Ski Dubai will host its first FIS-accredited international ski competitions in association with Dubai Sports Council and UAE Winter Sports Federation this week.

 

The UAE was ratified as an Associate Member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) at the International Ski Congress earlier this year following a five-year campaign spearheaded by Majid Al Futtaim and Ski Dubai in collaboration with the UAE Winter Sports Federation.

 

From November 17-20, Ski Dubai will host four FIS-accredited events including the UAE FIS National Alpine Championships and the Para Alpine Asia Cup events. The competitions will see more than 40 skiers from 20 countries compete including Winter Olympic athletes. 

 

Flying the flag for the UAE are Hassan Al Fardan, Abdulla Khafin Albalooshi, Hamda Alsuweidi and Theyab Almuhairi, who will be the first Emirati snow sports athletes to compete at an international competition when they take to the slopes of Ski Dubai.

 

Details about the event were revealed at Monday’s press conference in Dubai Sports Council, in the presence of Majid Al Usaimi, President of Asian Paralympic Committee, Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the Emirates Winter Sports Federation, Khalid Al Awar, Director of Dubai Sports Council's Sports Events Department, and Mohammad El Etri, Vice President, Global Snow, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas.

 

Al Awar said: "As we celebrate the Year of the 50th as well as the hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai, it is a pleasure for us to mark the occasion by hosting the first FIS-accredited competitions in Dubai. These will be first of many, and we are excited as we embark on this new journey alongside our partners from Ski Dubai and the UAE Winter Sports Federation.

 

“Hosting these tournaments here will be a huge boost to our efforts to promote winter sports. These tournaments will also reaffirm Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination for top international events.”

 

Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas Vice President-Global Snow Mohammad El Etri said: “Ski Dubai is proud to partner with Dubai Sports Council and UAE Winter Sports Federation to host FIS-accredited competitions for the first time. This is the culmination of a five-year campaign to become a member of the International Ski Federation, which underscores our commitment to nurture young talent and foster a winter sports culture.”

 

As well as the FIS-accredited events and Para Alpine Asia Cup, Ski Dubai will also host the UAE National Ski and Snowboard Championships, which sponsored athletes from both Ski Dubai and Ski Egypt have qualified for.-TradeArabia News Service