The Al Jawareh team displayed a magnificent performance to defeat Zabeel in the final of the Volleyball Championship, bringing the 10th edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament to a close in Dubai on Monday. Organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and held under the theme ‘Limitless Abilities’, the NAS Sports Tournament is the largest event of its kind in terms of participation and prize money, and has been conducted annually since 2013 during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the prestigious Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

This year, the tournament hosted more than 5000 male and female participants across eight different sporting disciplines, including volleyball, padel, wheelchair basketball, running, cycling, archery, jiu-jitsu, and fencing. Spanning 19 days, the event offered a prize purse of AED4 million and was attended by over 40,000 spectators of varying ages and nationalities.

The Al Jawareh team, composed of French, Brazilian, and Spanish players, emerged victorious by dominating the game from start to finish and securing a 3-0 win over Zabeel. After claiming the opening set with a score of 25-17, Al Jawareh continued to keep their opponents under pressure and secured the next two sets 25-18 and 25-16 respectively, ultimately securing a comfortable win and the title.

The prizes were presented by distinguished individuals, including Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the tournament, Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, General Director of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and Chairman of the Sports Games Sector at Shabab Al Ahli Club, Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, and Hassan Al Mazrouei, Tournament Director, in the presence of the sponsors.

While Zabeel finished as the runner-up, Emperor, the defending champion, had to settle for third place. The tournament awarded Mohammed Abdulaziz of HMS with the Best Citizen Player award, and Al Jawareh’s Brazilian import, Gabriel Da Carlos Silva, with the Best Overall Player of the Tournament award. Leonardo Matinez of the Zabeel team was recognized with the Best Hitter award.

During the closing ceremony of the 10th edition of the NAS Sports Tournament, international referees including Hamed Al-Rossi, Ismail Ibrahim, Khalid Rashid, and Mohammed Al-Dawla were also honored for their contribution to the tournament.

Saeed Hareb, the Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, expressed his gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, for his support of the tournament and highlighted the success of the 10th edition.

Hareb also emphasised that the NAS International Padel Championship and volleyball competition have become platforms for the world's best players and expressed hope that the number of international players will continue to increase. He thanked the volunteers and members of the organising committee for their contribution to the tournament's success and encouraged clubs to follow up on new talent unearthed during the event.

Lieutenant General Marri praised the tournament's organisation and the high level of play in volleyball, padel, cycling, and running. He highlighted the success of the volleyball championship and noted that many players were on the radar of clubs.

The French coach of the Al Jawareh team, Brice Donat, praised the tournament's technical level and described the experience as beneficial for him and his players. Although the team aimed to win the title, they also took time to enjoy the city's sights and had a unique experience in Dubai's beautiful sports facilities.

The 10th edition of the NAS Sports Tournament attracted a large number of international athletes from various continents, who participated in the volleyball championship, the Nad Al Sheba International Padel Championship, as well as the International Padel Federation (gold) category. Athletes from overseas also competed in the bow and arrow, fencing, jiu-jitsu, running, and cycling championships.

After the conclusion of the volleyball championship, the organising committee held two draws on cars provided by Al Tayer Motors to thank the spectators for their support and participation in the games with their families. Financial prizes worth AED 100,000, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, were also distributed among the audience present on the last day of the tournament.