Jawaher Al Qasimi announces the launch of the eighth edition of "Ladies Arab 2026"

Sharjah, February 3, 2020 – Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, announced the launch of the eighth edition of the “2026 Arab Women’s Club Games” on the stage of Al Majaz Theater in Sharjah in an opening that celebrated the spirit of the Arab meeting and “Arab Women” with the participation of 65 women’s sports teams from 16 Arab countries competing in 9 games during the period from 2 to Current February 12.

The opening ceremony began with a ceremony to raise the flags of the tournament, which embodied the values of joint Arab action and the spirit of heroism, with the participation of Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, Sheikha Dr. Hessa bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees for the women’s component, and Tamer Jumaa, representative of the League of Arab States and member of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports, where the flags of the tournament, the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, and the League of Arab States were raised, coinciding with the parade. Ceremony of raising the tournament flag in facilities approved for holding competitions.

The wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, welcomed the attendees and the players, and Her Highness said: We are pleased to have our meeting renewed in the eighth edition of the Arab Club Games for Women in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE, your second country that opens its arms to your sporting talents to celebrate your determination and achievements, and it is a pride to witness continued growth in the number of teams. The countries participating, copy after copy, reflect the growing confidence in this tournament and its lofty message, a growth that carries profound connotations. It confirms that sports are always able to bring hearts together, and Arab solidarity is embodied in its most eloquent forms in the fields of sports. Where people from different races and cities come together under one banner, sharing the same dream, and showing that honest competition does not divide, but rather strengthens the bonds between Arab peoples. Competitions and tournaments allow the exchange of experiences, the building of lasting friendships, and enhance the culture of cooperation and solidarity, so that stadiums become platforms for a meeting that consolidates Common Arab identity.

Her Highness added in her recommendations to the female players, where she said: You are ambassadors for your countries and cultures, so be role models in sportsmanship, respecting opponents, and consolidating a positive spirit, so that hearts come together before results, and bridges of brotherhood are built through sports, and to ensure that sports fields remain a space for convergence and understanding, not disagreement. May God protect you and I wish you all success. Her Highness concluded her speech by thanking the teams organizing the Arab Clubs Games for Women, including employees, collaborators, and volunteers led by Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, who made great efforts to achieve this Arab unity evident in women’s sports. Her Highness also thanked all the partners and sponsors, in addition to the people of Sharjah, the artist Hussein Al Jasmi, the artist Fayez Al Saeed, and Dr. Abdul Salam Al Hammadi, who gave the tournament a new voice that reflects the energy carried by its ambitions. Arab female athletes, so that Sharjah remains a destination for Arab affiliation.

Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi stressed that the Arab Women’s Club Games represent a message that says that women’s sports are a civilized choice, and that investing in their energy is an investment in a healthier, more confident, and more cohesive society. He pointed out that it is the fruit of a vision that believed from the beginning that the championship does not wait to be awarded, but rather built, and that the platform that befits Arab women must be professional in its management, fair in its standards, and inspiring in its impact.

He said: On behalf of the Supreme Organizing Committee, we extend our highest expressions of thanks and gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, who did not deal with women’s sports as a seasonal activity, but rather as an extended project that is made with persistence and commitment, grows through teamwork, and is established through partnerships and building paths.

His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi thanked all the committees, work teams and partners who made the “operational impossible” possible and made the details one language.

He also welcomed the guests of Sharjah and the participating delegations, saying: We welcome our guests from the delegations, clubs and athletes. Welcome to Sharjah, where the sports spirit is preserved, effort is honored, and talent rises to the place it deserves.

In her speech during the opening ceremony, Sheikha Dr. Hessa bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Federation of Arab National Olympic Committees for the women’s component, affirmed that the Arab Women’s Club Games have become an expression of a continuous Arab process of work and belief in the ability of sport to create transformation, and in the ability of Arab women to attend and achieve whenever they are provided with a supportive environment and a fair space.

She expressed her appreciation to the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE for their firm commitment to supporting Arab women’s sports. She also appreciated the role played by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Family and Community Council and President of the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, noting that her long-term vision gave the tournament cultural and developmental dimensions, and linked sports to its broader role in building people, enhancing values, and consolidating women’s presence as an active partner in society.

She pointed out that the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees’ support for this session stems from its deep belief in its mission and goals, and in the importance of unifying efforts and strengthening Arab coordination in a way that opens broader horizons for women’s sports for growth, development and sustainability.

The opening video of the tournament presented a visual approach that expresses its slogan, “Every heroine has a story to tell on the court,” through a rhythmic text that addresses female athletes as those with a dream, a choice, and a will, and showcases the diversity of participating games through questions that stimulate boldness, confidence, and decision-making, whether in individual or group games, to put the viewer before the stories of heroines who believe in themselves and carry their dreams to the fields of competition, in a message that confirms that every player has a space in which to tell her story in her own way.

Following the video presentation, the opening ceremony witnessed a special basketball segment, one of the most popular games of the tournament, which presented a dynamic scene that translates the spirit of the tournament and evokes the atmosphere of the competitions from the first moments, confirming that Sharjah will enter this Arab date with high momentum and a rhythm that reflects the energy of the participants and the enthusiasm of the awaited confrontations.

As part of the opening ceremony stations, the full version of the new audio identity for the eighth edition of “Ladies Arab 2026” entitled “Arab Ladies” was presented for the first time, after it was previously announced during the press conference, with the voice of the artist Hussein Al Jasmi, composed by Fayez Al Saeed, and the words of the poet Dr. Abdul Salam Al Hammadi, under the auspices of the Media Office of the Sharjah Family and Community Council and under the supervision of the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, the organizing body for the tournament.

The work came as an artistic initiative that expresses a collective commitment to supporting the tournament’s message and enhancing its cultural and media presence, and it coincides with the status of “Women’s Arab” as an Arab championship that goes beyond the limits of competition to establish a societal impact supportive of Arab women’s sports.

The ceremony witnessed a distinguished gesture from the Sharjah Academy of Police Sciences, where the academy’s female police students – days before their graduation – participated in carrying the flags of the participating Arab countries, and entered the Al Majaz Theater with them leading the representatives of the delegations, in a scene that reflects the integration of community institutions in supporting women’s sports and supporting “Ladies’ Arab 2026” as a comprehensive Arab platform.

The list of participating countries includes: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Tunisia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Iraq, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Lebanese Republic, the State of Libya, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.

After the completion of the entry of the participating delegations and teams, the female players took the oath of participation, which was delivered by the player Alia Nasser, captain of the volleyball team at the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club, and was repeated by the female players participating in the tournament, confirming that the competition begins from the spirit of integrity and respect. The referees also took the oath of fair arbitration, led by the international referee of Taekwondo, Maryam Al Zarouni, in commitment to the principles of integrity and neutrality, and respect for the laws, regulations and instructions regulating the competitions.

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi announced the official launch of the eighth edition of the “Arab Women’s Club Games 2026”, with the competitions starting from today, February 3, according to the announced tournament schedule.

The eighth edition’s competitions will be held in 10 sports facilities distributed over three cities in the Emirate of Sharjah, including: the Children’s Center in Al-Qarayen, the Sharjah Olympic Center for Women’s Sports, Al-Thiqa Club for the Disabled, Al-Dhaid Cultural Sports Club, the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club in Al-Qulaya, Al-Hamriya Cultural Sports Club, Al-Hamriya Beach, Khor Fakkan Club for the Disabled, the Children’s Center in Al-Raqqa, and Al-Bataeh Cultural Sports Club.

The tournament will witness competitions in nine individual and team sports, including: basketball, table tennis, volleyball, fencing, athletics, archery, bow and arrow, in addition to taekwondo and rowing, which will join the sports program of the tournament in this edition.

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