The signing ceremony between AWST and Etisalat in the presence of Abdulaziz Taryam (left) and Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi.

Etisalat has signed on as the exclusive partner for the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) for the fifth time, reaffirming its role as a diligent and committed promoter of sports, especially those involving women, in the region.

The Supreme Organising Committee (SOC) of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) recently signed an agreement with the telecommunication corporation, partnering for the fifth edition of the tournament, which will take place from Feb.2-12, 2020. The agreement reflects the mutual efforts of the two entities to empower women in sports, locally and regionally.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Head of the SOC of AWST, and Abdulaziz Taryam, CEO, Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat - Northern Emirates.

Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Head of the SOC of AWST, Head of the Executive Committee and Director General of the Sharjah Women Sports Foundation (SWSF); Maitha Bin Dhawi, Manager of AWST; and representatives of Etisalat also attended the signing ceremony.

In his speech, Sheikh Khalid stressed that success is not an individual effort, but the result of teamwork and collaborative efforts. He said that such agreements reflected the institutional and social responsibility of government departments and private entities to help Sharjah develop into a hub for cultural, art, humanitarian and sporting events.

"The agreement is the outcome of cooperation among all local entities to promote Sharjah’s role in developing the women’s sports sector and hosting such a prestigious event which attracts the best Arab female athletes to showcase their talents to a wider audience. We appreciate these collaborative efforts and we are sure this partnership will help in advancing women’s sports

in Sharjah as well as the UAE,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdulaziz said: “It is a great honour for Etisalat to sponsor some of the prestigious sporting events, including AWST, which brings together world-class athletes from clubs in the UAE and the Arab world. This step aligns with our philosophy of leading the efforts to support community initiatives in the UAE, in line with the national ideal of empowering women across all fields, especially in sports.”

“The UAE is committed to developing effective plans and strategies to support women in all walks of life. We also believe in the role of sports in maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of society members. We wish the next edition of AWST great success, where players will be able to achieve their sporting dreams,” he added.

The Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) was launched in 2012 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation. The pan-Arab tournament is held biennially.