by Bassam Abu Bakr.