The Para Swimming World Series 2025 is coming to Abu Dhabi for the first time
The capital's Mohammed bin Zayed City Aquatics Complex will be the stage for the grand finale of the 2025 season, running from November 27 to 29, capping off a globe-spanning calendar that has included stops in Japan, Spain and Peru.
The event marks the first time the Para Swimming World Series comes to the region, part of a new four-year agreement that will see Abu Dhabi host the championship through to 2028. Yes, that means it's here to stay โ with dates for 2026 already confirmed.
๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐
What a season for Brazil's Gabriel Araujo! ๐ง๐ท Not only does he take the Overall Men's title, but he also claims the crown in the High-Support Needs Men's category with an outstanding 4229 points. pic.twitter.com/EIY06r1E8B โ Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) December 19, 2024
For context: this isn't your average swimming meet. The Para Swimming World Series brings together the best of the best โ elite athletes and rising stars โ in a competition that goes far beyond medals. Think resilience, excellence and world-class talent across multiple classifications, including high-support needs athletes and junior categories. Previous winners include powerhouses like Alice Tai, Gabriel Araujo and Maisie Summers-Newton.
The Abu Dhabi event will follow the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore in September, making it a fitting finale to the season. For fans, it's a rare chance to watch elite-level para sport up close, with a format that emphasises both individual brilliance and team performance, thanks to a global points-based system that runs across all World Series events.
The competition is being co-organised by Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination and Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club, two key players helping to grow adaptive sport across the UAE.
Not only is this a big win for the local sporting scene, but it's also a landmark moment for inclusion in sport across the Gulf. Expect high-energy heats, emotional finishes and the kind of stories that stay with you long after the medals are awarded.
Craig Nicholson said: 'Five out of this year's nine Para Swimming World Series hosts are welcoming the event for the first time. We are thrilled to announce that Abu Dhabi is now part of this group, marking the first World Para Swimming competition to take place in the Middle East.
'This is a testament to the growth and development of our sport and to the work being done across the globe to expand opportunities for athletes.'
November 27-29. Mohammed bin Zayed City Aquatics Complex. worldparaswimming.org.
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In a major first for the Middle East, Abu Dhabi will make a splash on the global sporting calendar this November as it hosts the Para Swimming World Series, and it's not just a one-off. The capital's Mohammed bin Zayed City Aquatics Complex will be the stage for the grand finale of the 2025 season, running from November 27 to 29, capping off a globe-spanning calendar that has included stops in Japan, Spain and Peru. The event marks the first time the Para Swimming World Series comes to the region, part of a new four-year agreement that will see Abu Dhabi host the championship through to 2028. Yes, that means it's here to stay โ with dates for 2026 already confirmed. ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐ What a season for Brazil's Gabriel Araujo! ๐ง๐ท Not only does he take the Overall Men's title, but he also claims the crown in the High-Support Needs Men's category with an outstanding 4229 points. โ Para Swimming (@Para_swimming) December 19, 2024 For context: this isn't your average swimming meet. The Para Swimming World Series brings together the best of the best โ elite athletes and rising stars โ in a competition that goes far beyond medals. Think resilience, excellence and world-class talent across multiple classifications, including high-support needs athletes and junior categories. Previous winners include powerhouses like Alice Tai, Gabriel Araujo and Maisie Summers-Newton. The Abu Dhabi event will follow the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore in September, making it a fitting finale to the season. For fans, it's a rare chance to watch elite-level para sport up close, with a format that emphasises both individual brilliance and team performance, thanks to a global points-based system that runs across all World Series events. The competition is being co-organised by Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination and Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club, two key players helping to grow adaptive sport across the UAE. Not only is this a big win for the local sporting scene, but it's also a landmark moment for inclusion in sport across the Gulf. Expect high-energy heats, emotional finishes and the kind of stories that stay with you long after the medals are awarded. Craig Nicholson said: 'Five out of this year's nine Para Swimming World Series hosts are welcoming the event for the first time. We are thrilled to announce that Abu Dhabi is now part of this group, marking the first World Para Swimming competition to take place in the Middle East. 'This is a testament to the growth and development of our sport and to the work being done across the globe to expand opportunities for athletes.' November 27-29. Mohammed bin Zayed City Aquatics Complex. Summer in Abu Dhabi This is exactly how long summer will last in Abu Dhabi this year Feeling the heat? The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Yas Waterworld's epic new expansion is opening this summer โ including 12 new slides Weeeeee!
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