Nataly Ovadisian: Al Meydan Instils a Sense of Belonging Through Practice and Turns Heritage into a Responsibility Passed Down Through Generations
Dubai – November 2026:
Zayed Ali Al Shehhi from Abu Dhabi topped the second episode of the 22nd season of “Al Meydan” after collecting 75 points in a highly competitive evening at Al Meydan Fort in Al Marmoom, while Abdullah Omar Al Muhairi from Dubai secured the second qualification spot with 70 points.
The pair will continue their journey in the 26th edition of the Fazza Championship for Youlah, organised by the Fazza Championships Department at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, following an evening in which qualification remained undecided until the final moments.
The episode brought together four Youlah participants who had successfully advanced through the preliminary qualifiers. Ali Rashid Lootah from Dubai finished third with 50 points, while Sultan Saeed Al Khanbashi from Sharjah placed fourth with 25 points.
The lead shifted between participants throughout six challenges combining the art of Youlah, physical skills and traditional Emirati sports.
Youlah… The Pulse of Al Meydan
The episode opened with the Youlah challenge to the rhythm of the season’s song “Sab‘at An‘am”, featuring lyrics by H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, vocals by Emirati artist Mehad Hamad, and a composition by Fayez Al Saeed, known as the “Ambassador of Melodies”.
Participants performed before challenge judge Khalifa bin Sabeen in a competition that showcased their skills in handling the weapon, mastering the movements and maintaining harmony with the rhythm.
Ali Rashid Lootah and Abdullah Omar Al Muhairi both secured the points allocated to the Youlah challenge.
The second episode featured six challenges: Youlah, poetry recitation, swimming, shooting, Shad Al Shidad and Zamat Hein.
The diversity of these disciplines required participants to adapt to challenges with different demands and characteristics, making consistency of performance a decisive factor in determining the final results.
Zayed Ali Al Shehhi earned points in the Zamat Hein, poetry recitation, swimming, shooting and Shad Al Shidad challenges, taking his total to 75 points and securing first place in the episode.
His performance demonstrated an ability to move effectively between physical and heritage-based skills while maintaining a strong competitive presence throughout most stages of the contest.
Abdullah Omar Al Muhairi, meanwhile, delivered a strong performance that earned him the second qualification spot with 70 points after scoring in Zamat Hein, shooting, Shad Al Shidad and Youlah.
He remained close to the lead until the end of the episode, once again demonstrating the importance of versatility in the race for qualification.
Ali Rashid Lootah collected 50 points after excelling in the Youlah, swimming and Shad Al Shidad challenges, while Sultan Saeed Al Khanbashi finished with 25 points after scoring in poetry recitation and Shad Al Shidad.
The results reflected the different strengths of each participant and demonstrated how every challenge could reshape the standings throughout the episode.
Poetry Raises the Intensity
The poetry recitation challenge produced one of the closest contests of the evening, as participants competed in a discipline combining memorisation of the poetic text, accuracy of recitation and quality of performance under the supervision of poet Khamis bin Bleisha Al Ketbi, judge of the challenge.
Belonging Is Built Through Practice
Nataly Joseph Ovadisian, Director of Radio, Media and Corporate Communications and Chairperson of the Championship Organising Committee at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, said the national value of “Al Meydan” lies in its ability to transform heritage from knowledge received by young people into skills they actively practise and take pride in mastering.
She noted that building awareness of identity begins with an individual’s connection to the details of their culture and an understanding of the values and meanings it carries.
Ovadisian said: “We believe that a genuine sense of belonging grows deeper when people understand their roots and recognise their responsibility towards what they have inherited from previous generations. At Al Meydan, we see this meaning reflected in every challenge. A young person who masters the art of Youlah, memorises poetry and learns the skills of the people of the desert acquires knowledge that goes far beyond the boundaries of competition and becomes part of his character and his relationship with his country and community.”
She added: “The close results and diversity of skills we witnessed in the second episode reflect the competitive spirit we seek to establish, where every participant has an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and learns that excellence requires effort and discipline.”
“These values are, at their core, an extension of those on which generations of Emiratis have been raised. For this reason, the championship’s success is measured by the contribution it makes to preparing a generation that carries its heritage with confidence, understands how to preserve it and gives it the place it deserves in the future.”
The Chairperson of the Championship Organising Committee also highlighted the packed stands at Al Meydan Fort and the enthusiasm accompanying every challenge as a vivid reflection of the championship’s broad popularity.
She said one of the most inspiring aspects of the event is seeing different generations come together under one roof, with parents and children attending side by side and younger spectators sharing the enthusiasm of adults in a family atmosphere that gives the competition a distinctive social dimension.
Ovadisian said: “When we see the stands full of life and children following the Youlah participants with passion alongside their parents and grandparents, we realise that Al Meydan has succeeded in becoming an occasion everyone looks forward to and a gathering where love for Emirati heritage is passed from one generation to the next.”
“These audiences have not only built the popularity of the championship; they have become part of its identity and success. Most importantly, the child who attends today as a supporter may return tomorrow as a participant, continuing a story that began more than a quarter of a century ago and continues to grow with its people and its audience.”
“Noor Dubai” at Al Meydan Fort
The second episode also hosted Emirati artist Abdulrahman Al Junaid, one of the artists with a strong interest in traditional arts, who performed the song “Noor Dubai”, adding an artistic dimension to the evening that drew warm interaction from the audience at Al Meydan Fort.
Al Junaid’s participation formed part of “Al Meydan’s” commitment to highlighting Emirati voices associated with local arts and strengthening the presence of national and heritage music alongside the competitions, enriching the audience experience and giving each evening its distinctive cultural and artistic character.
From Al Marmoom to the Audience
The second episode reached audiences beyond Al Meydan Fort through television, radio and digital broadcasting platforms.
Viewers followed the challenges live on Sama Dubai TV, while Al Oula Radio audiences listened on 107.4 FM. The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center’s YouTube channel also enabled audiences to follow the episode online.
The episode was presented by Rashid Hareb Al Khasouni, Director of the Fazza Championships Department at the Center, who guided viewers through the competitions and results as part of live coverage that allows audiences inside and outside the UAE to follow the championship.
With Zayed Ali Al Shehhi and Abdullah Omar Al Muhairi securing qualification, the number of participants advancing from the first two episodes has risen to four.
They join Mohammed Nasser Al Ali and Maktoum Mohammed bin Taraf Al Mansouri, who secured the two qualification spots in the opening episode, as the new season continues with growing anticipation over what the upcoming groups will deliver on the road to the title of the 26th Fazza Championship for Youlah.