Page 137 - 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
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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