Planning
AEDs for Stadiums, Sports Clubs and Academies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman
By NeoPulse AED Team · Published
Prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources. Read our editorial policy.
Quick answer
Plan sports AEDs so that one can reach any collapsed athlete, official or spectator within about three minutes, on training days as well as match days. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Pro League licensing rules list a defibrillator in the medical room at club training facilities. AFC stadium rules for the region require a medical room and approved first aid facilities but do not name AEDs. We found no published rule that names AEDs for every sports club or academy in the UAE, Qatar or Oman, so confirm the requirement with your federation, league and venue owner.
What league and confederation rules say
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman are all members of the Asian Football Confederation. The AFC Stadium Regulations (Edition 2026) require at least one fully equipped medical room in the tunnel close to the field of play, first aid facilities approved by the competent local authorities, signage to first aid and emergency medical facilities, and a secure access route for ambulances. They do not name AEDs. The AFC Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2026) ask for medical rooms or direct access to first aid at training sites and an emergency plan in the match security plan.
The Saudi Pro League goes further. Its Club Licensing Regulations 2025-2026 list, under criterion I.05 for training facilities, at least one equipped medical room containing a defibrillator, together with a stretcher and other equipment. They also require a team doctor whose role includes emergency action plans for training, travel and match days.
Source: AFC Stadium Regulations, Edition 2026 (PDF); AFC Club Licensing Regulations, Edition 2026 (PDF); Saudi Pro League Club Licensing Regulations 2025-2026 (PDF)
Country notes
UAE: in Abu Dhabi, ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 4.0 says employers should consider an AED programme based on risk assessment or authority mandates, which covers clubs and venues as workplaces. In 2022 The National reported that Special Olympics UAE supplied AEDs to clubs for people of determination across the emirates, with coaches trained by National Ambulance.
Saudi Arabia: beyond the Pro League licensing rules, a 2022 review hosted on the Ministry of Health website recommends wider public-access AEDs and a national registry. It is a proposal, not a regulation.
Qatar and Oman: we did not find a published rule that names AEDs for every sports club, academy or stadium when this guide was written. AFC rules still apply to clubs and venues in AFC competitions. Ask your federation, league and venue owner which standard applies.
Source: ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 4.0, first aid and medical (PDF); The National: UAE sports clubs for people of determination supplied with defibrillators; Saudi MOH: Toward more AEDs in public places (PDF)
Plan from time, not from the number of pitches
A 2023 review in Clinical Cardiology recommends having an AED within three minutes of a collapsed athlete, placing AEDs with clear signage at sporting venues, and rehearsing the emergency action plan regularly. It cites survival of 74% when ventricular fibrillation was shocked within three minutes, against 49% after that.
A FIFA-linked survey in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that an AED was available at all official matches in 68% of national associations, and that 12 of 22 players treated with an AED on the pitch survived. The authors described the lack of AEDs on the field as a gap to close.
Source: Malik et al., Clinical Cardiology 2023: sudden cardiac arrest in athletes; Schmied et al., BJSM: cardiac events in football
Areas to cover
Walk each route with the medical lead and the venue manager and time how long it takes to bring an AED to each area.
- Pitch side and the team benches, with the AED carried by the medical team during play.
- The tunnel and medical room, which AFC rules place close to the field of play.
- Stands, concourses and hospitality areas, where spectators and officials can collapse.
- Training pitches, academy fields and indoor halls that are used when the stadium is closed.
- Car parks, fan zones and entrances, including the ambulance access route.
Sports venue AED worksheet
Use this with the club doctor, the venue manager and the safety officer. It is an original planning aid, not an authority form.
| Check | What to record | Question for the review |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | League licensing, AFC rules, venue owner, risk assessment. | Which document sets AED provision for this venue? |
| Response time | Measured minutes from each AED to each area on training and match days. | Can an AED reach every area within about three minutes? |
| People | Trained staff per session: coaches, physios, stewards, academy staff. | Who responds at an evening academy session with no doctor present? |
| Match day | Medical team roles, AED carried pitch side, spectator AEDs, ambulance meeting point. | Has the plan been rehearsed this season? |
| Children | Child mode or child pads where academies train under-8s. | Does the exact model support children, and are the pads stocked? |
| Checks | Status log, pad and battery expiry, heat exposure on outdoor pitches. | Who checks each AED, and who restocks it after use? |
What to ask an AED supplier
Ask for the exact model's operating and storage temperature range and dust and water rating, its voice-prompt languages, its child mode or pads, and its registration documents for your country. Outdoor pitches in the Gulf summer can exceed the storage limits of many devices, so plan shaded or air-conditioned cabinets.
NeoPulse can quote AEDs, cabinets, signage and staff training for stadiums, clubs and academies in the UAE and the wider GCC. Send your site plan, the number of pitches and halls, and your session times through the quote form.
Buyer questions
Do Saudi Pro League clubs need a defibrillator?
Yes. The Saudi Pro League Club Licensing Regulations 2025-2026 list at least one equipped medical room containing a defibrillator at club training facilities under criterion I.05.
Do AFC stadium rules require an AED?
The AFC Stadium Regulations (Edition 2026) require a fully equipped medical room near the field of play and approved first aid facilities, but they do not name AEDs. Many leagues and venues add their own AED requirement.
Are AEDs mandatory at sports academies in the UAE, Qatar or Oman?
We did not find a published rule naming AEDs for every academy in these countries. In Abu Dhabi, CoP 4.0 asks employers to consider an AED programme based on risk. Check your federation, league and venue owner requirements.
How many AEDs does a sports club need?
Enough to reach any collapsed person within about three minutes on both training and match days. Time the routes to every pitch, hall, stand and car park and add units where it takes too long.
Do you have a guide for gyms?
Yes. See our pages on AEDs for gyms in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and the swimming pool guide for clubs with pools.