Page 14 - Ministry of Sports PR Report - October 2024

Press Release

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