School sport in the UAE is entering its biggest year yet — and last Saturday, the people responsible for making it happen all came together in one room.
150 physical education leaders, teachers, and directors from across member schools assembled for the annual DASSA Development Day, a collaborative conference designed to align the UAE’s physical education community ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 academic year.
With DASSA expanding to a record-breaking 109 member schools this season, the event served as both a celebration of how far the association has come and a practical platform for the educators who will deliver thousands of fixtures, festivals, and championships over the months ahead.
A Day Built Around Collaboration
The conference was structured around interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions covering curriculum delivery, student welfare, fixture logistics, and inclusive athletic pathways. The emphasis throughout the day was on sharing knowledge across schools — recognising that when PE teachers and directors of sport collaborate, the student-athletes across the entire network benefit.
“To bring 150 dedicated educators together under one roof to share knowledge and elevate our collective standard is what makes the DASSA community so unique,” said Leigh Stevens, DASSA Head of CPD and Head of Academic PE at Kings’ School Al Barsha. “The passion and collaboration on display set an extraordinary tone for what promises to be our biggest sporting year yet.”
The Partners Powering DASSA
The Development Day and the wider DASSA sporting network is made possible through the support of a group of corporate and community partners committed to advancing youth health, travel, and athletic performance across the UAE.
TWEDEX returns as Headline Sponsor for the season ahead — working behind the scenes to power DASSA initiatives through bespoke school travel tours, the World School Games event series, and official team apparel through J20 Sports.
Mediclinic continues their long-standing partnership with DASSA, providing vital sports medicine expertise, health provisions, and dedicated school health resources to member schools across the network.
Air Arabia support regional sports logistics, offering group travel options and competitive rates for school fixtures and international trips throughout the season.
FittMeals deliver macro-calculated, nutritionist-designed meal services across the UAE — helping PE staff and student-athletes maintain peak performance. DASSA members receive 30% off with promo code DASSA.
Dubai Basketball bring elite professional basketball to the region, offering school group ticketing, community access, and youth clinic opportunities for member schools.
Gulf Youth Sport serves as the official media partner for DASSA — putting student-athlete achievements, match recaps, and coach insights in the regional spotlight throughout the season.
Celebrating the Community
The conference also celebrated its delegates with an extensive array of rewards provided by generous lifestyle, fitness, and venue partners from across the UAE. Special thanks were extended to Primal Fitness and Primal Race, Super Sports UAE, Viya Fit, Five Iron Golf, The Den, The Coterie, McGettigan’s, APEX Games, and Let’s DXB for supporting the event and treating the educators in attendance.
Ready for the Season
With calendars locked, partnerships reinforced, and 150 educators fully aligned on what the 2026/27 academic year demands, DASSA schools are ready.
This is the foundation on which championships are built, records are broken, and student-athletes discover what they are capable of. The season starts now.
Follow Gulf Youth Sport at gulfyouthsport.com and @gulfyouthsport for full coverage of the DASSA season throughout the year.