Officials during a press conference at the Dubai Sports Council headquarters.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Ski Dubai will host its first FIS-accredited international ski competitions in association with Dubai Sports Council and UAE Winter Sports Federation this week.

The UAE was ratified as an Associate Member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) at the International Ski Congress earlier this year following a five-year campaign spearheaded by Majid Al Futtaim and Ski Dubai in collaboration with the UAE Winter Sports Federation.

Over the course of four days (November 17-20), Ski Dubai will host four FIS-accredited events including the UAE FIS National Alpine Championships and the Para Alpine Asia Cup events.

The competitions will see over 40 skiers from 20 countries compete including Winter Olympic athletes. Flying the flag for the UAE are Hassan Al Fardan, Abdulla Khafin Albalooshi, Hamda Alsuweidi and Theyab Almuhairi, who will make history as the first Emirati snow sports athletes to compete at an international competition when they take to the slopes of Ski Dubai.

Details about the event were revealed at Monday’s press conference in Dubai Sports Conference, in the presence of Majid Al Usaimi, President of Asian Paralympic Committee, Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the Emirates Winter Sports Federation, Khalid Al Awar, Director of Dubai Sports Council's Sports Events Department, and Mohammad El Etri, Vice President, Global Snow, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas.

Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, was also present at the press conference along with a number of other officials from the Council, the Emirates Winter Sports Federation and Majid Al Futtaim.

Khalid Al Awar, Director of Dubai Sports Council's Sports Events Department, said: "As we celebrate the Year of the 50th as well as the hosting of world’s biggest gathering, Expo 2020 Dubai, it is pleasure for us to mark the occasion by hosting the first FIS-accredited competitions in Dubai.

“Dubai Sports Council are proud to partner with Ski Dubai and UAE Winter Sports Federation in hosting these four events. These will be the first of many, and we are excited as we embark on this new journey alongside our partners from Ski Dubai and the UAE Winter Sports Federation.

“Hosting these tournaments here in Dubai will be a huge boost to our joint efforts to promote winter sports in Dubai. These tournaments will also reaffirm Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s premier destination for top international events, on any surface, at any time of the year.”

Mohammad El Etri, Vice President, Global Snow, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas said, “Ski Dubai is proud to partner with Dubai Sports Council and UAE Winter Sports Federation to host FIS-accredited competitions for the first time.

This is the culmination of a five-year campaign to become a member of the International Ski Federation, which underscores our commitment to nurture young talent and foster a winter sports culture.

Hosting events such as this are essential to achieve our ambition of establishing a global snow sports destination in the heart of the desert and also pave the way for skiers and snowboarders to represent our nation on an international stage. We look forward to welcoming athletes from around the world and wish them every success.”

Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the Emirates Winter Sports Federation, added, “It is very exciting to welcome the first officially accredited ski races in Dubai! It’s a great chance for us to see our young talent competing and experience official ski races for the very first time. We are grateful to Ski Dubai for hosting these prestigious competitions, which contribute to putting the UAE on the map as a snow sports destination.”