Dubai Open Volleyball Academies Championship ends on high note

The inaugural edition of the Dubai Open Volleyball Academies Championship has concluded to resounding success.

Organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in collaboration with the UAE Volleyball Association and Sports Mania, the tournament forms a core part of the council’s ongoing efforts to discover and nurture young athletic talent, ultimately feeding promising capabilities into national clubs and teams.

At the closing ceremony, the championship trophies and medals were presented to the winning teams across various age groups by Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of Sports Talent Development Department at Dubai Sports Council; Abdullah Al Duhoil, Board Member of the UAE Volleyball Association; Sami Jassim Mubarak, former UAE National Volleyball Team player; and Tariq Aboud and Joseph Nahra representing Sports Mania.

The premier event attracted widespread participation, drawing 42 teams representing 19 academies and clubs from across the country, led by prominent teams including Al Wasl, Hatta, and Al Dhaid clubs.

Al Wasl and Al Dhaid Dominate Boys’ Divisions: In the Boys’ Under-16 category (Level 1), Al Wasl Club claimed the championship title and the gold medals after defeating HIC team in a commanding straight-sets victory (2-0) in the final match. HIC finished as runners-up, while Al Dhaid secured third place following their 2-0 victory over the FDR team.

In the Boys’ Under-19 division (Level 1), Al Dhaid Club captured the first-place cup and gold medals after defeating the Centrix team 2-0, leaving Centrix with the silver medals. The Speed team locked in third place after edge-of-the-seat action against FDR, finishing the match 2-1.

Fierce Competition and Elite Performance: in The girls’ categories witnessed high-level technical displays and immense competitive excitement. In the Girls’ Under-12 division (Level 1), the FDR team snatched first place, followed by Abu Dhabi Clinic in second, and the Wild Cats in third.

In the Girls’ Under-14 division (Level 1), Abu Dhabi Clinic asserted its dominance to take first place, while HIC came second, and Philadelphia Private School (PPS) finished third.

The Girls’ Under-16 category (Level 1) saw the Lynx team crowned champions, leaving the runner-up spot to the Wild Cats, with Prestige securing third place.

In the Girls’ Under-16 division (Level 2), the Aces team won first place, followed by Philadelphia Private School (PPS) in second, and FDR in third.

In the U19 Young Women’s division (Level 1), the Lynx team continued their brilliant run to capture first place, while Next Gen finished second, and ATP rounded out the podium in third place.

Tournament in Numbers: The high-stakes competitive action initially launched in late April, bringing together more than 1,000 male and female players. Throughout the tournament, the courts of Shabab Al Ahli Club and the Al Safa Sports Hall in Jumeirah hosted more than 200 matches. The intense journey to the titles culminated in the thrilling final matches held this June at the Etihad Private School Hall.

This championship directly reflects the strategic vision of the Dubai Sports Council to nurture grassroots talent within Dubai clubs and to solidify partnerships with the private sector as an active contributor to the sports ecosystem. By providing a real competitive environment that meets international standards, the tournament gives rising players an ideal opportunity to increase game time and gain vital match experience, aligning seamlessly with Dubai’s broader portfolio of open championships across various sports.