United Arab Emirates Sports Federation For School And University Education Institutions And Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company Partner To Launch Inaugural Season Of UAE University Games

The UAE University Games marks a significant milestone in the progression of sports in the UAE. By nurturing and promoting young Emirati athletes, it plays a crucial role in meeting the objectives outlined in the National Sports Strategy 2031.

Noura Al Hammadi: We are proud to be leading this project alongside the SUSF and Ministry of Sports, which will contribute positively to developing student-athletes while also raising the profile of UAE institutions within the region and building new opportunities for community members.

• A total of 21 universities from across the emirates will be represented in first edition of UAE University Games,competing in six distinct tournaments over several months, aiming to identify talent and cultivate a robust sports culture.
• A total of 1,125 male and female athletes will participate in the three primary sports, including football, basketball and volleyball, under the guidance of more than 80 coaches, which is set to grow in the coming years.
• The inaugural season of theUAE University Games will run from November 2024 and concluding with a national championship matches in March 2025. The winning teams will be celebrated and awarded in April 2025.

UAE, 23 October 2024:Under the presence of H.E. Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the Minister of Sports, the United Arab Emirates Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions (UAESUSF) and Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC) signed an agreement to launch the inaugural season of the UAE University Games in the UAE, also Mr Nasser Ali Al Nabhani, Managing Director of Solutions+ – MUBADALA, has witnessed the signing ceremony.

The signing, during the ‘Future of Sports Retreat’ organised by the Ministry of Sports (MoS), marks a key milestone in the UAE’s sports sector. The project is set to become the premier competition for university sports and attract fans and future players from around the region.

The agreement, which comes as part of the ‘Future of Sports Retreat,’ indicates a pioneering initiative in the UAE. It will bring together diverse institutions of higher education from various parts of the country in a long-term sports competition. The key goal of this competition is to develop a platform for recognising distinctive athletic talents among UAE university students while instilling a sports culture. Furthermore, this initiative, which will be held every year, aligns with the country’s progressive vision to establish an exceptional university sports ecosystem that raises the UAE’s reputation regionally and internationally as a leading education and sports destination.

H.E. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Secretary General of UAESUSF, said: “The UAE University Games is an extension of school games, which highlights the vital role of educational institutions in promoting exceptional athletic talent in the UAE’s sports industry. These initiatives position schools and universities as the key training grounds for aspiring students to advance their athletic capabilities. The key goal of university games is to encourage a sports culture within universities that inspire future generations of athletes and provides them with worthwhile opportunities to participate in challenging competitions.”

H.E. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti added: “Additionally, the UAE University Games are committed to reinforcing the unity of Emirati communities by encouraging common interests and social interactions for attaining the goal outlined in the National Sports Strategy 2031. One of the goals is to raise community sports involvement to 75 per cent by 2031. These goals seamlessly complement the vision of our wise leadership to empower Emirati youth in driving sustainable development across all sectors, with a special focus on advancing the sports sector.”

He further noted: “The UAE UniversityGames signify a key milestone for the sports sector in the UAE, raising the country’s reputation on a global level as a pioneer in sports excellence. Moreover, these initiatives pave the way for identifying and nurturing sports talents with the potential to achieve major recognition on the global stage, in line with the national goal of having over 30 qualified athletes represent the UAE at the Olympics by 2031. The games also position UAE universities as premier sporting hubs for students across the GCC, further reinforcing the country’s leadership and prominence in the region’s sports landscape.”

Noura Al Hammadi, General Manager of ADEC stated: The UAE University Games ushers in a new era of sports for our nation. The first of its kind in the region, the championship is benchmarked against international best practices to ensure that our more than 1,100 student-athletes have the best possible opportunities to continue developing in their sport. The nation is building a strong legacy in this area, and the UAE University Games is an important addition to our sports culture that we are sure will inspire the entire community.

In the debut season, 21 universities from across the UAE will unite to compete in three key sports, including football, basketball and volleyball. The football category will feature 19 men’s teams and 9 women’s teams, showcasing strong participation, while volleyball will see 15 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams take to the court. Meanwhile, the basketball competitions will bring together 15 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams. With around 1,125 athletes participating, the event will be supported by a dedicated team of more than 80 coaches. Future iterations are slated to include an increasing number of teams and sports.

The six competitions are commencing with the regional university tournaments, where institutions are split into regional conferences for the initial stages, which is followed by a nationwide knockout stage that includes 8 teams from each sport contending for the championship title. The competitions will culminate with the final matches, which determine the champions of the six tournaments, along with an awards ceremony to celebrate the winners.

The UAE University Games are set to kick off with an opening ceremony at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City in November, where the competition draw for the inaugural matches will be announced. The first half of the season will run from November 2024 through the end of February 2025. Then in the second half of the season, the knockout and final matches are scheduled to be played in March 2025, and the season will conclude with an awards ceremony celebrating the winning teams in April 2025.

Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC)is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solutions+ in the Mubadala group. Established in 2010, ADEC is working to strengthen the regional sport and entertainment ecosystem by leveraging expertise, innovation and creativity. As part of the agreement,the company will be focusing on management and operations of the competitions of university games.