Emirati swimming .. historical stations and a qualitative shift in the results of the promising people

Dubai, March 16/ WAM/ Swimming in the Emirates has witnessed a remarkable development over the past decades, during which it moved from a limited traditional activity to a competitive sport supported by development programs and strategic visions aimed at achieving regional and international achievements.
The beginnings of swimming in the Emirates dates back to early periods, as they formed part of daily life, especially in coastal areas, and with the establishment of the Emirates Swimming Federation in 1974, it began to take a more professional character with the development of laws and regulations regulating local and international competitions.
The Emirati swimming witnessed important stations that contributed to its development, including participating in the Arab and Gulf tournaments and achieving encouraging results at the Asian level.

Among the most prominent achievements is the coronation of the swimmer Youssef Al -Matroushi with medals in regional championships, in addition to his participation in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, as well as in the Paris 2024 Olympics, in which his colleague Maha Al -Shehhi also participated, which constituted an incentive for emerging generations.
The UAE has emerged as a major center to host and organize prestigious world championships in swimming, most notably the World Swimming Championship (25 meters) hosted by Abu Dhabi in 2021 with the participation of a group of international swimmers, and Dubai also hosted the World Cup Swimming Cup, along with the Asian Swimming Championship in the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Sports Complex.
The Dubai International Water Games Championship returns after an absence of 10 years, as Dubai hosts it from March 21 to April 21, 2025 in the Hamdan Sports Complex, in cooperation with the Emirates Swimming Federation, with the participation of more than 3000 athletes and sports from 40 countries.
Competitions include five water sports: diving, water ball, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and swimming.
The Emirates Swimming Federation, in cooperation with the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports, is working on implementing strategic plans to enhance the capabilities of emerging swimmers and expand the base of practitioners, through specialized academies and qualification programs for trainers, as well as cooperation with international unions to develop infrastructure, including the Olympic basins and modern facilities.
Abdullah Al -Wahaibi, Chairman of the Business Running Committee in the Emirates Swimming Federation, affirmed the Federation’s commitment to developing water games sports and enhancing the Emirati and international swimming position.
He explained that the federation is seeking to expand the water games base, by introducing new sports and attracting more athletes, in a way that contributes to the development of these sports and expanded the scope of their practice.
Al -Wahaibi pointed out that the federation intends to support academies and clubs that organize various championships, benefiting from sports facilities with international standards in the country, stressing the importance of hosting new Arab and international championships, to enhance the UAE’s position as a major destination for water events.
He stressed that these efforts represent a new stage in the Emirati swimming march, with the aim of restoring its distinguished position and enhancing its role as a major center for global swimming.
The Emirati swimming has regular local championships that include different age groups, such as the UAE Championships for Swimming and Club Championships, which provide promising swimmers an opportunity to gain experience and develop their skills.
For his part, Marwan Al -Hattawi, the UAE coach for swimming, stressed the importance of local championships in developing the level of swimmers and strengthening the base of talent, noting that the swimming federation is working to increase the number of these tournaments and expand their categories, to include various ages and levels.
“Local competitions provide a continuous competitive environment that contributes to refining the skills of promising swimmers and preparing them for international benefits. These tournaments also represent an opportunity to discover new talents from among clubs and academies, which enhances the team’s base with the distinguished.”
He added, “These efforts come within an integrated vision to develop Emirati swimming and raising the level of competitiveness, leading to achievements worthy of aspirations on the regional and international arenas.”

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