Page 135 - MOS PR REPORT - OCT 2025

10/7/25, 9:39 AM Ministry of Sports establishes UAE Obstacle Sports Federation under chairmanship of H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb
growth.

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.

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