Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has become a new strategic sponsor of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.

The RTA signed an agreement with the Dubai Sports Council, which organises the annual tournament, last week, ahead of the launch of the 2019 edition on 7 May.

Held during Ramadan each year since 2013, the NAS Sports Tournament features athletes of all abilities competing across 13 sports.

Yousif Ahmed Al Redha, the RTA’s CEO of Corporate Administration Support Services Sector, signed the agreement with the DSC.

“We thank Dubai Sports Council for all the efforts they put in every year to make this tournament a success and we are confident the tournament will be an even bigger success this year,” he said.

“We are proud to have the name of RTA associated with this hugely popular community initiative, the largest of its kind, and we are looking forward to continuing this partnership in the years to come.”

Over 22,000 athletes have taken part across the six previous editions, with the 2019 event adding cricket and snowboarding to the lineup.

After the opening ceremony on 7 May, 16 days of competition will see amateur and professional athletes competing in sports including futsal, volleyball and fencing.

The competition also includes wheelchair basketball and futsal for people with hearing disabilities.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the DSC, said: “The Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament is a unique community initiative being organised under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan, and this partnership only adds more value to the tournament.

“The tournament has achieved a lot over the past six years, boosting the technical levels of our athletes, spreading the culture of sports and physical activity and introducing new sports every year to the schedule.”

The total prize fund for the 2019 NAS Sports Tournament, which has the slogan ‘unlimited capabilities’, is Dh6 million.