Launching Hafeet Sport Challenge amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere during Ramadan a community platform linking sports with innovation

1560 players and 9 tournaments in one night… Al Ain witnesses the launch of Hafeet Challenge

Launching Hafeet Sport Challenge amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere during Ramadan… a community platform linking sports with innovation

Khalaf Salem: Hafeet Sport Challenge represents an advanced model for community sports initiatives

Nine tournaments in one night …. Hafeet Sport Challenge makes the event

Hafeet Sport Challenge –  for publication | February 20, 2026

In a second and more dynamic and expansive edition, Hafeet Sport Challenge competitions will kick off this evening (Friday), with the participation of 1,560 players in football tournaments and 400 competitors in the Jiu-Jitsu tournament, in a sporting event reflecting the remarkable development that the Challenge witnesses since its first launch.

The opening ceremonies will be attended by His Excellency Rashed Musabbeh Al Manei, Director General of Al Ain City Municipality, His Excellency Salem bin Rashid bin Hadhiram Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, and a number of officials from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Al Ain Sports Club, in a launch confirming the event as a community sports platform that combines athletic competition with professional organization.

On the first day, the competitions are distributed across nine sports tournaments in various regions of the city, in a step reflecting a well-considered approach towards expanding the base of sports participation and enhancing community access. The Challenge includes various categories of football tournaments, the Jiu-Jitsu tournament with the participation of 400 competitors, as well as basketball, cricket, volleyball, Al-Tabaa and competitions for people with determination.

Statement of Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s representative

Khalaf Salem Al Wahidi, Director of Events & Partners at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, emphasized that Hafeet Sport Challenge represents an advanced model of community sports initiatives that combine sports competition with the promotion of human values, in a distinctive Ramadan atmosphere that reflects the spirit of participation and community interaction in Al Ain.

Al Wahidi added that the great diversity of tournaments distributed across various areas of Al Ain reflects a modern organizational vision aimed at expanding the base of sports participation and bringing sports closer to the community. He noted that the integrated efforts between the organizing bodies, foremost among them Al Ain City Municipality as the organizing body, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Al Ain Sports Club, contributed to delivering a distinguished organizational experience that reflects the highest standards of professionalism and institutional work.

He concluded his statement by emphasizing that Abu Dhabi Sports Council will continue its support to initiatives that promote community sports and support talent, contributing to creating a sustainable sports environment that serves various segments of society.

Numbers reflect the scale of participation and the event’s societal impact

16 teams and 320 players will participate in the Institutions Football Championship, while 32 teams and 640 players will participate in the Residential Neighborhoods Football Championship, in addition to 30 teams and 600 players in the Academies Championship, totaling 1,560 players in football competitions, as a clear indication of the expanded base of sports participation and the competitors’ aspiration to be crowned.

A media platform for exceptional stories

Hafeet Sport Challenge embodies an ideal platform to highlight community success stories, inspiring human experiences, and public interaction in a Ramadan environment combining sports competition and social values. This will enable media professionals to monitor diverse experiences that reflect the spirit of the event and its societal impact.