Abu Dhabi launches year-long school sports championship across 350 schools

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), has launched the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools, bringing more than 350 schools together in a year-long competition across 19 sporting disciplines.

The championship will run throughout the academic year, with events taking place across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. It aims to give students more opportunities to compete, sharpen their sporting skills and showcase their abilities while building confidence and a lasting interest in physical activity.

Mohamed Taj Eddine Ahmed Alqadi, Chairman of ADEK, said the championship seeks to make sport an integral part of school life, encouraging students to stay active, explore their potential and develop values such as discipline, integrity, respect and sportsmanship.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, highlighted sport's role in bringing communities together, promoting active lifestyles and creating opportunities for young talent to flourish.

The championship will feature two competition formats designed to accommodate different age groups and stages of athletic development.

The Elite League, for students aged under 17 and under 19, will offer a season-long competition with regular weekly fixtures across seven sports: football, basketball, volleyball, padel, athletics, jiu-jitsu and swimming.

The Tournament Format, open to students aged under 9 to under 19, will feature inter-school competitions throughout the academic year, culminating in qualifying rounds and finals. It will cover rugby and 11 individual sports: archery, badminton, chess, cycling, fencing, judo, Obstacle Course Racing (OCR), laser run, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling.

Students aged under 11 to under 15 will also compete in tournament-format events in football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, jiu-jitsu and swimming.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of ADSC, said the championship would broaden participation in school sports while helping identify and nurture promising athletes.

Inclusivity will also be a key feature of the programme. In collaboration with Special Olympics UAE, the championship will introduce Unified Leagues, giving Students of Determination opportunities to participate and compete in an environment that promotes confidence, teamwork and personal growth.

A new rewards and recognition programme will recognise the contributions of schools, student athletes, teachers and coaches. Incentives will include talent scholarships to support students' tuition and development, funding for sports infrastructure and equipment, and professional development opportunities for teachers and coaches. An emirate-wide leaderboard will also track performance, with awards for the top-performing schools in the Elite League.

Beyond school-level competition, ADEK's talent identification process will offer high-performing students an opportunity to enter the All-Star Programme, an elite development initiative designed to connect Abu Dhabi's most talented school athletes with professional coaching, regional and international competitions, and potential pathways to clubs, academies and professional sport.

Through its year-long schedule, the championship seeks to strengthen school sports, widen access to competition and create a clearer pathway for young athletes to progress from school-level participation to higher levels of sporting achievement.