Air sports in the Emirates have witnessed rapid growth, during which they have moved from mere entertainment activities to an integrated sports sector enhanced by huge investments and continuous government support..
This rapid development has strengthened the position of the UAE, and Dubai in particular, as a global destination in the field of air sports, and has made it attract professional and amateur athletes from all over the world..
The first serious steps towards consolidating air sports began with the establishment of the Emirates Aviation Association in August 1997. The association included a group of enthusiastic young Emiratis who worked to spread the culture of aviation in its various types, especially skydiving..
Nasr Hamouda Al Neyadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Air Sports Federation, said that the association contributed to laying strong foundations for this sport, and the remarkable international achievements of the Emirates Military Team contributed to creating a broad public base for it, and doubled the aspirations to engage in this exciting and exciting sport..
The UAE began organizing events and tournaments at the local level, in preparation for moving towards the international level, and it began with organizing the second edition of the Asian Championship in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain in 2005, followed by organizing a new version of the tournament in Fujairah in 2008..
These tournaments represented a solid ground for gaining experience in organizing major events, and demonstrated the UAE’s ability to host world-class sporting events..
In 2009, the idea of organizing the Dubai International Skydiving Championship emerged, and after extensive studies to choose the ideal location, a distinct coastal area was chosen to establish the Skydive Dubai site, which later became one of the most important skydiving centers in the world..
The first edition of the championship was held in 2009 with the participation of more than 300 jumpers from 35 countries, and witnessed great success that put Dubai on the global air sports map..
The successes continued with the organization of the second edition of the Dubai International Championship in 2010, which paved the way for hosting the World Skydiving Championship in 2012..
This tournament was characterized by wide participation, including more than 1,600 jumpers from all over the world, competing in 13 various competitions held in multiple locations such as Skydive Dubai, Al Sufouh, and the Jebel Ali area..
The tournament achieved a record number in terms of the number of participants, making it a milestone in the history of the International Federation of Air Sports, which spans more than 118 years..
Dubai continued to strengthen its position by hosting the World Air Sports Championships in 2015, which coincided with an international conference on aviation medicine. These events demonstrated Dubai’s ability to organize international sporting events with exceptional standards, which established its reputation as the capital of air sports..
Yousef Al Hammadi, Vice President of the Emirates Air Sports Federation, and one of the first founders of the Emirates Aviation Association, said that air sports in Dubai are not just a physical or artistic activity, but rather an investment and tourism platform that contributes to enhancing the emirate’s position globally, as Dubai has become a favorite destination for air sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Various parts of the world, as its annual agenda includes many international tournaments.
He added that Dubai adopts a strategic vision for developing air sports, based on several main axes, including enhancing infrastructure, encouraging national talent, and expanding international partnerships, by strengthening cooperation with the International Air Sports Federation, and at the same time promoting air sports as an investment and tourism platform..
For his part, Mohammed Youssef, Secretary-General of the Federation, stressed that air sports in Dubai represent a model of innovation and continuous development, as the emirate has succeeded in transforming these sports into a vital sector that reflects its future vision. “Thanks to government support and advanced infrastructure, the Air Sports Federation has succeeded in installing a distinguished group of Annual championships on the International Federation’s agenda, such as the Dubai International Skydiving Championship, the Hike and Fly Championship, the Radio Flying Championship, the Unmanned Gliding Championship, and drone races (drones).“.
He said that these events contributed to expanding the base for practicing air sports, and providing full opportunities to uncover talent and create champions to represent the country in all foreign forums in search of reaching the podiums..
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