Sports in the era of Khalifa. Unprecedented achievements and a huge qualitative leap in facilities to empower youth

Sports during the reign of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, received great attention, and achieved unprecedented leaps and achievements, commensurate with the great renaissance, which accompanied all branches of life in the Emirates.
A year after the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, the people of the UAE remember with more pride, glory, honor and pride many of the established fingerprints in the sports sector that achieved a huge qualitative leap at all levels during his reign.
During his reign, sports were characterized by empowerment and leadership in terms of winning titles, hosting tournaments, strengthening, developing and establishing sports facilities with international standards and features, as well as decisions that enriched the sports life in the UAE, and won tremendous international recognition.

In terms of football, the UAE national team won the Arabian Gulf Cup twice, in 2007 in the UAE and 2013 in Bahrain, and the youth football team achieved a historic achievement by winning the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2008.
The Olympic football team participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games, in the first participation of UAE football in the Olympic Games.
Embodying the late Sheikh Khalifa's interest in sports and athletes, he launched the annual Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Award to honor outstanding champions at all levels, which has turned into a festival for athletes.
During his reign, the State was also keen to provide women with the opportunity to exercise their role in sports competition and to obtain their right to represent the State and participate in foreign championships.
During his tenure, decisions were issued that allowed UAE residents and those born to participate actively in sports competitions.
Law No. 29 of 2006 on People of Determination also emphasized the great interest in the "Knights of Will and Challenge".
The same boom witnessed by the country in terms of organizing international and international championships and major events in various sports, which contributed to placing the UAE strongly on the map of world championships, and the most prominent of what the UAE hosted in that era was the 2013 FIFA Junior World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Major leaps have extended to new facilities and infrastructure, and the development of old facilities with the increase over the years in the number of sports, club and national teams, and participation in international sports forums.
Perhaps the most prominent renovations took place in Zayed Sports City, Al Nahyan, Mohammed bin Zayed stadiums in Abu Dhabi, Al Maktoum in Dubai, and Hazza bin Zayed in Al Ain, which contributed to the UAE hosting the Club World Cup 5 times in 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
During the reign of the late Sheikh Khalifa, he also opened many huge sports facilities that hosted many major international events in various sports in all emirates, such as Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai in 2010, Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in 2009, Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah in 2016 and other giant sports facilities.