Rashid bin Ammar and Hamid bin Abdulaziz Witness the Conclusion of the 9th Gulf Academies Football Festival in Ajman

Sheikh Rashid bin Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Digital Department, and Sheikh Hamid bin Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, witnessed the closing of the ninth edition of the Gulf Academies Football Festival — “Khalijiya Quatro” — organised by the Quatro Sports Centre in Ajman over the course of seven days. The tournament featured the participation of 20 teams from six Gulf states, competing across three age categories: Under-12, Under-14, and Under-16, in a distinguished sporting atmosphere that reflected the tournament’s growing standing among Gulf football academies.

The tournament, which has become a prominent annual fixture for the discovery and honing of football talent, demonstrated its success in bringing together an elite group of Gulf academies and providing a competitive environment that contributes to player development and the promotion of sporting exchange amongst the countries of the region.

The competition witnessed strong technical levels throughout. The UAE’s Euro Academy claimed the Under-12 title after defeating Kuwait’s Seventeen Four Academy on penalties, whilst the UAE’s Al Ain Club Academy secured the Under-14 title after overcoming Oman’s Smart Academy, also on penalties. The UAE’s Argentine Academy, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Ammar Al Nuaimi, succeeded in winning the Under-16 title after defeating the UAE’s Al Seeb Club Academy by a score of 1–0, having delivered a distinguished performance throughout the tournament.

The Under-16 final was attended by His Excellency Ahmed Al Raeesi, Chairman of the Festival’s Supreme Organising Committee, along with representatives of the sponsors: Abdullah Al Abdouli, representing the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media; Sami Ali, representing the Al Ihsan Charitable Association; Abdullah Jaber, Executive Director of Lavish Perfumes Group; and Ahmed Al Saadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hisn Ridan Restaurant — in addition to a number of officials and representatives of supporting entities and sporting figures.

The closing ceremony included the crowning of the winning teams in first place, alongside the honouring of outstanding achievers from amongst the players, technical staff, and administrative personnel, through individual awards designated for each age category — in recognition of the notable levels they demonstrated throughout the tournament’s competitions.

A number of former Gulf football stars were also honoured in recognition of their contributions and sporting careers: Captain Hamoud Sultan, former Bahrain national team goalkeeper; Captain Badr Haji, former Kuwait national team star; and Captain Nour Sabri, former Iraq national team goalkeeper — alongside the honouring of Saudi content creator Hassan Abdulaziz (Bu Masha’el).

The ninth edition of the Festival concluded to widespread acclaim for the technical and organisational standards witnessed throughout the competitions. The Festival continued to consolidate its standing as one of the most prominent Gulf tournaments dedicated to football academies — providing a competitive platform that contributes to the discovery and honing of promising talent, and strengthening the bonds of cooperation and sporting exchange amongst academies and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in support of the journey of developing football across the various youth age groups in the region.