The 2023 edition of Dubai Sports World (DSW) - Dubai’s largest and most diverse indoor summer sports destination - has concluded its largest edition to date, setting new records with its larger-than-ever array of sports offering and cutting-edge fitness facilities for all age groups throughout the summer. Celebrating its 13th edition this year, Dubai Sports World returned with an unparalleled selection of sports fun spread across an expansive 300,000 square feet featuring over 40 courts and pitches at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Complemented by a multitude of new fitness facilities, the event spanned three months, from 01 June to 10 September, and was organised by DWTC in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and in support of the UAE leadership's commitment to fostering a healthier and more fitness-oriented lifestyle. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 EDITION This year, participants took part in a plethora of sports, fitness classes, academic coaching, and an exciting range of activities for all ages. DSW offered the perfect haven for sports enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, said: "Dubai Sports World has become an essential event in the city’s annual sporting calendar, creating a positive impact on sports, physical fitness, and community participation. The 2023 edition has set new standards for success - from the number of events and participants to the diversity of sports and activities on offer, and the involvement of leading sporting academies.” “At Dubai Sports Council, in close collaboration with Dubai World Trade Centre and government entities, we have worked tirelessly to make Dubai Sports World inclusive and accessible – a place for people of all ages, all abilities and from all walks of life. For this edition, we welcomed seniors from the Thukher Club and hosted cleaning engineers from Dubai Municipality and the hardworking personnel of delivery companies in Dubai. The participants enjoyed a positive sporting experience - fostering wellbeing and happiness while strengthening community bonds. It’s also a small way in which we can convey our appreciation for the invaluable services they provide to our city and its community members." Featuring new facilities for the season, such as pickleball courts, a 300m running track, a dedicated gym equipped with top-of-the-line Matrix cardio and strength training equipment, and a private fitness studio with daily pay-as-you-go classes spanning HIIT, Martial Arts, Zumba, and Yoga, the 2023 Dubai Sports World truly delivered the ultimate summer escape. Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President of Dubai World Trade Centre, said, “We are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished with the 13th edition of Dubai Sports World. We’ve not only achieved substantial growth in the number of participants, sports offered, fitness challenges and venue space but also had various initiatives that brought the local community together. Our mission complements the Dubai Government’s agenda to empower all community segments from all fitness levels and age groups including the children, the elderly, and people of determination to lead a healthy lifestyle, while promoting the Emirate as a fitness destination. We thank all our partners, sponsors, and participants who made this edition a huge success. We have big plans for next year and are looking forward to a bigger and better edition of Dubai Sports World in 2024." EXPANDED FACILITIES In 2023, DSW’s comprehensive offering encompassed over 40 courts and pitches, including 17 badminton courts, 8 table tennis tables, 6 football pitches, 3 basketball courts, 2 padel courts, 2 tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts, 1 cricket pitch, and 2 pickleball courts. INCLUSIVE EVENTS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES The 2023 edition of DSW was a catalyst for promoting an active and wholesome lifestyle across all segments of the community, including the elderly, children, and People of Determination.  DSW collaborated with various organisations such as the Community Development Authority, the Emirates Down Syndrome Association, and the Dubai Police, among others, to make sports activities more accessible to everyone. This included days for the elderly, providing them with the opportunity to participate in their favourite sports and activities throughout the event, and in partnership with the Emirates Down Syndrome Association, DSW offered courts and pitches for people with Down Syndrome to play their favourite sports alongside their companions each week throughout the event. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The 2023 edition also saw DSW host a ground-breaking community event for delivery drivers, the first of its kind, as part of the ‘Sports Summer’ initiative launched by Dubai Sports Council. The event brought together more than 450 delivery workers from prominent companies - Talabat, Deliveroo, Careem, Noon, Noon Food, and Now - uniting them in sportsmanship and camaraderie. The event included organising fun sports and entertainment competitions in five different games: tug of war, football, volleyball, badminton, and cricket. In a first for DSW, the year saw the debut of the HYROX event in Dubai, combining running with functional workout stations. With divisions catering to all skill levels, HYROX promoted inclusivity, teamwork, and personal accomplishment. Other initiatives featured local community fun events, such as the Zumba Masterclass, World Yoga Day, and Balance and Control Challenge, which introduced unique physical trials namely "Balancing Act," "No Touch Stand Up," and "Low Boat Pose Challenge." These enjoyable contests not only tested participants' physical prowess but also fostered a sense of achievement and unity. SPORTS ACADEMIES To break new ground at DSW in tuition and coaching, Dubai Sports World this year also partnered with 12 renowned sports academies, providing children aged 4 to 14 with exceptional skills training and endless fun throughout the summer. Children were able to try out the various academies that train at DSW throughout the summer, which included Real Madrid Academy, Star Football Academy, Soccer Kids Academy, IFA Sports Academy, Irish Football Academy, MVP, Star Basketball Academy, Professional Sports Academy, Deepika Sports Academy, Star Badminton Academy, Tennis 360 and American Middle-Eastern Dance Conservatory. "Dubai Sports World has consistently provided an exceptional opportunity for kids to actively participate and thrive during summer. Our summer camp, featured Accredited Coach Education Program (ACEP) qualified coaches and emphasised the vital role of basketball in children's development, nurturing teamwork skills, and improving their fitness levels,” Anees Makrous Co-Founder of Star Basketball Academy commented. On keeping the community active during summer period, Gwen Tan-Sproule, Founder and CEO of Tennis 360 said: "The variety of sports & facilities at Dubai Sports World is truly exceptional and a lifesaver in summer! The Dubai Sports World team is dedicated to enhancing the customer experience by continuously improving and upgrading their facility. This commitment provides us with the platform to deliver well-structured and progressive tennis programs for both children and adults. Our fruitful collaboration with Dubai Sports World over the past 12 years has made a significant impact by involving everyone in tennis and fostering awareness among diverse age groups in the community, inspiring everyone to remain active throughout the summer season." Sriyani Deepika, General Manager and Head Coach at Deepika Sports Academy said: "At Deepika Sports Academy, badminton transcends mere sport; it's a vehicle for nurturing relationships and instilling core values like teamwork, respect, and resilience. Beyond imparting the fundamentals of badminton, our summer camps are crafted to boost self-esteem through interactive learning experiences. We are grateful to have joined with Dubai Sports World in its 13th edition as this collaboration has played a pivotal role in amplifying the reach and impact of this wonderful sport." 

Rangan Banerjee, Director of the Indian Institute Of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi) - India’s leading technical education and research institution – said that the institution’s first international campus is expected to open in Abu Dhabi in 2024, further enhancing the UAE-India distinguished relations and joint cooperation, especially in the field of higher education.On the sidelines of the Emirates News Agency’s (WAM) visit to IIT Delhi’s campus, coinciding with the convening of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Rangan noted that the institution signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and India’s Ministry of Education this past June during the visit of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi to the UAE.He stressed that the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi reflects the shared vision of the two countries in focusing on areas of educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange and investment in human capital.Rangan explained that the institution will handle all academic matters in its new Abu Dhabi branch, including curriculums, labs, and research initiatives, in addition to participating in infrastructure planning, especially digital infrastructure, in cooperation with partners in ADEK and other relevant entities.The Director of IIT-Delhi stated that the Abu Dhabi branch will provide an added value to the research and innovation sector in the emirate, adding that it will benefit from cooperation opportunities with institutions such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), and Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to provide integrated programmes and advanced research.He further said that some of the areas targeted by the institute's branch in Abu Dhabi in the first phase include computer science, artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, health care, in addition to research programmes.

Dubai – Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has participated in GITEX Africa to engage with startups, incubators, and accelerators seeking to collaborate with the emirate to access global markets.As part of its participation in the exhibition, the chamber held more than 50 meetings with digital startups, multinational companies, and other businesses interested in benefiting from the emirate's advanced digital economy ecosystem and establishing their presence in Dubai.Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, delivered a keynote speech during the event about the benefits of setting up a business in Dubai and the role of the chamber in enhancing the emirate’s digital economy. Al Gergawi also contributed to an insightful panel discussion on key strategies to build a robust and resilient startup ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth.The chamber’s participation in GITEX Africa supported its goals of attracting high-potential tech companies, international businesses, and investments to the emirate and provided a platform to promote the upcoming Expand North Star event, which will be hosted in Dubai this October.   Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy aims to position the emirate as one of the world’s most agile and diversified technology-enabled digital hubs. The chamber plays an instrumental role in cementing Dubai’s digital leadership by attracting top global companies and talent within the sector and ensuring they can thrive in the emirate.Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy consistently works to amplify the success of Dubai’s digital ecosystem through various initiatives designed to attract startups and unicorns to the emirate. The launch of the Expand North Star Summit, an international event aimed at showcasing Dubai’s competitive advantages to digital companies while connecting venture capital investors with Dubai’s digital leaders, further builds on this success.The GITEX Africa exhibition was the first GITEX event to be held outside Dubai. Hosted in Morocco, the African continent’s largest all-inclusive tech event connected leading global tech companies, governments, SMEs, start-ups, coders, investors, and academia, to accelerate, collaborate, and explore new opportunities.Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global leader in digital economy, attract specialised talent, leading companies and new investments and create a stimulating environment that supports the growth of digital companies. The Chamber was established by a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

American Express Saudi Arabia (AESA) today announced that Mr. Fahad bin Mubarak Al Guthami has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer to lead the next phase of the company’s growth in the Kingdom.As AESA’s new CEO, Mr. Al Guthami is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for further expanding the company’s presence in Saudi Arabia by building on its strong position in commercial payments and the premium consumer segment. In addition to providing strategic leadership and oversight for the company’s day-to-day operations, he is also at the helm of AESA’s ongoing efforts to drive product innovation and digitization.Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Fahad bin Mubarak Al Guthami, Chief Executive Officer of American Express Saudi Arabia, said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to the role of CEO at American Express Saudi Arabia; a company that has a strong brand, standout values and brilliant people. I look forward to continuing to work with the team to continue to deliver value and innovative products for our customers, as well as drive growth for our business.”Mr. Al Guthami has led a distinguished career at American Express Saudi Arabia for more than 16 years. He has held several strategic positions with progressing responsibilities including Chief Operating Officer. As CEO of AESA, Mr. Al Guthami will leverage partnerships to strengthen the position of AESA in the Saudi marketplace.Prior to joining AESA, Mr. Al Guthami served as CEO of several companies in Saudi Arabia, and Executive Advisor to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of several companies listed on the Saudi stock market.