FISU Strengthen Ties with United Arab Emirates

by Chrispus Charles Macauley

FISU at the University of Sharjah. Left to right: Ali Massari Al Dhaheri (FISU EC Member), Imad Bounouch ( FISU Adviser for Africa & the Middle East), Matthias Remund (FISU Secretary General/CEO), Pr. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy (President, centre), Dr. Osama Al Hariri (Sports Department Director), and Dr. Khaled Al Madani (responsible for powerlifting).

A FISU delegation carried out an official mission to the United Arab Emirates from 8 to 15 April 2025, establishing strategic collaborations for the development of university sport in the region.

Led by FISU Secretary General/CEO Matthias Remund, by Imad Bounouch, FISU Adviser for Africa & the Middle East and in the presence of FISU Executive Committee Member from the UAE, Ali Massari Al Dhaheri, the delegation met with several key players in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, including H.E. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Suhail Al Maktoum, President of the United Arab Emirates University Sports Federation and member of the Royal Family.

The discussions held resulted in several concrete projects:

• Hosting of the FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball in 2025 in Abu Dhabi

• Organising the 2026 World University Championship Powerlifting Championship at the University of Sharjah

• Hosting the 2026 World University Championship Sailing

• Hosting the FISU Extraordinary General Assembly in Abu Dhabi in 2026

• The UAE has also expressed an interest in bidding for the 2031 FISU World University Games.

In addition, FISU and the United Arab Emirates authorities would like to develop the Healthy Campus Programme in all the country’s universities, reinforcing the multi-sectoral approach (sport-education) that characterises this collaboration.

The United Arab Emirates is thus establishing itself as a future regional hub for international university sport.