UAE Netball Cup to Spotlight Rising Regional Talent and Dubai’s International Sporting Ambitions
Dubai is set to host the inaugural UAE Netball Cup from June 15 to 21 at the Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan indoor stadium at Al Nasr Club, bringing together national teams from Kenya, Namibia, Singapore, the Republic of Ireland, and the USA. With world ranking points at stake, the tournament marks a significant stride for the UAE in its ambition to become a central hub for international netball.
Currently ranked 23rd globally, the UAE national team is stepping away from its usual European circuit to test its mettle on home turf. The goal is twofold—boost the team’s global standing and solidify the country’s reputation as a viable host for elite netball events, including a potential future Netball World Cup.
“We really wanted to try and bring some depth here to this fantastic location, so here we are, pleased to do just that with a world ranking event,” said national team coach Susanne Skelding.
The teams participating were randomly selected, with Namibia ranked the highest at 18th and the USA in the 30s.
Skelding, who has spent over 14 years developing netball in the UAE, sees the tournament as more than just a competition. It’s part of a broader vision to create an ecosystem of netball spanning from grassroots to elite levels.
“It’s a fantastic location,” she said. “Netball is pretty much a Commonwealth sport, and so you’ve got your top countries at one end of the globe and the other end. Australia, obviously, and New Zealand, and England on the other side of the world are your top nations. Jamaica, also, in that top four. And it really is a great location for, I think, all of those teams.”
She added: “We wanted to showcase that we could host an international event here to attract some of the top teams to potentially come and host a test series and maybe a fast-five competition, maybe even a World Cup. And that is definitely what we are aiming to do.”
Since returning from the Singapore Nations Cup last September, the UAE Falcons—as the national team is known—have been rigorously preparing for the championship. This includes bi-weekly training, showcase matches, and even games against a men’s team to elevate their competitive edge.
The squad features a mix of seasoned players and rising stars. Captain Carly Lewis, part of the team since its inception in 2018, leads a lineup that includes four younger players who advanced through UAE’s development programs.
“We have a core of players who have been playing for quite a few years,” Skelding said. “We’ve also got four young players that have come up through the development programmes and into the young Falcons and now are playing as UAE Falcons. And their preparation has been extreme.”
Skelding, also Director of Active Sports, has played a pivotal role in implementing leagues across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, serving various age and skill levels.
“We have a fantastic schools programme both in Sharjah, in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai. So they play fantastic netball at the school’s level. In addition to that, on the next level you’ve got club netball.”
“Over the last 10 years, there have been a lot of clubs that have formed. Now, some of these are independent clubs that have formed. They’re all clubs on their own.”
Skelding emphasizes that real growth comes from investing in the grassroots. “It’s really important to build that grassroots development structure underneath,” she noted. “We’re building quite a following for netball. And what that does is it builds the ecosystem of netball within the country.”
The UAE squad for the Six Nations Cup:
- Carly Lewis (Captain)
- Sophie Hankin (Vice-Captain)
- Holly Guerin
- Isla Edgar
- Ellie Smith
- Jenna Guy
- Molly Fuller
- Rachel Tuckey
- Mila Morgan
- Kelly Loy
- Fiona van Dam
- Evie Hollis
- Sophie Nesbitt
- Abbie Wright
As Dubai positions itself in the center of the international netball map, the UAE Netball Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a statement. One of intent, infrastructure, and inspiration.
— Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
