Dubai’s GEMS Metropole School to become Olympic wrestling training hub in UAE

GEMS Metropole School – Motor City, Dubai, is set to be named an Olympic wrestling training hub in the UAE through a partnership with the UAE Wrestling Federation (UAEWF), giving a major lift to the nation’s Olympic medal ambitions.

Mike Lowery, Director of Sport at GEMS Metropole, noted the new collaboration directly supports the National Sports Strategy 2031 by upgrading sports education, developing future professionals, and discovering talent within schools.
“It will inspire a generation of athletes to take up sport and with the influx of Olympic standard athletes frequenting the school and using our incredible facilities – giving our young athletes opportunities to be in the same environment,” he said. “This initiative also strengthens the UAE’s international sporting identity and Olympic aspirations through elite athlete preparation and participation.”

The partnership grew out of Lowery’s close work with the 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.

The school’s facilities include the Under Armour High Performance Institute, a sports nutrition lab with a full-time nutritionist, a strength and conditioning area equipped with VALD sports science equipment, and the KULA Recovery Zone featuring cold-water therapy and infrared sauna. Its new combat area boasts international-standard Fuji mats and a boxing ring – meeting the needs of athletes across the UAE.

The wrestling programme will be open to all students, integrated into physical education lessons. All PE staff are now Wrestling Level 1 certified, with a dedicated combat specialist starting next month to lead the competitive programme. Talented students will enter the Mustang competitive sports pathway, receiving two to three hours of specialist combat and high-performance coaching each week, covering nutrition, physical development and performance mindset.

“We believe that High Performance is for everyone not the lucky few. By taking firm strategic action to removing the barriers to access – travel time, expensive cost of access to specialists and pay walled access to world class facilities – and embedding a target Olympic sport into the curriculum with a clear pathway to the elite level there is unobstructed route to Olympic gold.”

Metropole has an impressive record in combat sports, with students such as Zayd Bou Karroum (BJJ), Zaid Touqan (boxing), Jack Boyle (boxing), Omar Hassan (karate), Issa Hussain (boxing), Ali Hallak (boxing), Jake Reilly (boxing) and Aynur Darwazeh (BJJ) achieving national and international success.
The official announcement will take place in September with a grand ceremony featuring athlete demonstrations and the signing of the memorandum of understanding between GEMS Metropole Motor City and the UAEWF.