Mohammed bin Rashid witnesses part of the Abu Dhabi 2026 Masters Games competitions

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, today attended part of the “Abu Dhabi 2026 Masters Games” competitions at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), as part of the first edition hosted by the Middle East region, whose competitions will continue until February 15th.
His Highness toured a number of event sites within the centre, and was briefed on the progress of the competitions, and the sporting and cultural diversity witnessed by the tournament, which reflects the spirit of “Sports for All” and embodies Abu Dhabi’s position as a destination capable of integrating sports with society and quality of life in an integrated experience.
His Highness praised the organizational level of the event, and the high global image it embodies of the UAE in hosting major events, stressing that sport is a comprehensive platform that enhances the values ​​of convergence between peoples, consolidates the concepts of quality of life and a healthy lifestyle, and opens the horizons of participation for different groups and ages.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “We were pleased with what we saw today at the Abu Dhabi 2026 Masters Games in terms of global organization and inspiring sportsmanship that brought together thousands of athletes of different nationalities on the soil of the Emirates. Such events confirm our country’s ability to host the largest international events, and reinforce our message that sport is a way of life, a bridge for human communication, and a platform for enhancing community cohesion and quality of life, and opening the way for everyone to participate and achieve.”
During the tour, His Highness was accompanied by Mohammed Al Junaibi, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026, and Arif Al Awani, Managing Director of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026.
The Abu Dhabi Masters Open 2026 is considered one of the largest multi-sport community sporting events in the region, with the participation of more than 25,000 male and female athletes, representing more than 92 nationalities, competing in a program that includes 38 games, including 6 heritage games, and 13 sports for people of determination, for the first time in the Middle East.
The organizing committee for the global event expected more than 500,000 spectators to attend, while the competitions will be held across a wide range of facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, including 18 indoor facilities and 20 world-class outdoor facilities, with the support of more than 7,200 male and female volunteers.
Games include: archery, athletics, basketball, cricket, cycling, football, golf, ice hockey, judo, jiu-jitsu, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and beach wrestling, in addition to many other traditional sports such as taba, camel racing, sailing, diving, endurance racing, and falconry.
The event is supported by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), an international non-profit body recognized by the International Olympic Committee, reflecting the institutional weight of the tournament and its connection to the “Sports for All” philosophy and encouraging active lifestyles.
The Abu Dhabi 2026 Masters Open Games kicked off yesterday with a public opening ceremony at Zayed Sports City Stadium, which included artistic and musical performances amidst a large audience.
The competitions will continue until February 15, amid a diverse sports program that includes Olympic and popular games, in addition to the inclusion of traditional sports in a way that reflects the specificity of the local cultural environment and its convergence with global sports, and in a way that supports the goals of quality of life and enhancing community participation in sports activity.