Dubai Sports Council has crowned the winners of the Arab Elite Football Academies Tournament after five days of youth football across the city.
The event brought together 1,230 players from 72 teams and 42 academies and the matches were played at Dubai Sports City and Dubai Sports World, giving teams an indoor summer setting before the new season.
Academies and clubs came from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Lebanon. They joined teams from Dubai and Abu Dhabi across age groups from Under-9 to Under-14.
The tournament included 225 matches. Organisers said the event gave young players more competitive minutes and helped coaches compare standards across different football programmes in the region.
Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, director of the Sports Talent Department at Dubai Sports Council, said the event gives youth teams useful match practice during the summer, when many academy programmes are preparing for the new season.
Mounir El Imam, director of Delta, said the number of teams taking part showed growing interest from regional academies and clubs. He said future editions aim to bring in more Arab teams.
Star Academy from the UAE won the Under-9 First Division title, while Al Fareej Academy, also from the UAE, won the Second Division.
In the Under-10 competition, Oman’s Al Seeb won the First Division. Kuwait’s SSC won the Second Division.
Kuwait’s Seventeen Four Academy took the Under-11 First Division title, with UAE side First Star Academy winning the Second Division.
Grand Sport Academy from Kuwait won the Under-12 First Division. Bahrain’s OLE FK won the Second Division.
Forza from the UAE won the Under-13 First Division, while Al Seeb added the Under-13 Second Division title to their Under-10 success.
Oman’s Al Jawhara won the Under-14 First Division. UAE side Al Qurum finished as Second Division champions.
