"Global tourism" The Emirates Villages Running Races are honored in the Community Impact category

ABU DHABI, 28 March / WAM / The Emirates Villages Running Series, organized by the Emirates Council for Balanced Development under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for Development Affairs and Families of Martyrs, President of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, received international honors from the World Tourism Organization in the category “Community Impact in Sports Tourism”.

The Emirates Council for Balanced Development received the shield of honor during a ceremony held in the Spanish capital, Madrid, in the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization, along with a group of senior international officials and experts, in appreciation of its role in developing and implementing qualitative initiatives that enhance the link between sports and balanced community and tourism development.

This international honor reflects the UAE’s growing role in developing innovative models that combine sports, tourism and community development, and consolidates its leading position in adopting sustainable initiatives that have a positive impact on society.

This honor represents a milestone in the journey of the “Emirates Running Villages” race series, especially since it was achieved during its first year of launch, which places the initiative among the internationally recognized programs in the field of sports tourism and community impact.

His Excellency Mohammed Al Kaabi, Secretary General of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, said that this honor reflects the vision of the wise leadership in enhancing integration between community development and vital sectors, especially sports and tourism, in a way that contributes to achieving balanced and sustainable development in various rural areas across the country.

He added that the Emirates Villages Running Series represents an innovative national model that enhances the quality of life and encourages the adoption of healthy and active lifestyles, in addition to supporting the local tourism movement in the villages, indicating that the Council continues to develop qualitative initiatives that contribute to empowering local communities and highlighting their tourism components.

The Emirates Villages Running Race Series highlights the Council’s efforts to enhance community participation and establish healthy lifestyles, in addition to supporting the development of tourism in villages throughout the country by organizing a national series of running races linking Emirates villages across the emirates of the country.

The Emirates Villages Running Series was held during the period from October to December 2025, and included organizing 7 races in 7 villages across 7 emirates, in which more than 5,000 participants from families, youth, women, senior citizens and people of determination participated. The percentage of citizens reached 62% of the total participants, in addition to the participation of more than 50 nationalities, reflecting the diversity of age and societal groups. The race distances varied between 1.5 km, 5 km and 10 km, to meet the different levels of participants.

The racing series is the first national initiative of its kind that connects villages in the emirates of the country through a unified sports platform, as it contributed to enhancing community participation and using sports as an effective tool to support community cohesion and improve the quality of life.

Each station in the series provided a distinctive experience in various destinations, including mountainous areas, beaches and heritage sites, which contributed to highlighting the Emirates’ villages as tourist destinations, in addition to integrating the sports experience with elements of local culture and agricultural and community experiences.

The Emirates Villages Running Series embodies a pioneering national model that combines sports, tourism and community development with the potential for expansion at the regional and global levels.

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