Al Masaood joins hands with the UAE Winter Sports Federation to support National Women’s Ice Hockey Team
ABU DHABI – Al Masaood Group has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Winter Sports Federation to support the women’s national ice hockey team as a “Gold Sponsor”. Al Masaood’s move is in line with his approach to supporting the sports industry in the UAE as part of their social and national responsibilities in light of the accelerating growth of ice sports in the country.
Recently, UAE ice sports events are becoming more popular as UAE has five ice rinks, a national team that has won championships and more than 800 registered players across the country, including 80 women players. As the sport has grown in the Gulf region, the UAE national team has emerged as a major regional player. Winning the Arab Cup, IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia, and golf-ice hockey championships.
Ahmed Salmeen, Chief Executive, Government Affairs at Al Masaood Group said: “Our collaboration with the UAE Winter Sports Federation is part of our commitment to support community driven initiatives and events. We are fascinated by the growth of ice sport events in the UAE and excited to see a significant advancement in the role of UAE women in sport. This certainly reinforces our overarching goal of solidifying Abu Dhabi’s status as a vibrant, global center for international sports activities for people from all walks of life.”
Ice hockey in the United Arab Emirates is governed by the UAE Ice Sports Federation and the UAE has been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation since 2001. In 2017, the UAE proudly introduced the national women’s ice hockey team.
In addition, the UAE national ice hockey team has set many standards and won numerous awards during its career, keeping the country’s reputation high. The UAE national ice hockey team was the guest of honor at the Washington Capitals vs Columbus Blue Jackets game at Capital One Arena. Fatima Al Ali, the famous player, was invited to the same arena by the Capitals a year before the ceremony.
“We are honored to support the women’s national ice hockey team as we continue to champion the potential of Emirati women, unleash their creativity and give them the opportunity to prove themselves and pursue a bright sporting future. We look forward to making a tangible and positive impact on Abu Dhabi’s women’s sports community through our combined efforts,” added Salmeen.
Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Confederation, said: “We greatly appreciate this partnership with Al Masaood Group to sponsor the UAE Women’s National Ice Hockey Team for the 2022-2023 season. This sponsorship is part of the private sector’s strategy to promote national sports teams, with Al Masaood taking the lead in this area. Ice hockey is part of the many winter sports that capture the interest of a significant category of the community and attract a wide fan base from all nationalities. We are therefore delighted to be working with Al Masaood, which has become a key partner in promoting the achievements of women in this sport, both locally and internationally.
The UAE has long supported ice hockey, as evidenced by the formation of the UAE National Women’s Ice Hockey Team. The team has competed in the Asian Women’s Ice Hockey Cup in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019 where they finished second in the last two editions, becoming the first Arab team to ever compete in the Asian Ice Hockey Cup. In his role as gold sponsor, Al Masaood looks on
I look forward to supporting the team and reflecting on the pillars of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which includes sport and youth development.
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About the Al-Masaood Group
Founded in 1970, Al Masaood Group is a leading family-owned conglomerate in Abu Dhabi, offering holistic and innovative solutions to clients and customers across multiple sectors. Through its diverse businesses and businesses, the group supports the positioning of the UAE as a global business hub while serving the needs of its community through far-reaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Al Masaood, despite its “emiratization” program, remains committed to developing the skills of local youth and providing them with training and employment opportunities in the automotive, industrial, construction and real estate sectors.
To empower young athletes, the group has forged strong and lasting ties with local sports groups – including Al Jazira Football Club and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Juventus Football Academy, Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, and Gary Player Invitational. In 2019, Al Masaood was a Gold Sponsor of the Special Olympics World Games, held in Abu Dhabi. Al Masaood Group also aims to meet the needs of all citizens and support sustainable development through its collaboration with the Sandooq Al Watan (Community) initiative.
For more information about our products, services and CSR initiatives, visit
www.masaood.com. You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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