With the participation of ‎Alfhood Sport Academy‎, Oman

Al Ain Football Private Academy organizes a sports festival on the occasion of the 53rd National Day

As part of the Club’s celebratory programs on the occasion ofthe 53rd National Day, Al Ain Football Private Academy organized a distinctive national sports festival last Friday, in the headquarters of Al Ain Club, Zakher, with the participation of ‎Alfhood Sport Academy, Oman.

The festival comprised a series of events, including friendly matches between the teams of the two academies, shows of Omani folk arts, in addition to recreational activities for children, such as face painting and coloring. Moreover, the event witnessed the exchange of commemorative shields between representatives of the two clubs, in a friendly atmosphere that embodied the depth of sports and cultural relations between the two countries.

The festival was attended by a number of officials from Al Ain Club and Alfhood Sports Academy, in addition to the players’ parents who expressed their happiness to participate in this event that combined sports and culture in a distinctive celebratory and national framework.

With the participation of ten thousand persons of all different ages

Al Ain Club inaugurates their ceremonial programs commemorating the 53rd United Arab Emirates National Day at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium

On today’s morning and with the emotions of pride and honor towards a lofty, precious, and generous nation, Al Ain Club inaugurated their ceremonial programs on the occasion of the 53rd United Arab Emirates National Day at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. These ceremonial events took place among an exceptional atmosphere full of the spirit of patriotism and affiliation, in a scene that reflects love for the nation and bolsters its position in all our hearts.

The ceremonial events of Al Ain Club witnessed the participation of a number of managers of government and private entities and institutions, in addition to an elite of “The Boss” stars. The total number of attendees has reached up to ten thousand persons of different ages, men and women, representing 25 government and private entities within Al Ain. The events included some distinguished and diverse programs that casted a light upon the national heritage and emphasized upon the values of unity and solidarity laid down by the founding fathers.

The ceremonial events of Al Ain Club arescheduled to continue up until December 2nd, where it will include more activities and programs that reflect the aspirations of the Emirati people and their festivities over the accomplishments of the nation within different fields.

Through this event, Al Ain Club renews their commitment to bolstering the spirit of nationalism, as well as representing the authentic Emirati values that form the basis for nation’s unity and power.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Al Ain Book Festival 2024 kicks off on the wings of culture and heritage

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the Al Ain Book Festival 2024kicks off its activities at Al Ain Square – Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, where it is set to take place, along with various other heritage, cultural, and tourist locations across the city, from 17 to 23 November under the theme ‘All Eyes on Al Ain’.

This year’s festival presents more than 200 events and activities, bringing together a distinguished group of pioneers in culture, art, and poetry from various creative fields. The event aims to promote a culture of reading and encourage members of the community, especially youth and young adults, to engage with Emirati cultural heritage and appreciate its rich legacy.

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said:“The patronage of the Al Ain Book Festival by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, underscores the success of the festival and consolidatesits position as a prominent cultural destination that promotesknowledge, embraces culture, contributes to the publication of books, and celebrates icons of culture, science, knowledge, and arts.”

“With its distinguished vision,” H.E. continued, “the festival has supported the Centre’s strategic efforts to promote the presence of the Arabic language as a key component of cultural identity, in line with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s vision to create ageneration of avid readers with strong ties to their language and culture and to the Emirati heritage and authentic values.”

“The festival promotes Al Ain’s position as a cultural and intellectual hub, highlighting its deep connections to culture, books, and education, while being home to some of the UAE’s oldest and most prominent universities,” H.E. bin Tamim added. “Furthermore, the event supports Al Ain’s presence as the Capital for Gulf Tourism 2025 by promoting its leading cultural and heritage sites that were selected to host the Al Ain Book Festival’s cultural and recreational activities, inspired by the UAE’s rich heritage.”

The exhibition allows visitors to explore notable publications across all cultural fields, with 200 exhibitors showcasing 100,000 scientific and intellectual titles. The ALC invites the public to visit the festival, which has become a unique movement in harmony with Abu Dhabi’s cultural and intellectual achievements. Visitors can enjoy events at six main venues: Al Ain Square – Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Jahili Fort, and the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), in addition to the ‘Khazanat Al Kutub’ activities in three malls across Al Ain. This, in turn, reflects the Centre’s vision and strategic objectives to create a knowledge-based society and foster a community-wide cultural movement.

Preserving folk poetry and heritage

The ‘Poetry Nights: The Sung Poetry’ programme, one of the festival’s key initiatives, highlights the UAE’s pioneering experience in preserving folk poetic heritage. It features three segments: ‘The Missing Yet Present’, which commemorates notable poets who enriched the poetry scene and passed away in 2024; ‘Beginnings and Development’, which discusses the role of the media, government initiatives, and private efforts in documenting and preserving poetry; and ‘Poets Majlis’, which recreates the atmosphere of poetry gatherings that were broadcast on television stations in the 1980s.

In its current edition, the festival celebrates through “Poetry Nights” the legacy of the late Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and his notable support for literature and poetry and his keenness to promote culture among generations.

The Zayed Central Library will host a ceremony to honour the winners of this year’s third edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award.

Diverse cultural and artistic programmes

The Al Ain Book Festival offers a variety of cultural and artistic programmes that cater to all family members, including a range of seminars and discussions on topics like sustainability, fostering a culture of innovation, youth empowerment, and child development.

The UAE University will host sessions from the Cultural Programme, covering topics like novels, children’s literature, and cinema. The programme also provides a space for new initiatives to support young Emirati talents, including the ‘Creative Walks’ initiative, which highlights writers, illustrators, and photographers, hosting talented young Emiratis in workshops across Al Ain’s cultural sites, as well as the ‘DawahiAl Ain’ initiative, another activity on the festival’s agenda designed to empower young talents.

As part of the festival events, the winners of the Al Ain City Photography Competition, organised in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University, in addition to celebratingWorld Children’s Day and the National Day of Oman at the Library.

The festival’s agenda also includes a range of activities focused on children and youth culture, featuring art, environment, and heritage workshops that will contribute to their growth and enable them to develop new skills. The event will also host impressive young talents, such as Mahra Al Naqbi, the UAE’s youngest beekeeper.

The Al Ain Book Festival will collaborate with Ajyal Al Mustaqbal library at the Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Future Generation Society to host the Mobile Smart Library, which specialises in children’s literature, to provide specialreading services.

The festival will also feature a special pavilion titled ‘Words of the Founding Father,’ featuring the words of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace, in an innovative display designed by artist Salim Al Kaabi.

Elsewhere, the agenda features live performances by talented artists, along with roaming performances throughout the festivalvenues and the concert ‘In the Presence of Melodies’ by the Arab Choir that will take audiences on an artistic journey thatcelebrates heritage and creativity. The group will perform a collection of timeless poems by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and a selection of Arabic songs.

Al-Ain volleyball first team qualifies to the semi-final round of the UAE Cup on last Saturday’s evening, this qualification comes after they have successfully managed to defeat Al-Jazeera with the score of three rounds for Al-Ain to two rounds for Al-Jazeera. Al-Ain with its purple outfit has successfully managed to knock out the champion of Pro League tournament from the competition race to claim the tournament’s trophy and managed to qualify to the semi-final round of the tournament to meet Al-Wasl on next Wednesday the 8th of May.

Mohammed Saif Al-Nouaimi, the member of Al-Ain sports affairs company committee and the supervisor over Al-Ain volleyball team, praised the team’s very well performance vs Al-Jazeera, asserting that perseverance, determination and the spirit of one team are the secret that lies behind our success all over this match, this match that took us to the semi-final round of the tournament.

Al-Nouaimi asserted that concentration on the next stage is a must, and we have to be prepared very well to take it on, especially that we will face Al-Wasl, this team that performed very well this season and competed to claim the title of most of this season’s tournaments, we also have to prepare very well in order to be able to reach the final stage of the tournament.

Al-Nouaimi, the supervisor over Al-Ain volleyball team, said: “We did not perform very well all over this season, we also did not see the expected performance out of Al-Zaeem volleyball first team, this team that has been standing away from coronation podiums for a very long time. We aspire through this tournament to return to the path of claiming trophies, return to our normal position in the United Arab Emirates volleyball, and claim the title of more tournaments.”

Al-Ain hand ball first team have successfully managed to qualify to the final stages of the local hand ball league, which includes the leading four places on the standings table, after claiming victory over Al-Nasr and Al-Jazeera’s defeat. With this result Al-Ain occupies the 3rd place on the standings table. Al-Ain hand ball first team will face at the final stages Shabab Al-Ahli in the first and second leg matches, while the winner at this round will face the team who achieves victory at the match that will bring together Sharjah and Mleiha at the conclusion of the local hand ball league for this season.

From his side Mr. Youssef Al-Amiri, the member of Al-Ain club sports affair company committee and the supervisor of the club’s handball, praised the team’s performance during this season despite some obstacles that stood in their way, starting from players’ injuries that excluded some important team members from playing list and were the main reason that lies behind losing many matches and the associated points at most tournaments, but the team have successfully managed to quickly return to the victories path and claiming what is required from them, in addition to climbing the ladder to the final stages to face Shabab Al-Ahli in the first and second leg matches, in order to reach the final match of the local league tournament and claim its trophy, and this is a righteous goal to seek for all clubs.

Al-Amiri laid complaints over some wrong decisions that have been taken in the team’s regard during the team’s previous match vs Shabab Al-Ahli, these decisions that deprived the team of claiming many goals, gave the rival team the advantage over Al-Ain, and was the reason behind losing 3 points. We are always supporting refereeing and respect their decisions, but these decisions have caused the match to divert into other directions that are difficult to control, and this is the reason that made us unhappy with those decisions and expressed our extreme dissatisfaction, we also hope that hand ball confederation to take into consideration the big matches and hire the right person for that important match during the final stages of the tournament.

Youssef Al-Amiri pointed out that the team is ready to take on Shabab Al-Ahli on next Friday at Dubai, while the 2nd leg match is scheduled to take place on next Tuesday. We are looking forwards to perform very well in a way that is up to the reputation of Al-Zaeem hand ball team, this team that have managed to claim many titles during the past years. We are striving to perform very well and stand out in a distinctive manner during this edition of the hand ball tournament, then return to the coronation podiums during this season or during the next seasons, especially that our start at this season was not very well, this start that we are working to improve at the local league and at the president’s cup.

Rashid Abdulla: We are proud that “The Boss” is the first and only club in the country in “The World Game”

Al Ain Club Investment Company announced the renewal of its partnership contract with EA SPORTS FC, making “The Boss”, under the new contract, the only club in the country that has an official presence for the fifth year in a row in the world’s game, as an extension of the contract concluded between the club and the company. 

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of Al Ain Club Investment Company, expressed his happiness, pride and pride in the continuation of the partnership with EA SPORTS FC, praising at the same time the development and high technology adopted by the company in the most widely used and widespread game in the world, which includes EA SPORTS FC™ 24. It is one of the most important football competitions, its clubs and its stars, stressing that the game provides more than 19,000 players around the world whose data is updated on a regular basis, which is an interesting matter and enhances the football culture of its users all over the world.

He continued: The Board of Directors of Al Ain Club Investment Company, headed by His Excellency Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Darei, was keen to renew the partnership with EA SPORTS FC™ in conjunction with the launch of the World’s Game and the new version of EA SPORTS FC™ 24 will be officially released on September 29, 2023, especially since the Al Ain team appeared in the new version in its official kits and “Al-Zaeem” will be present in the game – for the fifth year in a row – with all the team’s stars, and he will also be present in the coming years in the largest game in the world, which contributes to serving the goals. The strategy for Al Ain Club Investment Company and also works to positively promote the Al Ain Club brand on global platforms.

Based on Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club’s keenness to promote community initiatives and support the city’s community, Al Ain participates in “Souq Sabie” events, set on Saturday of every week from November 25, 2023 until May 25, 2024 in the Masaken area ofAl Ain city, by offering various prizes, including valuable AINAWI gifts, as well as purchase vouchers and AINAWI cards, at Al Ainstore in Souq Sabie. Al Ain’s “volunteer” work team also registered its attendance at the event.

Souq Sabie is one of the initiatives of Al Ain City Municipality that aims to create a new tourist destination in Al Ain City to be a natural outlet for the city’s residents and visitors, promote the optimal exploitation of nature, achieve ROI for small projects, by providing designated places for local merchants to sell their various products of food, agricultural materials, and handicrafts, in addition to various events.

Al Ain City Municipality organizes the Souq Sabie Championship for “Youlah”, based on the inspired cultural heritage as well as encouraging young people to practice it. The tournament is held for the first time in “Souq Sabie”. It consists of several criteria set by the committee. This unique tournament is considered an authentic art of the United Arab Emirates folklore.

In collaboration with Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club organized a sports day for people of determination that included a friendly volleyball match, integrating Al Ain’s volleyball team with people with disabilities. Additionally, there were other games in the event provided for the attendees at the main hall attached to Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium yesterday evening (Monday).

The event was attended by His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Dhaheri, head of the Steering Committee of Al Ain Sports Club Company, and His Excellency Abdullah Al Kamali, Executive Director of the organization’s People of Determination Sector.

After the match, the Al Ain team for people of determination was honored with commemorative gifts and Al Ain Club shield. A group photo was taken with all the participants of the event.

His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Dhaheri, head of the Steering Committee of Al Ain Sports Club Company, welcomed Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination. Through this event, he emphasized the support of the wise leadership of the United Arab Emirates for people of determination, their involvement in all sports activities, the provision of all necessary resources to fully integrate them into society and enable their positive participation, ensure their integration in their social surrounding, and empower their positive participation in developing their future and the future of their country.

He expressed his sincere gratitude to Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination for responding to the invitation and participating in this event, which embodies the importance of the role of clubs in providing and utilizing all their facilities for people of determination, stating that, “We were delighted with this match that was an experience through which we tried to shed more light on our target of removing any obstacles and barriers that may hinder the release of the hidden potential of these talented individuals.”

On his part, His Excellency Abdullah Al Kamali, Executive Director of the organization’s People of Determination Secto, praised the concept of organizing the event and the sports match between the Organization’s members and Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club’s first volleyball team. He considered it a model for empowering and integrating the Organization’s students and bringing joy to them. He also commended the fruitful cooperation between the Organization and Al Ain Club, which continues to benefit people of determination.

He emphasized that sports represent an important aspect in the lives of these individuals and an effective educational tool with guaranteed results within the Organization’s efforts to empower and integrate them into society. He pointed out that the partnership between the two parties extends to various events and collaborative initiatives. The Organization previously produced sports scarves for the Club made by its members and launched a sports encouragement initiative supported by the Club, in addition to organizing joint sports events between the two parties.

His Excellency Al Kamali pointed out that Al Ain Sports Club is an ideal model of sports institutions in supporting and empowering people of determination as part of their social responsibility and care for these groups. It represents a great sports castle at the national level, contributing to enriching national teams with outstanding resources that elevate the name of the UAE in all arenas.

Mohammed Bin Thaloub congratulates Sheikh Mansour for Man City historic Champions League triumph

Directed to Prepare an Independent Budget for Development Projects and The AFC Championship League

Stressed The Importance of Preparing for The New Season and Working Hard to Achieve the Fans’ Aspirations 

Reviewed The Club’s Financial Reports of the Al Ain Club and Its Subsidiaries and Stress Adherence to the Financial Policy

Revised The Strategic and Operational Work Development Project and Improvement Plans 

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Affairs of Al Ain Football Club Company, chaired the fourth Executive Committee meeting for the year 2023. The meeting was held today in Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium.

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan opened the meeting by conveying the sincerest greetings of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, First Vice President of Al Ain Club, First Vice President of the Honorary Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, to all members of the Executive Committee and Al Ain Club.

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan also expressed his sincerest appreciation to the Club’s President for the confidence in all those selected and appointed to run the affairs of the football and sports companies. He welcomed the new members and wished everyone the best of luck and success in serving the Al Ain Club and its companies.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee also expressed his most profound appreciation to the former members of the boards of the two companies for the dedicated efforts they exerted during their mandate to serve the best interests of the Al Ain Club.

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan was briefed on the strategic and operational development project, and the improvement plans the houses of expertise supervising the project presented. He directed exploiting improvement opportunities starting from the new sports season while considering the partners’ observations within a week of providing remarks and comments to officers in charge of the projects. 

The Chairman of the meeting was briefed on the performance report for the last season. He directed the presiding officers of the Al Ain Club companies to exert more effort to achieve the planned goals approved by the Club’s presidency.

The Executive Committee also reviewed the financial reports for the last season and the rate of profits and losses compared to the approved budgets, except for specific increases. He urged the departments to compensate for the deficit by increasing the revenues.

During the meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the financial budgets submitted by the Al Ain Club and its subsidiaries. The Chairman stressed the significance of adherence to the Club’s monetary policy with the need for reconciliation between revenues and expenditures. He also directed to prepare an independent and exclusive budget for the development projects and expenses of the AFC Championships League to be presented to the Club’s presidency.

H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the Al Ain Club’s commitment to strategic plans and institutional values and to keep pace with the signs of development to achieve the highest indicators of success in the Al Ain Club and its companies.

At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Executive Committee instructed them to prepare for the new sports season and work hard to achieve the aspirations of the Al Ain fans considering the continuous and practical support they showed to all teams in various games.

The meeting was attended by Hamad Nakhairat Al Ameri, Managing Director of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club and its subsidiaries, Mohammed Abdullah Ahmad Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Steering Committee of Al Ain Sports GamesCompany, Dr. Matar Al Darmaki, member of the Steering Committee of Al Ain Football Club Company, Khamis Obaid Al Kaabi, member of the Steering Committee of Al Ain Sports Games Company, and Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of Al Ain Club Investment Company.