Ramadan Festival for People of Determination begins

The Dubai Club for People of Determination has officially launched the new edition of its annual Ramadan Festival on Monday, featuring a diverse lineup of sporting, cultural and community events.

The festival includes 72 programmes across various themes designed to serve all categories of People of Determination in an atmosphere that reflects the values of giving, unity, and community spirit. Supported by numerous government and private sector partners, the festival will run until 12 March 2026 featuring 88 podium finishes and honouring 150 winners.

A major highlight of the festival is the 14th edition of the Dubai Holy Quran Competition for the People of Determination, which begins on Monday under the patronage of Sheikha Rawda bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

More than 700 contestants are taking part in this year’s competition, which features multiple categories including memorisation of the entire Holy Quran, 20 parts, half of the Quran, 10 parts, seven parts, five parts, three parts, two parts, one part, as well as selected shorter chapters.

The competition aims to encourage People of Determination to strengthen their engagement with the Holy Quran and promote spiritual growth during the holy month.

Coinciding with the UAE’s “Year of the Family 2026,” the festival places special emphasis on family cohesion and community values. The club has organised several family-oriented cultural initiatives, including an art competition to design a model reflecting the atmosphere of Ramadan within the family, the “My Family Reads” competition, and the “A Painting from My Family” contest. Additional activities include commemorations for Zayed Humanitarian Work Day and the Ramadan Majlis.

The festival also includes over 60 cultural and community programmes, including interactive workshops, awareness lectures, religious evenings, volunteer initiatives, and artistic and heritage activities that promote family engagement and social responsibility.

On the sporting front, the festival features 12 different sports, with the participation of more than 300 People of Determination and club staff members.

The club will also host the Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, part of the prestigious Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, which begins on Tuesday.

Majed Al-Usaimi, Executive Director of Dubai Club for People of Determination, emphasised that the alignment of the festival with the “Year of the Family 2026” adds special significance to this year’s edition.

He noted that the club has completed all preparations to host the wheelchair basketball tournament and expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, founder of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, as well as His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, for their continued support.

Al-Usaimi also highlighted that the continued patronage and support of Sheikha Rawda have been instrumental in ensuring the success and continuity of the Dubai Holy Quran Competition for People of Determination for the past 14 years.