Page 136 - 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

Ministry of Sports establishes UAE Obstacle Sports Federation

under chairmanship of H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb

H.E. Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi: The establishment of the
Federation aligns with the UAE’s strategic vision to diversify
national sports, reaffirming our commitment to developing
organisational and technical frameworks to achieve the
Federation’s goals.
The first step to promoting obstacle sports, expanding
participation and identifying new talents is including it in the
upcoming editions of school and university games.

H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb: We aim to build an
integrated institutional ecosystem that promotes obstacle sports regionally while attracting international
championships to enhance the UAE’s reputation in this domain.

UAE, Monday, October 6, 2025: The Ministry of Sports established the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, the official
governing body responsible for organising and developing this sport. Its aim is to promote the sport within the UAE,
highlighting its competitive nature that combines physical fitness, endurance and mental skills, paving the way for
international recognition.

Obstacle sports such as OCR, Adventure, Ninja, Callisthenics, and Obstacle Racing are practised across over 77 countries
worldwide, including 30 Asian nations. There are four federations for this sport within the continent, all operating under the
umbrella of the International Obstacle Sports Federation, headquartered in Switzerland.

His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, extended his best wishes for the success of the
Federation’s Board of Directors, under the leadership of H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb. He further stated that the
Federation’s establishment marks a key milestone in strengthening the UAE’s sports sector, in line with the Ministry’s
efforts to diversify national sports, offer athletes new avenues for competition, and promote wider community participation
to foster a healthy and active society.

His Excellency also reaffirmed the Ministry of Sports’ commitment to supporting the Federation, so that it can foster an
advanced organisational and technical ecosystem that identifies, develops, and nurtures talent, while hosting international
championships to enhance the UAE’s pioneering stature in the global sports domain. H.E. Dr Al Falasi added that the initial
steps to promote this unique sports category are already underway, with its inclusion in upcoming editions of school and
university games. This underscores the importance of investing in a new generation of athletes capable of competing and
excelling in a wide range of sports.

H.E. Abdulrahman Abu Al Shawareb, President of the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, on behalf of the Federation’s
Board of Directors, extended his sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Sports and H.E. Dr Al Falasi, stating: “We are deeply
honoured by the trust placed in us to lead the Federation following its official establishment. We look forward to building a
comprehensive institutional framework that promotes obstacle sports across all segments of Emirati society, enhancing
their physical fitness and nurturing talents who can represent the UAE at international platforms.”

His Excellency also said that the Federation will work closely with the Ministry of Sports and relevant entities to organise
local, regional, and international tournaments in line with global standards, supported by the sport’s rapid growth.

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