AWST a beacon for Arab women’s sports dreams, says tournament director Moza

With the spotlight turning to Sharjah, the stage is set for a dazzling celebration of athletic excellence as the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) readies to unfold across multiple venues from February 2 to 12.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, the AWST will be organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports.

One of the most expansive and vibrant editions of the tournament to date, this year’s AWST adds a new dimension with the debut of taekwondo—carrying G1 classification accreditation from World Taekwondo—alongside the inclusion of beach sprint rowing, injecting fresh energy into the region’s premier pan-Arab women’s sports spectacle.

A powerful testament to the growing momentum of women’s sport in the Arab world, this year’s AWST brings together 65 teams representing 16 nations.

The tournament stands alone as a singular celebration that unites a spectrum of women’s sports on one grand competitive stage. Endorsed by the League of Arab States and held under the umbrella of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, the tournament has been hosted by Sharjah since 2012 as an Arab-centric event.

Moza Al Shamsi, Director of the Tournament, said: “Sharjah’s journey with women’s sports began long before 2012. The Arab Women Sports Tournament was first launched in 1997 as a Gulf tournament, before evolving into a pan-Arab competition in 2012, opening its doors to clubs from across the Arab world under a unified competitive framework.

“Since then, the tournament has continued to grow in scale and ambition, becoming a long-term competitive platform that brings together Arab clubs under consistent performance standards and shared sporting values.”

Teams from Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE are participating this year in nine sports disciplines, including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, athletics, shooting, archery, taekwondo, and rowing.

“The tournament has evolved into much more than a competition,” Moza said.

“It is a space where Arab women athletes can meet, compete, and develop, while gaining exposure to high-level competition that supports their growth and success on the international stage.”

Commenting on the inclusion of new sports in this edition, Moza explained that the addition of taekwondo and beach rowing comes within the framework of the tournament’s regulations, which focus on Olympic sports.

She noted that taekwondo’s introduction with a G1 international classification enhances the technical value of the competition and aligns participating athletes with recognised international standards.

In the same context, volleyball competitions at this year’s tournament have also received official international accreditation from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), alongside Asian accreditation for refereeing from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).

These accreditations reinforce the tournament’s competitive credibility, ensure matches are conducted under approved international regulations, and further strengthen the technical and organisational standards of this edition.

Reflecting on the tournament’s growth since its launch in 2012, Moza highlighted the significant expansion in participation over the years.

She noted that the tournament began with a limited number of participating countries and has since grown steadily to include clubs from 16 Arab nations, underscoring its rising stature and its role as a unifying platform for women’s sport in the region.

Looking ahead, the AWST aims to continue building a sustainable competitive environment that empowers Arab women athletes and supports their long-term development.

“Our goal is to continue creating opportunities and strengthening this platform so it truly serves the aspirations of Arab women athletes, offering them the right environment to grow, compete, and reach the highest levels of sporting achievement,” Moza added.