Dubai is set to strengthen its inclusive sports offering after the Ons Jabeur Tennis Academy and Special Olympics UAE signed a partnership to help more People of Determination access tennis training and develop their sporting abilities.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on November 11, 2026, at the academy’s facility in Dubai Academic City, establishes cooperation between the two organisations in athlete development, specialised coaching and community awareness. Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur attended the signing alongside Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, and representatives from both organisations.
The partnership aims to make tennis more accessible to athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will also help identify emerging sporting talent and create opportunities for participants to pursue regular training in a supportive environment.
Specialised training for coaches and staff
A central part of the agreement is preparing academy coaches and staff to work effectively with athletes who have different intellectual and developmental needs.
Special Olympics UAE has already conducted a dedicated workshop for the academy’s coaching team. The session covered disability awareness, appropriate communication techniques and ways to adapt coaching methods to individual athletes.
The training also included practical activities and case studies, allowing participants to explore how different coaching approaches can help create safe and welcoming sporting environments.
This preparation is important because inclusive sports programmes require more than access to facilities. Coaches must understand how to communicate with athletes, adjust instructions and provide training that supports individual development.
The organisations intend to draw on their respective expertise to improve the quality of tennis opportunities available to People of Determination in Dubai and beyond.
Unified Sports to bring athletes together
Another important element of the collaboration is the introduction of the Unified Sports concept.
Unified Sports brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. The approach creates opportunities for people of different abilities to participate in organised sporting activities together.
For tennis, this can help participants develop their skills while experiencing teamwork, competition and shared training environments.
The initiative also gives the academy an opportunity to build a more inclusive coaching culture, where athletes are supported according to their individual abilities rather than excluded because of their support requirements.
Alongside training, Special Olympics UAE and the academy plan to organise joint community initiatives to encourage greater participation and improve public understanding of the sporting capabilities of People of Determination.
UAE athletes bring an established record in tennis
The partnership builds on achievements by UAE athletes at international competitions.
Tennis participants from Special Olympics UAE secured three medals at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, demonstrating the country’s athletes’ ability to compete at an international level.
Clari Lehmkuhl, a Special Olympics UAE tennis athlete, attended the Dubai signing ceremony. She previously won silver and bronze medals in tennis at the Berlin Games.
In 2026, Lehmkuhl added another international achievement to her record by winning the women’s singles title at the BAUHAUS Down Syndrome World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Her presence at the event provided a direct connection between the partnership’s objectives and the achievements of athletes already competing internationally.
Lehmkuhl welcomed the prospect of more training opportunities and specialised coaching, saying that tennis allows athletes to demonstrate their abilities, develop confidence and enjoy competitive challenges.
Ons Jabeur’s role in promoting inclusive sport
Jabeur’s involvement gives the initiative the support of one of the most recognisable names in international tennis.
The Tunisian player has reached three Grand Slam singles finals, including the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2022 and another Wimbledon final in 2023. She has also become an influential figure for tennis across the Arab region and Africa.
Her participation in the partnership is intended to encourage more People of Determination to explore tennis and help bring wider attention to inclusive sporting opportunities.
The collaboration also comes during a break in Jabeur’s professional playing career. In an interview with The National published on November 11, she said she hoped to return to professional tennis in 2027, although she had not confirmed a specific comeback date.
For the UAE, the academy’s partnership with Special Olympics UAE adds another opportunity to connect established sporting institutions with athletes who have traditionally had fewer pathways into specialised sports training.
The organisations have outlined their areas of cooperation, but detailed public information about programme schedules, registration arrangements and the number of athletes who will be enrolled has not yet been announced.
Q1. What is the partnership between Ons Jabeur Academy and Special Olympics UAE?
The two organisations signed an MoU on November 11, 2026, to expand tennis opportunities for People of Determination through specialised coaching, athlete development and inclusive sports initiatives.
Q2. Where was the partnership signed?
The agreement was signed at the Ons Jabeur Tennis Academy at the Higher Colleges of Technology campus in Dubai Academic City.
Q3. Who attended the MoU signing?
Ons Jabeur, Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, and representatives from both organisations attended the signing.
Q4. What is the main objective of the partnership?
The objective is to make tennis more accessible to People of Determination, identify emerging athletes and provide opportunities for regular training and skill development.
Q5. What is Unified Sports?
Unified Sports is an inclusive sporting approach that brings athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same teams.
Q6. Who is Clari Lehmkuhl?
Clari Lehmkuhl is a Special Olympics UAE tennis athlete who won silver and bronze medals at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. She also won the women’s singles title at the 2026 BAUHAUS Down Syndrome World Championships in Sofia.
Q7. Will Ons Jabeur personally coach athletes through the programme?
The partnership announcement confirms Jabeur’s involvement in promoting the initiative, but does not specify whether she will personally conduct regular coaching sessions.
Q8. When will the inclusive tennis programme begin?
The MoU has been signed and a specialised workshop for academy staff has taken place. A detailed public timetable and registration process for the wider programme have not yet been announced.
