About us
A movement
for everyone.
Special Olympics UAE provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, creating opportunities to develop physical fitness, social skills and participation with fellow athletes and the community.
Board of Trustees
Honorary Chair
HH Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Organization
Chairman
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H.E Talal Mustafa Al Hashmi
Executive Director of Events Sector – Abu Dhabi Sports council
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H.E Dr. Salem Abdul Rahman Al Darmaki
Minister of health Adviser
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H.E Eng. Mohammed Hamza Al Qasim
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education
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H.E Mohamed Khaleefa Al Nuaimi
Chargé d´Affaires - Support Services - Crown Prince Court
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H.E Saeed Saif AlNeyadi
Ministry Assistant Undersecretary - Presidential Court
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Mrs. Tala Ismail Al Ramahi
Director - Office of Development Affairs, Presidential Court
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Ms. Alia Abdalla Bin Al Shaikh
Acting Executive Director of the Development & Strategic Communication Sector - National Media Office
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Dr. Sharifa Naser Yateem
Certified Consultant and behavior Analyst
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Mr. Rashed Mohammed Al Otaiba
Businessman
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Mr. Saif Ali BinSumaida
Athlete’s Father
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Mr. Omar Al Shami
Athlete
Our mission
To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Giving athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share their skills and friendship with families, fellow athletes and the community.
Our vision
An inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, education & community.
A world where people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives.
The movement
More than a
competition.
Sport is where it begins. Training and competition create opportunities to build fitness, confidence, friendships and leadership.
The impact goes beyond the field.
Our story
How we got here.
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EARLY 1990s
The Special Olympics movement began in the UAE in the early 1990s as a committee under the People of Disabilities Sports Union, with hundreds of athletes training and local and regional competitions being hosted.
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2017
Special Olympics UAE was re-established as an independent association following a directive from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and was endorsed by the Ministry of Community Development.
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2019
The UAE hosted the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, the first Special Olympics World Games held in the Middle East and North Africa. The UAE delegation included 297 athletes, the largest athlete delegation in the history of sport in the UAE at the time.
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TODAY
Special Olympics UAE continues to provide year-round training, competition and opportunities for inclusion for People of Determination with intellectual disabilities across the UAE.
The athlete
Everything starts with the athlete.
Athletes are at the heart of Special Olympics UAE: training, competing, developing skills and sharing their abilities with their families and communities.
What we believe
The values behind the movement.
INCLUSION
DIGNITY
COURAGE
FRIENDSHIP
JOY
COMMUNITY
Rooted in the UAE
A national movement, built across seven emirates.
Special Olympics UAE brings year-round sports training, competition and inclusion opportunities to People of Determination with intellectual disabilities across the UAE.
The global movement
Part of something bigger.
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities around the world.
1968
Founded
6M+
Athletes & Unified partners worldwide
190+
Countries
We believe everyone deserves a place to belong.
From belief to action
What we believe becomes what we do.
Our work extends beyond sport through programs in health, education, leadership and community inclusion.
See our impact →Our purpose in action
Explore the programs behind the mission.
Discover the programs creating opportunities for athletes, families and communities.
Explore programs →
Be part of the movement.
Whether you want to compete, volunteer, partner or support the movement, there is a place for you.