Olympic wrestling training will be relocated to GEMS Metropole School in the UAE, transforming it into a wrestling training center.
The GEMS Metropole School – Motor City in Dubai has announced a partnership with the UAE Wrestling Federation (UAEWF), aiming to establish the school as the UAE's first Olympic wrestling training hub. This collaboration is a significant step towards supporting the country’s Olympic medal ambitions by developing future wrestling talent.
According to Mike Lowery, Director of Sport at GEMS Metropole, the partnership aligns with the National Sports Strategy 2031 by upgrading sports education, developing future professionals, and discovering talent within schools. The initiative is designed to lower barriers to high-level wrestling training, creating a sustainable and inclusive system to nurture and produce Olympic-caliber wrestlers from within the UAE.
The partnership intends to embed wrestling into regular physical education lessons for all students, providing every child with exposure to the sport regardless of prior experience. Talented students will enter the Mustang competitive sports pathway, receiving specialized combat and high-performance coaching. A dedicated combat specialist will lead the competitive wrestling program starting next month.
The school's advanced facilities, including the Under Armour High Performance Institute, sports nutrition lab, specialized strength and conditioning equipment (VALD system), KULA Recovery Zone featuring cold-water therapy and infrared sauna, and a new combat area with international-standard Fuji mats and a boxing ring, will support elite athletic development.
The official announcement of this partnership will take place in September during a grand ceremony featuring athlete demonstrations and the signing of a memorandum of understanding. This initiative reflects a strategic national effort to boost the UAE’s presence and potential success in Olympic wrestling by leveraging education and sports infrastructure.
Notably, students at the school have achieved national and international success in combat sports. The school's approach to high-performance sports removes barriers to access, such as travel time, expensive costs, and pay-walled facilities. All PE staff at the school are now Wrestling Level 1 certified.
This partnership aims to boost the UAE's Olympic medal ambitions by offering opportunities to train alongside Olympic-standard athletes in a high-performance environment. It grew out of Mike Lowery's close work with federation officials like Erik Stibilj, and a visit by Sports Development Director Yasser Al Qubaisi, who was impressed by the school's strategic approach to sport and high-performance culture.
In conclusion, the partnership between GEMS Metropole School – Motor City and the UAE Wrestling Federation is set to contribute to the UAE’s National Sports Strategy 2031 by upgrading sports education, discovering local talent, and strengthening the UAE’s international sporting identity with a focus on elite athlete preparation and Olympic participation.
- The GEMS Metropole School – Motor City in Dubai, in partnership with the UAE Wrestling Federation (UAEWF), is aiming to establish the school as the UAE's first Olympic wrestling training hub, aligning with the National Sports Strategy 2031.
- The partnership aims to embed wrestling into regular physical education lessons for all students, providing exposure to the sport, and developing talented students through a specialized combat and high-performance coaching program.
- The school's advanced facilities, such as the Under Armour High Performance Institute, sports nutrition lab, and a new combat area with international-standard Fuji mats and a boxing ring, will support elite athletic development.
- The initiative is designed to lower barriers to high-level wrestling training, creating a sustainable and inclusive system to nurture and produce Olympic-caliber wrestlers from within the UAE, contributing to the country’s Olympic medal ambitions.
