Saudi women’s clubs will compete in nine disciplines — fencing, basketball, show jumping, table tennis, karate, archery, volleyball, athletics and shooting — in the Arab region’s largest women’s sports competition.

Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Deputy Head of Supreme Organising Committee, Head of its Executive Committee and Director General of SWSF, said: “The participation by Saudi Arabia in ASWT 2018 is a significant addition to the involvement of Arab women’s clubs in the tournament. Everyone at Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation is delighted with their inclusion in the competition and welcomes all Saudi female players who will be participating in the forthcoming event.”

She added: “In the Arab world, we have witnessed remarkable progress in women’s sports. This heralds a promising future for Arab women as champions and lays the groundwork for them to clinch the most prestigious tiles in global tournaments, including the Olympic games.”

Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Arab Sports Council, Head of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, said: “We are committed to our presence in Sharjah because of the attention and care that His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Her Highness Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, give to women’s sports in UAE.”

Prince Talal added: “The UAE is a role model for women’s sports in line with the government’s efforts to empower women in all fields. We are working with Shaikha Haya Bint Aziz Al Khalifa, member of the Board of Directors of Bahraini Olympic Committee and President of the Women’s Sport Committee, to provide the teams with the opportunity to participate in these sporting events.”