Para Athletics Dubai 2026 Grand Prix To Include 500 Athletes From 56 Nations

The 2026 Fazza International Championships for People of Determination will open next week in Dubai, starting with the Dubai 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix at the Dubai Club for People of Determination. The multi-sport series is expected to draw 500 athletes from 56 countries, including several Paralympic medallists, underlining Dubai’s growing role in global para sport.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, the championships are designed to support social inclusion. The event also highlights the UAE’s long-term investment in accessible sports infrastructure and international para competition.

The Dubai 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix will take place from 10th to 13th February. Later in the season, the Fazza International Badminton Championships will run from 5th to 11th May. The Fazza Para Archery Championships are scheduled from 7th to 12th November 2026, creating a year-long calendar of elite para sport in the emirate.

Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said the Fazza International Championships began in 2009 following directives from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The original goal was to help People of Determination integrate into society through sport. Berregad added that continued patronage from His Highness Sheikh Mansoor has been central to the event’s expansion and stability.

Berregad explained that staging the 17th Fazza International Para Athletics Grand Prix comes after the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games. This recent experience raises expectations and places extra responsibility on organisers to keep organisational and technical standards high. Officials stressed that the series now serves as a key reference point for para sport management in the region.

Majid Al-Usaimi, Director of the Fazza International Championships, said consistent backing from national institutions has allowed People of Determination to perform at elite level while strengthening everyday inclusion. UAE athlete Meera Al-Qassab, one of 65 national team members in the Grand Prix, said the Fazza Championships go beyond competition by offering athletes a shared space to prove capabilities and pursue collective goals.

Details of partners and sponsors were outlined during a press conference, where organisers presented support from Aura Developers, Dubai Health Authority, Prescott Properties, Dubai Municipality, Beyond Properties, Mai Dubai, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Ibn Sina Pharmacies Group, Al Ain Farms, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Emirates Transport, Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence. Dalia Al-Oloub, Head of Marketing at Aura Developers, said the series has secured strong status on the world sports calendar and aligns with the company’s focus on community initiatives.

With inputs from WAM