Dubai [UAE], August 22: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and under the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi Ladies Club and Al Ain Ladies Club, the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy Volleyball Cup for Ladies 2026 got under way in Abu Dhabi yesterday, featuring six teams from the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria and Egypt.
The participating teams are Salwa Al Sabah from Kuwait, Wadi Finan from Jordan, 6th of October Club and Smouha Club from Egypt, Police Club from Syria, and the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy Volleyball Team, representing the UAE.
The tournament opened with a ceremony at the headquarter of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy in Abu Dhabi, featuring sporting and entertainment segments to mark the official launch of the tournament.
The opening matches began at 7.30pm, with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy Volleyball Team of the UAE defeating Jordan's Wadi Finan by a score of 3-0. The second match followed, with Egypt's 6th of October Club beating Syria's Al Shorta by a score of 3-0, as the tournament's opening day got off to a competitive start.
The five-day tournament will conclude on August 24 with the final and official awards ceremony, following the preliminary rounds and semi-finals, with the teams competing for a place in the final and the title.
Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, said, "Abu Dhabi's hosting of this tournament underlines its position as a destination for women's sporting competitions in the region, while the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy continues to provide opportunities for female athletes to compete and progress. Through this tournament, we are keen to give Emirati players the opportunity to face Arab teams and gain valuable experience, while also creating space for the exchange of technical expertise, helping to raise their level and strengthen the presence of women's volleyball in the UAE."
The tournament forms part of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy's vision to expand competitive opportunities for women and host tournaments that provide female athletes with different levels of competition. The Academy continues to build a sporting environment that supports athletes in developing their abilities and gaining the competitive experience needed to progress in their sporting careers.
Source: Emirates News Agency
