More than 20 athletes trained for over 170 hours at Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt, and Snow Oman
A groundbreaking Snow Sport Team Development Strategy paved the way for Special Olympics teams from the UAE, Oman, and Egypt
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing introduced for the first time at MAF Entertainment’s snow destinations to support athlete preparation
Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment is breaking barriers and making history at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, empowering athletes across the MENA region to compete at the highest level. Through its Ski and Snow portfolio, Majid Al Futtaim has trained and developed 10 Special Olympics teams representing the UAE, Oman, and Egypt, fostering inclusion and excellence in winter sports.
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment said: “The Special Olympics is a powerful movement that unites people through the love of sport. Our athletes from the UAE, Oman, and Egypt are a true inspiration, showcasing perseverance, passion, and the drive to defy limits. We are incredibly proud of them and cheering them all the way as they shine on a global stage.”
Before taking flight to Turin, more than 20 athletes dedicated over 170 training hours at Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt, and Snow Oman. They now join 1,500 athletes from 100 nations competing in eight winter sports categories from March 8-15, 2025. This marks the first Special Olympics Winter Games in nearly a decade, and the UAE delegation stands out as the largest from the Middle East, competing in six disciplines: Snowshoeing, Cross-country skiing, Figure skating, Alpine skiing, Short-track speed skating and Snowboarding.
A legacy of inclusion and innovation
The journey to Turin started in October 2023, when Ski Dubai introduced a comprehensive Snow Sport Team Development Strategy to Special Olympics UAE. Designed to prepare athletes for global competition and ensure long-term sustainability, the strategy was so successful that it was expanded across Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt, and Snow Oman, resulting in the formation of nine snow sport teams and one ice sport team.
Building on Abu Dhabi’s historic hosting of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment continues to redefine inclusion in sports. By opening doors to winter sports for athletes with intellectual disabilities, it proves that with opportunity, belief, and the right support, anything is possible.
Majid Al Futtaim has been a pioneer in indoor snow entertainment since launching Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates in 2005. The success continued with the opening of Ski Egypt (2017, Africa’s first indoor snow destination and Snow Oman (2022), the region’s latest state-of-the-art snow park. Snow Abu Dhabi joined the Ski and Snow portfolio family in 2023, reinforcing Majid Al Futtaim’s reputation as the world’s leading brand in indoor snow entertainment.
As these athletes step onto the world stage, they carry with them the dreams of a region, the support of a community, and the belief that barriers are meant to be broken.