sport
Abu Dhabi's Young Athletes Compete in Championship Finals This Weekend
Young athletes from Abu Dhabi schools will showcase their skills this weekend at the championship finals supported by ADEK.
How we reported this
The Abu Dhabi Sports Championship Finals open to the public on Saturday at Marina Hall inside ADNEC, with the new All-Stars Team taking the court for its first match at 2.30 pm.
The finals arrive at a moment when Abu Dhabi is expanding structured pathways that connect school-level competition to higher-level training. The All-Stars pilot, due to begin in full in August, selects players from the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship and the Charter Schools Cup and places them in coached programs across four sports. This approach gives selected athletes continued development after their school seasons end and aims to build a clearer route toward national and international representation.
Scope of the All-Stars pilot
Four sports form the initial focus: football, basketball, table tennis and badminton. Selection draws directly from results in the major school tournaments already run in the emirate, ensuring the athletes have already competed at a high standard within Abu Dhabi. The pilot operates under the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, which links the program to wider goals of increasing physical activity and creating inclusive sports settings for students.
Practical details for spectators
Doors at Marina Hall open at 10 am on the day. The All-Stars futsal match features under-15 players and forms part of the afternoon program. A closing ceremony runs from 4.30 pm to 6 pm. Families can attend throughout, with food and activities available on site. The source for these timings and program elements is the announcement published on Yalla Abu Dhabi.
Residents who want to see the next generation of local talent in action can plan an afternoon at ADNEC this weekend. Arriving early allows time to watch multiple matches before the All-Stars showcase and the evening ceremony.