Page 24 - MOS PR REPORT FEBRUARY 2026

Press Release

Khalifa Alfalasi Claims Impressive Second Place at OIDC
Round 2 in Muscat

Muscat, Oman, 4 February 2026- Young Emirati drift sensation Khalifa Alfalasi, one of the
most prominent talents to have joined the programs of the UAE Committee for Talent and

Sports Support (UAETSS), continued his remarkable 2026 season with an outstanding 2nd
place finish in the MENA and North Africa category at Round 2 of the Oman International
Drift Championship (OIDC) 2026, held at Muscat Arena.

Building on his strong momentum from Round 1, where he secured third place, Khalifa
delivered another composed and confident performance against a highly competitive field of
more than 63 professional international drivers. The round featured some of the biggest names
in global drifting, including 2025 Drift Masters Champion Conor Shanahan, Formula Drift star
and Japanese drifting legend Daigo Saito, alongside many elite competitors from around the

world.

H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sports
Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports, and Chairman of the
UAETSS, expressed his pride and happiness with the outstanding result achieved by Khalifa
Alfalasi, affirming that this achievement reflects the scale of the systematic efforts undertaken
by UAETSS to identify and develop promising sports talents, and to provide a supportive
environment that enables them to compete across various regional and international arenas.

His Excellency commended the pivotal role played by Alfalasi’s family in nurturing Khalifa’s
talent from its early stages and their commitment to providing the necessary family and moral
support to develop his athletic capabilities. He emphasized that the family represents the

primary partner in building champions, noting that the athlete’s achievement reflects a
comprehensive national model aligned with the objectives of the Year of the Family 2026.

Also, Sheikh Suhail added: “Khalifa Alfalasi is a distinguished example of ambitious Emirati
talent, demonstrating a high level of commitment, discipline, and professionalism despite his
young age. We will continue our efforts to support such talented athletes and empower them
technically and morally, contributing to the preparation of a generation capable of raising the
flag of the UAE high and strengthening its presence in all sports at regional and international

levels.”