Dubai Games concludes seventh edition, capping a celebration of teamwork, ambition and achievement

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the seventh edition of Dubai Games concluded today with the crowning of winning teams and athletes across four categories.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed congratulated the eventual champions, lauding their admirable competitive streak and teamwork. The remarkable growth of Dubai Games over the years had earned it a place amongst the most anticipated events on the global sporting calendar, transforming its appeal beyond an innovative initiative into a global platform attracting high-calibre participation from around the world, he said.

His Highness stated: “The championship's qualitative excellence reinforces Dubai's standing as a global hub for sports and major events. This aligns with Dubai's vision for the future, which is based on consolidating its global leadership across diverse sectors, and embodies Dubai's ambition, spirit of innovation, and its approach to providing an environment that fosters success and high achievement.”

Intense competition

This year’s tournament witnessed close competition across four broad categories: the Battle of the Government, Battle of the Community, Battle of the Cities, and Battle of the Juniors. Participating teams and athletes demonstrated high levels of competitiveness and impeccable team spirit as they aimed for podium places with the different categories featuring the participation of more than 1,600 athletes from 56 cities around the world.

The final day of competitions kicked off early morning with the Battle of the Juniors. The category featured talented young athletes competing for the first time on the main tournament course scaled according to their age bracket. Held in a professional sporting environment, the event served to motivate the young athletes to continue honing their skills.

Teams competing in the category took on seven obstacles while delivering high levels of performance in a test exemplifying speed, precision and the spirit of collaboration. Fierce competition unfolded before Team OCR Empire secured first place, followed by Team Goldstoso Grapplers in second place, while Team Woodtopia claimed the third place.

Shaping future champions

Performances delivered by participating teams reflected the tournament’s success in shaping the next generation of champions and fostering true team spirit, underscoring its legacy far beyond the moment of victory by instilling the values of cooperation and discipline in young champions.

As the competition entered the home stretch, teams that had secured qualification faced a new challenge unlike any they had encountered in the main heats. Players had to clear an innovative six-obstacle course in 45 minutes, demanding higher levels of strength, focus, planning and role allocation, and reinforcing the message that claiming victory in Dubai Games is not merely about physical strength but a testament to the ability of teams and athletes to make right decisions at the right moment. The obstacles included a vehicle pull, water obstacles, and synchronised wall climbing, among other challenges, presenting a true test of the ability of teams to maintain cohesion and concentration throughout every phase.

Battle of the Government

As the grand finale wore on, the Ajman Government team secured the Battle of the Government Men’s title, followed by Dubai Police team in second place, while the Department of Digital Ajman team finished third. In the Battle of the Government-Women, the Ministry of Education took first place, followed by the Dubai Health team in second, with the Dubai Police team securing third place.

Battle of the Community

The Battle of the Community too was closely contested, with the finalists coming up with some inspired performances. Team F3 claimed first place and team NAS finished second, while the Ajman Stud team secured third place.

The competition in the Battle of the Community category highlighted Dubai Games’ success in promoting active lifestyles across all sections of society, drawing inspiration from the city’s bold, ambitious identity and its ability to turn shared effort into tangible achievement.

Battle of the Cities

Marking the largest-ever global participation in the Battle of the Cities category, which attracted significant representation from new cities, Czarny Dunajec from Poland claimed first place. Team Montreal from Canada took second place, while Moscow, Russia, secured third place.

The increase in the number of cities participating in Dubai Games 2026 confirms the rising global appeal of Dubai Games as one of the world’s leading team challenge events. Meanwhile, Dubai continues to deliver inclusive sporting events that encourage mass participation from around the world across diverse categories, building on the city’s deep-rooted sporting culture and its unique expertise in hosting and delivering major events.

Clear principles

The Dubai Games 2026 Organising Committee explained that Dubai Games has elevated its reputation as a unique sporting event that lends a team dimension to ambition, rewarding teams that plan and move as cohesive units, reflecting Dubai’s leadership in innovating outstanding sporting events. The seventh edition of the Games saw the Organising Committee coming up with an innovative course aimed at testing focus, cohesion and decision-making under pressure, rewarding the most deserving team. The philosophy behind designing the challenges that bring Dubai Games to life is anchored in clear principles, including fair competition, well-defined stages of advancement, and an unparalleled competitive experience, the Organising Committee noted.

Held from 12 to 15 February, Dubai Games this year featured DP World in an official partnership, with DAMAC Group, Beyond Developments and Emirates Petroleum Company (Emarat) forging Diamond Partnerships, and the Dubai Sports Council providing staunch support as a Strategic Partner, while the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Unilabs Middle East, and Al Gurg Group enriched the event through a Gold Partnership. The championship also attracted a host of additional sponsors, including Dubai Festival City (Venue Partner), Al-Futtaim Automotive, First Abu Dhabi Bank, du, Red Bull, Mai Dubai, the Arabian Radio Network (ARN), and Dubai Media Incorporated, alongside Dubai Health, Dubai Ambulance, Dubai Police, the Event Security Committee, and the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai.