Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan…
The City of Al Ain celebrates the conclusion of “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026” and coronate 1225 champion
On today’s evening and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, the events of “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026” has been concluded. The Challenge witnessed the organization of diverse 43 sports tournaments, spanning the period between 2 to 19 of the holy month of Ramadan, with the participation of more than 14 thousand athletes of both genders, who represent 53 nationalities of different age categories, in an event that established its position as the largest social and sports activity in Al Ain Region.
The Challenges’ competitions took place in different parts of the City of Al Ain, where tournaments were held on 65 venues across the city, while Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium hosted the final match of both football tournaments, institutions and residential neighborhoods tournaments, so the total number of venues that hosted the competitions increased into 66 venues, in a spread that reflects the expansion of the participation base and the social momentum that accompanied the event.
The closing ceremony witnessed the attendance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, His Excellency Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, who is the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, as well as His Excellency Dr. Matar Al Darmaki, who is the Representative of the Ruler’s Representative Court in Al Ain Region, His Excellency Dr. Saif Sultan Al Nasri, who is the Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), His Excellency Rashed Musabbeh Al Manei, who is the Director General of Al Ain City Municipality, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Rakkad Al Ameri, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Cancer Society, Salem Rashid bin Hudhairam Al Ketbi, who is the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, Rashid Abdullah, who is the CEO of Al Ain Club investment company and the manager of “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026”, in addition to a number of officials, sponsors, partners, and media personalities.
During the ceremony all champions who won the 43 titles in different individual and group competitions were crowned, in the ceremony that took place on the stage of Al Ain City Municipality, amid huge fan turnout and distinguished Ramadan vibes. The sponsors, partners and the supporting entities were honored, as well as the honoring of media institutions that contributed in broadcasting the tournament’s events and to promote its media presence.
1225 winner champions in different championships at “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026” took the stage to take commemorative pictures with the ceremony’s sponsor, in a scenery that created a ceremonial picture that embodied the spirit of sports competition and social interaction, which are the tournament’s defining characteristics all along its days of competition.
The ceremony included ceremonial segments which were brilliantly presented, in both Arabic and English, by Khalifa Al Sa’adi, who is a member at the higher organizing committee and the chairman of Hafeet Sport Challenge’s media committee, alongside the anchor Fatimah Taha. In addition to visual performances that reviewed the most prominent moment of the competitions, which took place during the current version of the Challenge, in a way that invokes the most prominent milestones that reflected the huge volume of social participation and interaction all along the days of the event.
Salem Rashid bin Hudhairam Al Ketbi, who is the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, appreciated the supreme patronage and the huge support from His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, he also emphasized that this support represented the fundamental pillar for the notable success that had been achieved during the second version of “Hafeet Sport Challenge”. He also praised the exerted effort by partners, in the forefront Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Al Ain Sports Club, in addition to the supporting entities, sponsors, and media outlets.
He also emphasized that the huge participation and the diversity of events that the Challenge has witnessed, reflect the valuable position of social sports it occupies in promoting social cohesion and establishing the positive values among society’s members, especially in coincidence with “the year of the family” in the United Arab Emirates, which highlights the importance of initiatives that bring together family members in healthy and sports activities that boost the quality of life and social cohesion.
He also pointed out that the successes achieved in the Challenge reflect the sought after ambition to keep developing “Hafeet Sport Challenge” and to establish its sustainability in the upcoming version, in accordance with the wise leadership’s vision in supporting social sports. At the same time, he praised the vital role of media outlets in highlighting the event and broadcasting its social message.
The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates, then it concluded with taking memorial group pictures that brought together the honored people and the supporting entities, in a scenery that embodies the spirit of social partnership on which the initiative of “Hafeet Sport Challenge” was based.
In his turn, Abdullah Rashid Abdullah, who is the manager of “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026”, expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he also emphasized that the supreme patronage of His Highness represents a source of pride and appreciation to all people involved in the event, it also represents an encouragement to keep developing and establishing its presence as a leading social sports platform.
He also explained that the current version of the Challenge reflects the huge development that has been witnessed in the event, he also pointed out that the tournament organized 43 sports tournaments and 8 competitions, with the participation of 20 thousand players of both genders representing 53 different nationalities in 251 teams, while competitions had been hosted on 66 venues across the City of Al Ain, among them there are 17 venues affiliated with Al Ain City Municipality.
He added that the Challenge also witnessed a notable growth in its economy, that is represented in an increase of 100% in the value of sponsorships and the total number of awards in comparison with the past year.
The tournament’s digital platform also accomplished a notable success, where the official website recorded more than 1.7 million technical operation and more than 80 thousand daily visits, to follow up the results in less than three weeks.
He also emphasized that these indicators reflect the Challenge’s success in realizing a huge sports and social momentum, as well as establishing its position as one of the most prominent social and sports initiatives, which bring together different segments of the society in Ramadan atmospheres that promote the culture of social activity and interaction in the City of Al Ain.
About 250 volunteers from the Ainawi work team also contributed in organizing the events of “Hafeet Sport Challenge 2026”, by supporting the organizational and logistic aspects of the competitions, in an experience that the spirit of volunteer work and highlighting the positive impact of social sports in promoting physical activity and social cohesion.
With these aspects “Hafeet Sport Challenge” continues to establish its presence as one of the largest social and sports initiatives in the United Arab Emirates, with growing ambition to expand its range and to promote its sports and social impact in the upcoming versions.
