Gulf schools put on a show at The World School Games 2025 in Dubai, scooping all the top prizes after three days of competition last week.
The event, which brings together schools from across the globe in a multicultural celebration of sport, returned bigger and better than ever as teams battled it out across three events.
Local schools have historically excelled in the Games which encompass swimming, athletics, and football, with this – the tenth edition – proving no exception.
In total, 21 schools (11 Gulf-based) from eight countries spanning three continents descended on the iconic host city, with around 1000 athletes ready to compete across U11, U13, and U15 age categories.
The Games’ format sees every athlete and team battle it out to not only achieve individual success, but also gain crucial points for their school in the overall rankings which determine the World Champions of School Sport.
The action got underway on Thursday at Hamdan Sports Complex with a fantastic Opening Ceremony setting the tone before a day of swimming followed. Teammates and supporters packed out the stands of the impressive venue, waving their flags and making their voices heard as the first races of the 2025 Games began.
As well as hundreds of individual medals being awarded throughout an action-packed day, it was a successful day in the pool for local Gulf schools in the overall standings.
Safa Community School ended Day 1 as swimming champions in both the U13 (joint-first with ACS Cobham, England) and U15 age group, while JESS Ranches picked up the top prize in the U11 category.
Onto Day 2, the action moved to Dubai Police Officer’s Club – a first-time venue for The World School Games – as students prepared for two sessions of athletics. The boys took to the track for a variety of races in the morning while the girls competed on the field before swapping over after lunch.
A clear-sky day provided the perfect conditions for the young athletes to put in some incredible performances and pick up some crucial points, with Gulf-based school DIA Emirates Hills running out U13 athletics champions.
With everything to play for as the Games headed into their third and final day, attentions turned to the football pitches at ISD Dubai Sports City. Each team across the boys’ and girls’ U11, U13, and U15 age categories played a number of group stage matches before splitting off into different branches of knockout competition.
As they had done over the course of the full event, the parents and supporters in attendance cheered on their favourites as each team gave 100% and enjoyed another great day of competition.
In the end, it was a clean sweep for Gulf schools as the overall football cup champions. Stellar performances by the young players of Safa Community School saw them run out as winners in the U11 (Boys), U13 (Girls), and U15 (Boys and Girls) age categories. Meanwhile, DIA Emirates Hills emerged as victors in the U11 Girls and U13 Boys categories to cap off a hugely-successful day on the pitch.
The Games then drew to a close at the Els Club with an Awards Ceremony to crown The World School Games Champions for each age group. Strong performances on the pitch – coupled with impressive showings on each of the previous days were enough to see Safa Community School crowned World School Games Champions in the U11 and U15 age group, while DIA Emirates Hills scooped the U13 title.
A full list of the participating Gulf schools and the podium finishers for each age group can be found below…
Participating Gulf Schools
- BIS Riyadh DQ (Saudi Arabia)
- Brighton College Al Ain (UAE)
- Yasmina British Academy (UAE)
- Nadeen School Bahrain (Bahrain)
- DIA Barsha (UAE)
- Jumeirah College (UAE)
- DIA Emirates Hills (UAE)
- Safa Community School (UAE)
- JESS Ranches (UAE)
- JESS Jumeirah (UAE)
- Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (UAE)
U11 World School Games
3rd place – DIA Emirates Hills (UAE)
2nd place – JESS Jumeirah (UAE)
1st place – Safa Community School (UAE)
U13 World School Games
3rd place – Grange School (Nigeria)
2nd place – Safa Community School (UAE)
1st place – DIA Emirates Hills (UAE)
U15 World School Games
3rd place – Grange School (Nigeria)
2nd place – Safa Community School (UAE)
1st place – DIA Emirates Hills (UAE)
The official World School Games Aftermovie can be found below…
World School Games Photo Galleries
Gulf Youth Sport are proud partners of The World School Games and were on hand to capture each and every moment of another memorable global event! All our photo galleries can be viewed by clicking here.
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A massive ‘well done’ to everyone who competed in The World School Games 2025 from Gulf Youth Sport!