Draw held for 2nd GCC Women’s University Sports Tournament

Doha, : The draw ceremony for the Second GCC Women’s University Sports Tournament was held last Wednesday at Education City Stadium. The event will be hosted by the Qatari capital, Doha, from 6 to 11 February 2026, with wide participation from female students representing universities across the Gulf region.

In the basketball competitions, the participating universities were divided into two groups. Group One includes Doha University for Science and Technology, King Khalid University, United Arab Emirates University, and Umm Al-Qura University. Group Two includes the Saudi Electronic University, Kuwait University, Qatar University, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Basketball matches are scheduled to begin on the morning of Sunday, 8 February, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final rounds, which will be held on Monday, 9 February.

In futsal competitions, the participating universities were also divided into two groups. Group One comprises United Arab Emirates University, Sultan Qaboos University, King Faisal University, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, while Group Two includes Qassim University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar University, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Futsal competitions will begin on Sunday, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the final rounds scheduled for Tuesday, 10 February.

The table tennis competitions will feature seven universities, divided into two groups. Group One includes King Khalid University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Qassim University, while Group Two includes King Abdulaziz University, Qatar University, Kuwait University, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Table tennis matches will commence on Saturday, 7 February, with the finals to be held on Monday, 9 February.

In the padel competitions, the participating universities were divided into three groups. Group One includes Qatar University, the University of Hail, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Group Two includes Majmaah University, King Abdulaziz University, and Kuwait University. Group Three comprises Umm Al-Qura University, United Arab Emirates University, and Sultan Qaboos University.

The volleyball competitions will be held in a single round-robin league format, with the participation of five universities: Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and Sultan Qaboos University.

In the badminton competitions, the participating universities were divided into three groups. Group One includes Qatar University, the University of Hail, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Group Two includes Majmaah University, King Abdulaziz University, and Kuwait University. Group Three includes Umm Al-Qura University, United Arab Emirates University, Sultan Qaboos University, and Qassim University.

Athletics competitions will take place on Sunday and will include the following events: 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, shot put, long jump, and the 4 × 100 metres relay.

Qatar is hosting this championship for the first time, under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening sports cooperation among GCC countries and contributing to the development of women’s university sport at the regional level.

The tournament aims to enhance Gulf sports integration, develop women’s sport within universities, and support female students both athletically and academically by providing a competitive environment that contributes to preparing sports talents capable of representing their universities and educational institutions with distinction at various sporting events.

The competitions will be held across seven venues, including six venues in Education City and one venue at Qatar University. The opening ceremony will take place on 7 February 2026 at the Longines Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab. The event will feature approximately 450 female students representing 16 universities and higher education institutions from GCC countries, competing in eight sports: football, volleyball, basketball, padel, table tennis, badminton, and athletics, with fencing being included in the championship programme for the first time.

On this occasion, Dr. Maryam bint Hamad Al-Mannai, Chair of the Organising Committee and Vice President for Student Affairs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, stated that Qatar’s hosting of the GCC Universities Championship for the first time, and its organisation in Doha, marks an important milestone in the journey of Gulf university sport. She noted that it reflects Qatar’s growing status as a regional hub for hosting sports championships across various categories.

She explained that this edition has recorded the highest level of participation since the tournament was launched, both in terms of the number of universities and the number of participating female students, reflecting the growing interest in university sport and highlighting the increasing role of women in the Gulf sports scene within university campuses.

She added that this strong turnout reflects the success of the championship in terms of organisation and participation, and reinforces confidence in the ability of Gulf universities to deliver a competitive sporting model that balances athletic performance with educational values.

Dr. Al-Mannai also noted that hosting the championship coincides with Qatar National Sport Day, giving the event an added community dimension and reflecting the national approach toward promoting sport as a way of life, particularly among university students and youth.

She expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the Qatar Olympic Committee, the participating sports federations, and the sponsoring entities for their support and cooperation in organising the championship, affirming that this institutional collaboration played a key role in delivering the event in a manner that reflects the educational and sporting messages the championship seeks to promote.

For her part, Dr. Al-Jazi Ftays, Tournament Director, stated that the competitions will be held at Education City venues in addition to several sports facilities located within Qatar’s universities.

She explained that the championship will feature eight sports—padel, badminton, volleyball, basketball, fencing, athletics, table tennis, and football—reflecting the diversity of the sporting programme.

She added: “With regard to the participating universities, we are pleased in this championship to celebrate the participation of sixteen universities, which reflects the level of engagement and growing interest in university sport, and confirms the commitment of educational institutions to supporting sports activities and promoting a culture of competition.”

Dr. Al-Jazi Ftays further noted that the championship is not limited to competition alone, but also aims to strengthen communication among students from different universities across GCC countries, while reinforcing the values of teamwork and sportsmanship.