The fifth UAE School Games will get under way on October 20, with students from public and private schools across the country competing in 15 sports.
Wrestling and basketball have been added to the programme for the first time, joining football, athletics, archery, badminton, laser run, table tennis, obstacle course racing, chess, fencing, judo, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and swimming.
Qualifying events will start once registration has been completed.
“Schools and universities play a central role in identifying sporting talent.”
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports and president of the federation, said schools and universities have an important role in identifying young sporting talent.
He said the addition of wrestling and basketball will give students more opportunities to compete across individual and team sports.
The third UAE University Games will begin earlier, on October 5, with 195 teams representing 50 public and private higher education institutions.
Seven sports will be contested during the university season.
Football, basketball and volleyball make up the team competitions, while obstacle course racing, swimming, athletics and cycling will be staged as individual events.
The University Games finals are scheduled for April 2027.
Amna Al Saleh, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Curriculum and Assessment Sector at the Ministry of Education, said competitive sport can help students develop confidence, discipline and teamwork alongside their physical education.
The School Games are open to students from public and private schools across the UAE, with the first qualifiers beginning on October 20.
