Page 133 - MOS PR REPORT

Page 133 - MOS PR REPORT - OCT 2025

P. 133

10/7/25, 9:39 AM Ministry of Sports establishes UAE Obstacle Sports Federation under chairmanship of H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb
His Excellency added: “Moving forward, we will focus on strengthening cooperation with regional
federations and the The Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO). This is to foster
strategic partnerships and exchange expertise, supporting the UAE’s broader sports development
goals.”

Across the UAE, this sports category has seen remarkable growth, with 52 registered events held
nationwide last year. Recent statistics indicate that approximately 9,000 citizens and residents actively
practise this sport, which led to the decision of creating a national federation to oversee its development.

Notably, Dubai hosted the World Obstacle Championship in December 2024, organised by Dubai Police

at Dubai Police Officer’s Club and Dubai Design District (D3). The event garnered widespread public
interest, participation, and international acclaim due to its meticulous organisation and immense
competition.

Obstacle races feature natural or artificial barriers that athletes must overcome in the shortest possible
time. Competitions are held across male, female, and mixed categories, across individual, pairs, and

four-person race types. In addition, the sport is gaining widespread popularity across the Gulf and Arab
world, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Kuwait, and Bahrain establishing
national federations dedicated to its development.