Arabian Warrior Launches Milestone

With the debut of Arabian Warrior set to kick off its first season in Dubai this month, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saif Al-Sharqi, representing the brand, spoke with Arab News about the anticipated impact on obstacle course racing (OCR) in the Middle East.

What will the launch of Arabian Warrior mean for OCR across the region?

Arabian Warrior is a regional initiative aiming to establish a global presence for obstacle course racing centered in the Middle East.

We view the launch of Arabian Warrior as a pivotal moment for the extensive OCR community in the region and for the sport's long-term future.

Committing to eight events in the 2024-25 season, races will occur in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, starting in Dubai on October 26.

In recent years, we've observed significant OCR growth in the area, with events drawing thousands of participants across various age groups and fitness levels. There's ample room for the sport to evolve further.

OCR is a rapidly growing sport aligned with today's health and fitness focus. While the current community is extensive, we anticipate a substantial increase in attendees during our inaugural season and beyond in the GCC.

What can participants and audiences expect from Arabian Warrior?

Our first season includes events across the UAE (Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah), Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh), and Qatar (Doha), with potential additions to the schedule.

Each event offers 5k, 10k, 15k, 20k, 50k, and kids' (1.6k) race options, ensuring that all age and skill levels can participate. Inclusivity is crucial to us because fitness should have no barriers.

Participants can choose to join the Open Heats for their preferred challenge or compete in the more competitive Age Group Heats, where each runner's time is recorded.

Additionally, we are excited to welcome top global OCR athletes to compete in the Elite category, where significant prize money is up for grabs.

Beyond the races, each event will feature a Fan Village where both competitors and spectators can enjoy entertainment and food from various outlets, making it an ideal weekend outing.

Why are events hosted in the UAE, KSA, and Qatar?

As a brand originating from the Middle East, we aim to provide as many people as possible in the region the opportunity to participate.

With races in three cities in both the UAE and KSA, where OCR interest is significant, these locations are well covered.

The sport is also very popular in Qatar, so we planned an event in Doha for our first season, expecting great success and turnout.

Looking ahead, there are numerous other potential locations, and we are continuously working to enhance our offerings.

With three events in KSA during the first season, is Saudi Arabia a key market?

Absolutely. The importance of sports to Saudi Arabia is unmistakable. In recent years, the Kingdom has hosted major global events across diverse sports, and this trend looks set to continue, including the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk rematch in December.

From an OCR perspective, KSA is a critical destination for several reasons.

Primarily, there's a strong demand for the sport, with thousands attending past OCR events.

The infrastructure for hosting large-scale sports events is in place, with substantial support from authorities keen on enhancing the country's reputation as a global sports hub.

We eagerly anticipate hosting events in KSA during the first Arabian Warrior season and future seasons.

Can Arabian Warrior compete with more established events in the MENA region's busy sports calendar?

We believe the plethora of elite-level sports events in the region is to be celebrated, and there's room for everyone. Given our rapid progress in a short time, it's unwise to view other events as rivals, as each is uniquely different.

As a new brand, our focus is on achieving our short and long-term goals through hard work and team collaboration.

We are confident in our product and believe Arabian Warrior events will soon become highlights of the GCC sporting calendar.

What would you say to someone considering their first OCR event?

Don't hesitate—just go for it. The OCR community is incredibly welcoming and supportive. There's a reason newcomers keep returning and why the sport's popularity is soaring.

OCR is a fantastic way to meet people, accomplish something positive, and improve your well-being, both physically and mentally. There are genuinely no downsides.

Source: arabnews

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.