Category: Athletic

DUBAI, A new interactive #DubaiDestinations guide issued by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), invites residents and visitors to explore the wide range of sports and fitness activities that Dubai offers in the cooler months.

The ‘Outdoor Sports Destinations Guide’ lists diverse outdoor locations, sports centres and public fitness facilities that people in Dubai can take advantage of to stay active and fit in the winter.

The guide includes a comprehensive list of cycling tracks and walking and running trails that have been created across the emirate as part of the leadership’s vision to make Dubai the world’s most active city. Aligned with the objective of transforming Dubai into one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world, the last few years have seen the expansion of the emirate’s cycling track network with several new pathways added.

Key tracks listed include the 50km sand bike track in Mushrif National Park, the Al Khawaneej Walking and Cycling Track, the Hatta Mountain Bike Trail, the Dubai Water Canal Walk, and the Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park, apart from a host of cycling and jogging pathways located in parks, beaches, waterfronts and neighbourhoods across Dubai.

The guide also lists clubs, stadiums and academies offering a wide assortment of outdoor sporting activities including football, basketball and badminton. The new guide features dedicated sections for padel tennis, tennis, volleyball, golf and equestrian sports.

Fatma Al Mulla, City Branding Executive, Brand Dubai, said, “The ‘Outdoor Sports Destination Guide’, issued as part of the latest #DubaiDestinations winter campaign, highlights the range of facilities that make Dubai a leading sporting destination and one of the most active cities in the world. The guide is an extensive compilation of outdoor sporting activities that can push your physical boundaries. Whether you want to go on a leisurely jaunt in a park, get an adrenaline rush with a challenging bike ride amidst scenic mountains or get your heart pumping with a tennis game, the Guide can help find the best places to engage in your favourite sporting activities.”

“Dubai offers an endless range of options for playing recreational sports. The city’s exceptional sporting infrastructure and extensive facilities have helped kindle a passion for sports and fitness among the community. The facilities listed in the guide provide some of the world’s best venues for people to play the games they love,” she added.

The new guide is part of the latest #DubaiDestinations winter campaign, which highlights the attractions and experiences that make the emirate a top pick among global destinations this season. The collaborative campaign, implemented by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the GDMO, highlights various activities and experiences that people can enjoy in the beautiful winter weather. Weaving together compelling content from diverse stakeholders and creatives, the campaign tells the story of Dubai’s emergence as one of the world’s best winter destinations.

Running until February 2023, the latest campaign of the #DubaiDestinations initiative encourages residents and visitors to discover Dubai’s diverse leisure, dining, adventure and family-friendly activities that make the city a distinctive winter destination.

The #DubaiDestinations campaign is being rolled out over digital, broadcast, print and outdoor media to ensure it reaches large sections of local and international audiences. Brand Dubai is implementing the #DubaiDestinations campaign in cooperation with various stakeholders and the creative media community. The interactive guide, available in English and Arabic, can be viewed on the following link:

https://dubaidestinations.ae/guides/4/3.pdf

More content, videos and guides related to the campaign can be found on www.dubaidestinations.ae.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The year 2022 was distinguished as the year of sport in the UAE and the entire world, as it witnessed the full return of the public and fans to enjoy watching sports competitions at the stadiums and pitches.

In Dubai, 2022 was marked as the year of attracting more local and international events and championships, which have attained remarkable development in terms of names of participants, various sports and huge numbers of fans.

The photos of the participation of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, in the Dubai Fitness Challenge at Sheikh Zayed Road in the heart of Dubai, accompanied by more than 193,000 participants, has presented an excellent model on the status of Dubai and its continuous development to attain several unprecedented records regarding the increase of the level of awareness with the importance of sport and the numbers of participants.

A report, prepared by Dubai Sports Council through an international house of expertise, has unveiled that the contribution of sport to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Dubai has attained an annual increase of more than AED9 billion with a contribution rate of 2.3% of Dubai’s GDP.

The sports sector provides 105 job opportunities as a result of the development of sports tourism.

The year 2022 has witnessed a significant increase in the number of various annual sports events, comprised of more than 103 international events and championships, top of which are: the World Padel Championship; Dubai World Golf Championship; the World Tennis League; two tours of the world beach volleyball championship; the 11th Emirates Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup; Dubai Super Cup; AC Milan of Italy and Lyon of France.

The year of 2022 witnessed an increase in the number of registered companies specialised in the field of organising sports events and training camps, i.e. increase to 700 companies.

The number of various sports academies has increased to 400 academies, while the number of gym centres and specialised physical fitness centres increased to 400 each. The number of clubs in Dubai raised to 100 clubs.

Increase of International Training Camps

The year 2022 witnessed a significant increase in the number of training camps held in Dubai throughout the year by clubs, national teams and Olympic and sports champions.

In this regard, the Emirate hosted more than 120 international training camps held at Hamdan Sports Complex, Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex and the stadiums and pitches of many Dubai clubs and resorts, which are all well-equipped as per top international standards.

Sports Championships and Tourism

During 2022, Dubai witnessed an increase in the number of athletes and fans who arrived in Dubai from all over the world. In this respect, various championships and events were held with the participation of more than 31,000 athletes, and in the presence of 713,000 spectators and fans of multi-nationalities, most of them arrived from overseas. One hundred sixty-five local events were held with the participation of 1.77 million persons from 200 nationalities and in the presence of 220,000 fans, representing an important addition to the sports tourism sector.

The Emirate of Dubai witnessed the organisation of 12 sports conferences and exhibitions, top of which are the 17th Dubai International Sports Conference and the Globe Soccer Award, which were held in the presence of top world football stars.

Fifty-eight women’s events were organised, with a percentage of more than one event per week. Respective bodies organised 31 e-sports competitions, considering that e-sport is witnessing remarkable development and distinguished participation of world athletes and corporates from overseas.

Sports Events at Dubai’s Landmarks

Dubai Sports Council was keen to organise 62 various sports events and rounds of international championships for professional and amateur athletes during 2022 at the eminent tourist landmarks of Dubai, among which are: Al Marmoom Reserve, Jumeirah and Hatta.

Continuous Development for the Work’s Rules and Regulations

During 2022, Dubai Sports Council continued its efforts to develop relevant rules and regulations. In this regard, the 2nd version of “Hamdan Bin Mohammed Order of Merit for Sports Education Schools” has been launched, while an update was made for the 9th version of the Sports Excellence Model 2020/2023 to honour clubs and football companies which attain excellence and achievements.

Dubai Sports Council has also continued its qualifying programmes for technical and administrative staff working in Dubai. The Annual Forum for Dubai Clubs’ Coaches was organised with the participation of over 100 coaches from the different football categories.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and the Emirates Hockey Federation have discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation to develop hockey sport in the UAE.

The discussions were held during a meeting convened at DSC’s premises in the presence of Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of DSC; Naser Aman Al-Rahma, Assistant Secretary-General of DSC; Abdulla Al-Dah, President of the Emirates Hockey Federation; Khalid Murad, Secretary-General of the Emirates Hockey Federation, along with a number of other officials.

Hareb confirmed DSC’s keenness to boost collaboration with sports corporations and national federations to develop sports in the UAE, based on the wise leadership’s vision to support and patronise the sector.

He stated, “The UAE enjoys distinguished abilities and well-based infrastructure which can be invested distinctively to create champions. We have qualified local staff to manage and develop the sports sector.”

The meeting dealt with ways of cooperation to popularise the culture of hockey sport in the UAE and to form a national team, which can represent the State in the sports fields. The meeting also discussed the possibilities of organising international hockey championships at Hamdan Sports Complex in collaboration with DSC.

After the meeting, Hareb accompanied the Federation’s delegation on tour around DSC’s premises and presented a detailed explanation on “Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Award”. He briefed the delegation about the work process in DSC’s various departments, Innovation Lab, Press Conferences’ Centre and other sections of the Council.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Former Iranian football star Ali Daei said his wife and daughter were prevented from leaving Iran after their plane made an unannounced stop Monday on its way to Dubai.

Daei said his family was questioned by authorities after the flight from Tehran landed on Iran’s Kish island.

The state-run IRAN news agency cited Iran’s judiciary saying Daei’s wife had been banned from traveling abroad and that she was associated with anti-government groups and protesters.

Daei is a former captain of Iran’s national team. He has urged the government on social media to “solve the problems of the Iranian people rather than using repression, violence and arrests.”

“Did they want to arrest a terrorist? My wife and daughter were going to Dubai for a few days trip and back,” he told the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, or ISNA.

Daei’s passport was confiscated in October before being returned to him days later. And earlier this month, authorities shut down a jewelry shop and restaurant he owned in Tehran.

Source: Voice of America

DUBAI, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park and member of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), today inaugurated the Hubb Tennis – an international standard tennis hub offering world-class facilities at its hi-tech park to coincide with the World Tennis League, being held in Dubai from 19th to 24th December, 2022.

Eighteen of the leading men’s and women’s tennis players taking part in the World Tennis League in Dubai are currently training at the Hubb Tennis facility – the official off-site practice hub for the international players. Players training at the facility include, Elena Rybakina, Anett Kontaveit, Iga Swiatek, Bianca Anderscu, Sorana Cireta, Holger Rune, Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Krygios, Alexander Zverev, and Dominic Thiem.

Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Director-General of DSO, along with Igor Postovit, Founder and CEO Hubb Tennis, inaugurated the new 100,000 square feet facility in the presence of Naser Yousef Al-Marzouqi, Secretary-General of the UAE Tennis Federation, and senior official from DSO and Hubb Tennis.

Built in two phases, the first phase of the Hubb Tennis, which is now open, includes 9 ITF tennis courts made with 9 layers acrylic-coated hard courts, 3 padel courts, tennis pro-shop, offices, massage facilities, Protein Sports Café, players’ lounge, Scandinavian Rehab Physio Centre, and a warm-up gymnasium.

The second phase of Hubb Tennis includes 18 tennis courts, 10 padel courts, with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, five pieces professional tatami mats, judo, wrestling and grappling facilities, gymnasium and rehabilitation centre, and boxing facilities with two professional rings, mixed martial arts with Octagon cages, Muay Thai training centres, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacy, laundry, sports café, rehabilitation centres and sauna, and auditorium to watch matches.

Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi said, “The opening of the Hubb Tennis is a valuable addition to Dubai Silicon Oasis community, that has successfully become one of the most preferred destinations in the UAE to live, work, study and play. We are also thrilled to see Hubb Tennis hosting some of the leading names in the men’s and women’s tennis circuit globally for training at the facility.”

Dr. Al Matrooshi added, “This opening is a testament to the continuously evolving community at DSO that keeps on attracting projects and investors from across industries. We welcome Hubb Tennis at DSO, which we are confident it will further position Dubai and the UAE as a global hub for leading sports events and an added value to DSO and neighboring communities.”

Postovit said, “The inauguration of Hubb Tennis in Dubai Silicon Oasis is a landmark milestone in our growth plans in the UAE and region. We are also proud to be chosen as the official off-site practice facility for the World Tennis League in Dubai, at the time of this launch, and to be helping world’s leading players to train at our unrivalled courts.”

He added, “We also aim to host international and local tournaments at the new complex, as well as support athletes of all ages and levels in developing their skills and performance. We will also seek to train and nurture emerging talent in the UAE”

Once fully ready, Hubb Tennis will host a wide array of tournaments, including the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors U18, ITF Seniors Tennis Tour, ITF 15K/25K for men and women, ITF West Asia tournaments, Junior Davis Cup, GCC Tournaments, Junior Fed Cup, and Arab Championships under the umbrella of the UAE Tennis Federation.

Hubb Tennis is equipped with the highest quality professional lighting (MUSCO), which is used around the world at leading facilities including at Flushing Meadows, the venue of the US Open, at Wimbledon, as well as at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, the venue of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and at Zayed Sports City Abu Dhabi.

Hubb Tennis will also strongly focus on creating educational opportunities for children and adults. As part of this priority, it will comprise tailored tennis schools for tournament officials, schools for tennis coaches, scholarship programs, and schools for ball-kids – each of these certified by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a cable of congratulations to the Emir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the success of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, also dispatched similar cable of congratulations to the Emir of Qatar.

Source: Emirates News Agency