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Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has been ratified as an Associate Member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) following a vote by member countries at the 52nd International Ski Congress, which was held last week in Switzerland. Attaining the membership is the culmination of a five-year campaign spearheaded by Majid Al Futtaim and Ski Dubai in collaboration with the UAE Winter Sports Federation. It paves the way for Emirati snow sports athletes to compete internationally for the first time and for the United Arab Emirates to host FIS-accredited international snow sports competitions such as the FIS Alpine Slalom and Slopestyle Ski and Snowboard event, which is due to take place at Ski Dubai later this year.
Over the last decade, Ski Dubai has fostered a winter sports culture in the MENA region and established itself as a hub for international competitions by hosting numerous prestigious events such as The World Cup and Para Snowboard World Cup as well as the inaugural UAE National Ski and Snowboard Championships, which attract both competitors and spectators from around the globe. In line with its efforts to create a national team, the state-of-the-art facility also provides a platform for athletes to learn, develop and hone their unique talents and, is committed to investing in and nurturing home-grown talent through its Sponsored Athletes programme.
Following the announcement, Mohammad El Etri, Vice President of Global Snow at
Majid Al Futtaim said, “Becoming an Associate Member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) is a moment of great pride and will bolster the United Arab Emirates’ stature on the international snow sports stage. It is also extremely exciting news for athletes who can now aspire to represent their nation at a global level by competing at some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events such as the Olympic Winter Games and the FIS World Ski Championships.”
He added, “At Majid Al Futtaim, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of possibility and, while the desert may seem like an unlikely destination for snow sports, Ski Dubai introduces 80,000 people to skiing and snow sports each year and has trained a cohort of elite athletes. As part of our dedication to championing local talent, we have worked closely with the UAE Winter Sports Federation and played an instrumental role in securing this membership. We are extremely excited about watching our athletes make a mark on the world stage and fueling further growth in the snow sports sector.”
The United Arab Emirates was one of five new nations to be approved as an Associate Member of FIS at International Ski Congress, which takes place on a biannual basis. The International Ski Federation (FIS) is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding and was founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. Through its 123 member nations, more than 7,000 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually across the world.
Ski Dubai was recently nominated for ‘World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort’ at the 2021 World Ski Awards and has been awarded the prestigious title for five consecutive years. For more information about Ski Dubai visit skidxb.com or follow @skidxb on social media channels.
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The legal name of this company is “Majid Al Futtaim” and should not be shortened or replaced by an acronym to avoid confusion with another business entity.
About Majid Al Futtaim
Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man’s vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to ‘create great moments for everyone, every day’. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates’ most respected and successful businesses spanning 17 international markets, employing more than 43,000 people, and obtaining the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately-held corporates in the region.
Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 27 shopping malls, 13 hotels and four mixed-use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, Mall of Egypt, City Centre malls, My City Centre neighbourhood centres, and five community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company is the exclusive franchisee for Carrefour in over 30 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, operating a portfolio of more than 350 outlets and an online store.
Majid Al Futtaim operates more than 500 VOX Cinemas screens as well as a portfolio of world-class leisure and entertainment experiences across the region including Ski Dubai, Ski Egypt, Dreamscape, Magic Planet, Little Explorers and iFLY Dubai. The Company is parent to a Fashion, Home and Specialty retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, AllSaints, lululemon athletica, Crate & Barrel, Maisons du Monde, LEGO and THAT, a Majid Al Futtaim fashion concept store and app. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility and energy management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management.
© Press Release 2021
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