28 Universities and Distinguished Guests invited to attend the opening ceremony of the UAE University Games at Zayed Sports City

• The Opening Ceremony, which will reveal the very first opponent of each team in the contest, will also include stunning digital entertainment.
• The 28 participating universities are expected to fill 3,000 seats at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi on 5 November.
• Major announcements will be on the program of the ceremony, which will further drive it towards goals of sports excellence in the UAE.

Organized by the United Arab Emirates Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions (UAESUSF) and Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC), the opening ceremony of the UAE University Games was held at Zayed Sports City on November 5, 2024. The event, which featured a draw for the first opponent of each team participating in the event, was witnessed by 3,000 live spectators, including distinguished guests from around the country.

In its inaugural season, the UAE University Games registered 28 universities to participate, hailing from around the country. Six tournaments were included for the first year, made up of men's and women's events in football, basketball, and volleyball. During the opening ceremony, all 105 teams that registered learned the opponent of their very first match-up, bringing a burst of energy while the teams were preparing while simultaneously setting the stage for future friendly rivalries. The ceremony, emceed by Maitha Mohammed, also included stunning entertainment featuring live performers and digital displays that had the energy at its peak as the league got underway. Attendees, who were affiliated with a participating institution, were also invited to join interactive kiosks before and after the ceremony itself

Important announcements aimed at motivating the students participating in the games were also on the program. This showed the strengthened commitment of the project organizers to ensure that the opportunities for sporting excellence are strengthened and grow.

The UAE University Games is one of the outcomes of the "Future of Sports Retreat" organized by the Ministry of Sports in October 2024. It's a pioneering initiative in the UAE, bringing together institutions of higher education from various parts of the country for a long-term sports competition. The project is designed to support athlete identification and cultivation, helping to develop the success of the UAE on a global sporting stage and as a global sport leader. At the same time, it sets UAE universities apart in the region by ensuring high-level collegiate sports, while further engaging students, alumni, and community members with new experiences and common social interest.

In the debut season, 105 teams from 28 universities across the UAE registered a team for one or more of the tournaments offered, including eight schools that fielded teams in all six tournaments. Commencing with regional competition at hosted venues, top teams moved into a national playoff that culminates with a national championship in February 2025 and award ceremony to celebrate the winners.

The opening ceremony took place at Zayed Sports City on November 5, 2024, with doors opening at 5:00 PM and the ceremony starting at 7:30 PM. Registration for a free ticket was made at uaeunigames.com for anyone who had an email address from the affiliated institutions: Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University, Al Ain University, American University in Dubai, American University in the UAE, American University of Sharjah, Amity University, Canadian University, Dubai Police Academy, Higher Colleges of Technology (any campus), Heriot-Watt University, Khalifa University, Liwa College, Middlesex University, Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, NYU, Rabdan Academy, RIT, Sorbonne University, UAE University, University of Dubai, University of Sharjah, University of West London, University of Wollongong, and Zayed University. More information about the UAE University Games can be found on social media platforms using these handles @uaeunigames, @sportsuae and @uaesusf.