MIDEA Dubai Schools Games opens a new chapter for school sport in Dubai
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31 championships to be held across the 2026–27 season
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Four qualification stages for Football, Chess, Basketball and Volleyball
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Five new sports added to fresh programme of Games
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23,000 students from 210 schools expected to participate across the emirate
Dubai, UAE – September 16, 2026: A bigger and better edition of the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games (DSG) will open across several venues in Dubai, from next month.
Set to be the biggest-ever under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council in cooperation with ESM, the 2026-’27 MIDEA Dubai Schools Games will bring together in excess of 23,000 students from 210 schools over 93 event days and 31 different competitions throughout the academic year.
Five new sports, namely 3×3 Basketball, E-Sports, Triathlon, Freestyle Snowboarding and Wrestling, will be added to the regular competitions this season.
Held under the patronage of the Dubai Sports Council, the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games was created with a simple idea: to give more young athletes in Dubai the opportunity to take part in competitive sport.
The official announcement of the latest edition was attended by Eissa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at Dubai Sports Council; Mohammed Abdullah, Director of School and University Projects at the Ministry of Sport; Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Nasser, Executive Director of the Corporate Support Sector at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and Pippa Clark from ESM, the event’s operational partner.
The MIDEA Dubai School Games is a free-to-participate school sports initiative that brings schools together throughout the academic year across an ever-increasing programme of ccompetitions.
The Games give students the chance to test themselves across different sports and experience the excitement of representing their school. With free participation, DSG makes organised school sport accessible to a wider range of schools and creates a space where young athletes can compete, discover new interests and build confidence through the medium of sport.
“This championship has grown over the past five years. School tournaments represent the crucial first stage in the process of identifying, nurturing and developing athletic talent and by serving as the correct base of the sports pyramid, these Games provide a golden opportunity for Dubai’s sports clubs to scout promising athletes, monitor their performance profiles and integrate them into official teams for high-level competition,” noted Eissa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at Dubai Sports Council.
“The Dubai School Games also operate as a key pillar within the ambit of the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, which aims to transform the emirate into a premier global sporting hub. Moving forward with our strategic vision, the new season of the school games programme will expand significantly to include 26 different sports, introducing new disciplines such as judo, jiu-jitsu, shooting and taekwondo,” he added.
Five successful seasons
Over the past five seasons, the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games has grown significantly in both reach and scale. From a mere 150 schools and 6,600 students across 18 sports in its inaugural year in 2022-’23, the Games have now expanded to 210 schools and 23,000 students across 31 sporting disciplines.
Student participation has more than tripled over this period, while the number of participating schools has steadily increased and the sporting programme has grown from 18 to 31 sports. The most significant jump came over the past two seasons, with participation rising from 8,600 students in 2024-’25 to 15,000 in 2025-’26, before reaching 23,000 this season. What began as a strong school sports programme has now grown into a much broader platform for young people across Dubai.
During the press conference announcing the launch of the seventh edition of the Games, Mohammed Abdullah emphasized that this edition marks a defining step in strengthening school sports across the UAE, directly supporting the nation’s vision to nurture a healthy generation equipped with strong athletic capabilities and lifelong values.
“This latest edition builds on the legacy of previous Games, which have firmly established school sports as an integral part of the nation’s educational ecosystem and a primary driver for identifying talent and developing promising young athletes across Dubai’s schools,” Abdullah stated.
He explained that the Dubai Schools Games serve as a foundational pillar within the broader UAE School Games framework – guided by the Ministry of Sports and organised by the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions (UAESUSF). Integrating both initiatives creates a clear, progressive pathway from local school competitions to national stages, aimed at cultivating future champions capable of representing the UAE at regional and international events.
Abdullah also noted that the substantial rise in student participation and sporting disciplines reflects growing confidence in the Games as a secure platform that enriches teamwork and personal skills. “School sports in the UAE go far beyond mere competitions; they represent a strategic investment in the future of our students, preparing them to proudly represent our nation on the global stage,” Abdullah reaffirmed.
Dr. Abdulrahman Nasser, CEO of Corporate Support at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, said: “The Dubai Education Strategy E33 and its initiatives place students at the heart of the educational ecosystem, prioritizing their wellbeing, skill development and capacity for leadership and teamwork. The Dubai Schools Games serve as an essential platform to translate these priorities into reality by building character, boosting self-confidence, promoting physical health and empowering students to discover and develop their full potential.”
He further added: “We firmly believe that true education extends beyond the four walls of the classroom, and that sports are fundamental to a holistic learning experience. They instill core values such as discipline, perseverance, ambition and a spirit of resilience. We are proud of our ongoing partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, schools and all our stakeholders. Together, we look forward to nurturing young athletic talent, cultivating a healthy, confident generation capable of shaping Dubai’s future, and proudly representing the UAE on regional and international stages.”
Mr. Arturo Manso, General Manager – Midea UAE said: “We are delighted to be entering our third year as title sponsor of the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games. What makes this partnership particularly meaningful to us is seeing first-hand how the Games bring schools, families and young people together through sport. Over the past three years, we have watched DSG grow in scale and ambition, with more schools taking part, more sports being introduced and more young athletes getting the chance to compete and represent their schools. At MIDEA, we believe the best experiences are the ones that make everyday life a little better for families, and in many ways, that is what the Games create — memorable moments, shared experiences and a sense of achievement for young people. It is what makes our partnership with DSG feel Simply Ideal. We are proud to continue supporting the Games and look forward to another season of bringing families and communities together through sport”.
Step forward
The 2025-’26 season marked a major step forward for the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games, with 15,000 students from 195 schools participating in 28 different sports.
One of the key developments was the introduction of qualification stages in Football and Athletics. Rather than moving directly into the main championships, teams in these sports competed through dedicated qualifying events, creating a clearer progression into the championship stage and adding a new competitive dimension to the Games.
The success of the new format has helped shape the programme for the season ahead, as DSG continues to expand its competitive structure alongside its growing participation.
A bigger and fresher season
The 2026’-27 MIDEA Dubai Schools Games promises to be its biggest season yet, bringing together 210 schools and 23,000 students across 93 event days and 31 championships throughout the current academic year.
The addition of sports like 3×3 basketball, e-sports, triathlon, freestyle snowboarding and wrestling will bring even greater variety to the programme, from the fast-paced format of 3×3 Basketball and E-Sports tying up well with the endurance of Triathlon and the technical demands of Freestyle Snowboarding and Wrestling.
For some young athlete, DSG will be their first experience of competitive sport. For others, it can provide an opportunity to test themselves, develop their ability and take the next step in their sporting journey.
The Games will continue to support talent identification, with performances monitored by the Dubai Talent ID Committee and recorded in the official Talent ID database. Promising athletes can be considered for pathways towards national recognition, scholarships and tailored development programmes in the future.
Fresh beginnings
The new season will get under way next month, with Table Tennis from October 6-8, followed by the Archery Championship on October 14 and the Triathlon Championship on October 25. The programme will continue through November with Golf, 3×3 Basketball, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Laser Run and Athletics, alongside the Basketball and Football qualifying stages.
With a strong mix of individual and team sports taking place across venues throughout Dubai, Term 1 sets the stage for an exciting start to the 2026-’27 MIDEA Dubai Schools Games season.
The numbers capture the scale of that growth. But the real story is what those numbers represent: more schools taking part, more young athlete finding their place in sport and more opportunities to compete, represent and belong.
Open invitation for Dubai schools
With a fresh season looming large, the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games is inviting schools across Dubai to be part of the programme. Whether a school has been involved for years or is considering entering for the first time, the new season offers a broad and exciting schedule of 31 sports and four qualifying stages across the academic year.
With no participation fees, DSG gives schools a simple way to broaden their sporting calendar, enter teams across a wide range of disciplines and become part of Dubai’s city-wide school sports community.
The invitation is open: bring your school, enter your teams and give your students the chance to be part of the Games.
Check out the calender of events: https://dubaischoolsgames.ae/calendar
For further information, contact: info@dubaischoolsgames.ae
About the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games
The MIDEA Dubai Schools Games is a flagship schools sporting movement under the patronage of the Dubai Sports Council, designed to promote participation, community spirit and talent identification. More than 23,000 students are expected to compete this season across 31 sports and over 93 event days, making it the largest school sports initiative in Dubai.
The Games are proudly title sponsored by MIDEA, with Volkswagen Al Nabooda Automobiles, and Almarai as key partners, while Al Ain Water will serve as Hydration Partner, and ESM as Delivery Partner of the MIDEA Dubai Schools Games.
