Dubai: The winners of the 13th Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Sports Award, the largest of its kind in terms of prize value and number of categories, were announced on Monday during the World Sports Summit in Dubai. The summit, organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the directives and patronage of H.H. 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, opened under the theme 'Uniting the World Through Sport.'
According to Emirates News Agency, the award winners were honoured in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Sports Award. Also in attendance were more than 1,500 leaders from the sports sector in the UAE, the Arab world, and around the world, as well as international sports stars participating in the Summit's sessions and events to discuss the future of sports and ways to develop the sports sector globally.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the importance of sports, stating, "Today, we are delighted to honour a new group of distinguished sports figures, leaders, decision-makers and champions from the UAE, the Arab world, and beyond who have achieved remarkable feats globally and etched their names in sporting history." He further highlighted Dubai's role as a global hub for sports and its contribution to shaping the future.
Prominent winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award included Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Global Sports Leadership Award; Danish Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen, who won the Global Athlete Award; Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Global Sports Team Award; FIFA, which received the Global Sports Organisation Award; and American Olympic champion Ibtihaj Muhammad, who received the Global Inspirational Athlete Award.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was honoured with the Global Lifetime Achievement Award, while Pakistani Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem received the Exceptional Sports Achievement Award. The Global Sports Career Award was presented to Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, Italian football legend Roberto Baggio, Spanish football legend Andr©s Iniesta, Italian football legend Paolo Maldini, French basketball legend Tony Parker, and Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
On the Arab level, H.H. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain, received the Arab Sports Personality Award. Egyptian Olympic champion Ahmed El Gendy won the Arab Athlete Award, while Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur and Qatari Olympic champion Moez Essa Barshim shared the Arab Sports Career Award.
At the UAE level, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, received the Emirati Sports Personality Award. MMA star Khamzat Chimaev won the Emirati Athlete Award, Al Ain Football Club received the Emirati Sports Team Award, and Emirati Jiu-Jitsu player Ghala Al Hammadi was honoured with the Promising Emirati Star Award.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award, launched in 2008, reflects Dubai's vision to expand the concept of sporting excellence to include globally influential institutions and initiatives, thereby strengthening the role of sport in promoting human wellbeing and development.