DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Arab Elite Football Academies Tournament, organized by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in collaboration with operational partner Delta, has successfully concluded. The premier youth tournament witnessed extensive participation from academies and sports clubs across the Arab world, delivering high technical standards and a fierce competitive spirit while reinforcing Dubai’s status as a leading regional hub for sports talent development.
Broad Regional Participation
Hosted across venues in Dubai Sports City and Dubai Sports World at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the tournament featured 1,230 players representing 72 teams from 42 academies. Competitors traveled from the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Lebanese Republic, joining elite academies and youth squads from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Competing in age categories ranging from Under-9 to Under-14, the teams played 225 matches over five action-packed days characterized by positive sportsmanship and intense rivalries. The tournament highlighted the advanced technical level of grassroots football in the region, providing an ideal platform to scout promising talent. It also aligned with the organizers’ goals to support the development of youth football and cement Dubai’s position as a premier destination for regional age-group championships.
Strategic Vision and Talent Acquisition
Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of the Sports Talent Department at the Dubai Sports Council, emphasized the tournament’s promising trajectory as a staple summer sporting event in the region. He noted that the competition serves as an ideal preparatory platform for youth teams ahead of the new sports season, playing a pivotal role in discovering emerging football talent.
Al Mahri stated that the event directly contributes to increasing the number of competitive matches players experience annually while fostering knowledge exchange among diverse football schools. He linked these outcomes to the strategic objectives of the Dubai Sports Strategy 2033, which aims to attract and develop sports talent and groom future champions in accordance with the highest international standards, thereby establishing Dubai as a global center for sporting excellence.
Mounir El Imam, Director of Delta, expressed his pride in the tournament’s success, stating that the high turnout and exceptional technical displays reflect the growing confidence regional academies and clubs place in the event. He affirmed Delta’s ongoing commitment to collaborating with DSC to expand future editions, attract more Arab teams, and cultivate a comprehensive competitive environment for young athletes.
Tournament Results and Crowning of Champions
The award ceremony was attended by Adel Al Bannai, Head of the Football Companies Section at DSC, who crowned the winning teams and players across the various divisions.
- Under-9 Category: The UAE’s Star Academy claimed the First Division title, while the UAE’s Al Fareej Academy secured the Second Division title.
- Under-10 Category: Oman’s Al Seeb triumphed in the First Division, with Kuwait’s SSC taking top honors in the Second Division.
- Under-11 Category: Kuwait’s Seventeen Four Academy dominated the First Division, while the UAE’s First Star Academy won the Second Division.
- Under-12 Category: Kuwait’s Grand Sport Academy captured the First Division title, and Bahrain’s OLE FK won the Second Division.
- Under-13 Category: The UAE’s Forza secured the First Division title, with Oman’s Al Seeb winning the Second Division.
- Under-14 Category: Oman’s Al Jawhara was crowned First Division champion, while the UAE’s Al Qurum took the Second Division title.
The organizing committee commended the high technical and ethical standards demonstrated by all participating academies. They reaffirmed the tournament’s positive, lasting impact on refining young talent and strengthening sporting ties among the participating nations.