Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Equipped with world-class facilities and known on the global map as sporting hub, the UAE in general and Dubai in particular has become the preferred destination for international clubs and teams to set up their training camps and compete in international tournaments here.

Following the great success in hosting the Indian Premier League, the UAE is playing host to seven Asian football teams who are camping here as they prepare for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup 2023, as well as an Israeli-American cycling expedition. In the coming days, many English, German and Chinese football teams will be here for their winter training camp.

Dubai is preparing to host more athletes and teams during the coming period as part of their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, which will be held in the summer of next year, after it was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dubai Sports Council is in contact with a number of sports federations and National Olympic Committees of a number of countries wishing to set up training camps in Dubai for their athletes as part of their preparation program for the next Olympics, and the Council will provide all the necessary facilities for the camps, including entry visas and training in advanced sports facilities in Dubai.

European countries are at the forefront of the list of those wishing to set up training camps for their athletes in Dubai to benefit from the ease of travel and mobility, and a safe and open atmosphere for all areas of life in accordance with precautionary measures and safety protocols.

In addition to the availability of modern and integrated sports facilities, foremost among which is the Hamdan Sports Complex, Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, and other stadiums and clubs, as well as sports medicine facilities, and safe cycling tracks that extend for tens of kilometres, away from any traffic. In addition, the country is blessed with weather that is ideal for training.