Katowice, Poland – October 8, 2025 –Team UAE made history at the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup, held in Katowice from October 5–8, clinching the Group C gold medal with a commanding 2–0 victory over Ukraine in the final.
The triumph was especially meaningful as the UAE Unified Women’s Team dedicated their win to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in recognition of his enduring support for inclusion and empowerment of People of Determination.
The tournament brought together 16 teams from across the global Special Olympics movement, with the UAE squad competing in the women’s category in Group C. Their gold-medal run saw them dominate the group stage with impressive wins over Italy, Namibia, and Kenya before sealing the title with a sweeping victory in the final.
The UAE delegation comprised 12 players, including six athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities and six Unified Partners, exemplifying the core Special Olympics values of inclusion, equality, and teamwork.
His Excellency Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement: “We are incredibly proud of our athletes, who have represented the UAE brilliantly in this historic global event. This victory is the result of years of investment in the development of women athletes of determination, and it reflects the broader success of the UAE’s strategy for empowering women in both sport and community. We dedicate this win to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and the foremost supporter of People of Determination in our country,”
“We will continue to expand Unified Sports programs and empower more female athletes across different sports. Today, the UAE stands as a regional and global model for inclusion.” He concluded.
Special Olympics UAE athlete Khuloud Al Shehhi expressed her pride in the team’s historic achievement: “I was thrilled to take part in the Unified Volleyball World Cup and even more so to win first place with my teammates in our very first appearance in this sport. This victory reflects our team spirit, the solidarity throughout the tournament, and the incredible support from our coaches and delegation management. We also had the chance to meet players from all over the world and most importantly, we raised the UAE flag high.”
Ruqaiya Al Blooshi, a Unified Partner on the UAE team, added: “We were confident in our ability to win. Every one of us showed great focus and determination to deliver their best performance. We are truly proud to have lived up to the responsibility of representing the UAE on the world stage.”
The team’s participation was made possible through the support of several national entities, including Ajman Club for the Disabled, Dubai Club for People of Determination, Al Wasl Sports Club, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, demonstrating a unified national effort to elevate women’s sports and promote inclusive athletic excellence on the world stage.
– Ends –
About Special Olympics UAE:
In October 2017, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced Special Olympics UAE as an independent organization dedicated to changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Her Highness Sheikha Mariam Bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed as the Honorary President.
The organization aims to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through sports while providing them with leadership opportunities to help them display their talents and integrate them with the mainstream society.
Special Olympics UAE has launched a variety of community programs, including those focused on families and young athletes. It has also introduced a number of initiatives to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to create a more inclusive society.
The Special Olympics of the UAE received international recognition from the International Special Olympics Foundation-USA in December 2017.
Join our community:
Facebook: @Special Olympics UAE
Instagram: @SpecialOlympicsUAE
LinkedIn: @Special Olympics UAE
X: @uaeso_