The UAE Paralympics team will be sponsored by the Mubadala Investment Company until 2021 after an agreement was struck with the UAE Disabled Sports Federation (UAEDSF).

The sponsorship deal will provide a major boost to UAE Paralympians as they prepare for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

UAE athletes secured a record-breaking haul of seven medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and are aiming to surpass that total in Japan in two years’ time.

Mubadala and the UAEDSF will now co-operate to support the potential members of the UAE Paralympics team in local and international competition in the build up to the Tokyo Games.

“Mubadala is dedicated to supporting initiatives which encourage all members of UAE society to positively contribute to the achievements of our nation,” Homaid Al Shimmari, deputy group CEO and chief corporate & human capital officer at Mubadala, said.

“Our motivation comes from athletes themselves who continually inspire us, and who have conquered adversity through their determination to achieve excellence in their sports.

“The UAEDSF has been pivotal in breaking down barriers and our partnership gives us a unique opportunity to evolve the conversation towards acceptance and creating an inclusive society that enables people with determination to realize their full potential.”

Mohamed Fadil Al Hamli, chairman of the UAEDSF, added: “Through our joint efforts, we will do everything in our capacity to enable UAE athletes with determination to realize their full potential and shine in local and international competitions.”   

Mubadala have been working with the UAE Disabled Sports Federation since 2016 on community outreach projects but this sponsorship deal offers an expanded scope.

Eighteen UAE athletes competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, with Mohamed Al Hammadi (800m T34 men’s wheelchair race) and Mohammed Khamis Khalaf (88kg powerlifting) claiming gold medals. Khalaf is the UAE’s most decorated Paralympian, having also won gold in Athens 2014 and silver in Beijing 2008.