Abdullah Al Wahibi, Chairman of the Water Sports Committee's Executive Board, confirmed that hosting the 30th GCC Swimming Championship in Abu Dhabi represents a significant milestone in the development of swimming across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Al Wahibi stated in an interview with "Al-Ittihad": "We take pride in hosting this championship due to the significant technical and historical value it represents, and its important role in enhancing sporting competition and exchanging experiences among the GCC national teams." He added: "The championship will see the participation of 200 swimmers from six Gulf countries competing across age groups ranging from 10 years to the open category, which reflects the great interest in developing the sport's base and discovering promising talents, alongside supporting elite swimmers." He explained that the selection of the Mohamed bin Zayed City Sports Complex to host the events is part of leveraging Abu Dhabi's advanced infrastructure and modern sports facilities, confirming the readiness of all organizing committees to deliver an exceptional edition on both technical and organizational levels. Al Wahibi noted that holding the championship from January 22 to 25, 2026, with morning and evening race sessions, gives all teams the opportunity to showcase their best performance, emphasizing that the championship serves as an ideal platform for preparing swimmers for upcoming regional and continental competitions. He continued: "We welcome all participating GCC teams to Abu Dhabi and wish all swimmers the best of luck, hoping the championship will reflect the stature of the GCC countries and the UAE's leadership in organizing and hosting major sporting events."
