Emirati women in wheelchairs are selling traditional dresses and food.
A few metres away, a group of men perform an old tribal dance.
The banners around Dubai Club for the Disabled proudly advertise the Sixth Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2015.
It has not always been like this.
For years, disabled athletes had few platforms and or opportunities to develop. This was part of a larger malaise.
Culturally, in the region, disabled people were not always fully integrated into society. Lack of specialised facilities and infrastructure in all aspects of everyday life did not help.
Slowly, this is changing. And disabled athletes are finally moving from the shadows.
Few entities have done as much as the Fazza Championships for People with Disability to encourage engagement.
"This championship is a step for disabled athletes to gain in confidence and for the emergence of new stars in this sport," said Mohammed Ali bin Fadel Al Hameli, chairman of the UAE Paralympic Committee. "We are proud to have paralympians like Mohammed Khamis," referring to the 2004 Paralympic weightlifting gold medallist. "This event will serve as a gateway for rising champions and make Emiratis proud of their achievements."
Conversely, the athletes themselves are proud of the event.
“Honestly, having experienced many events outside the UAE, this comes first,” Khamis said. “Not just because it’s my home nation – it really is the best.”
Others agreed that no expense had been spared for the teams.
“It’s terrific. It’s very, very professional for disabled people,” said Jeroen Velthuis of the Netherlands, who took part in the 97kg category. “I know, I’ve been in Malaysia, Brasilia, here and everywhere else. This is the best tournament in the world.”
The powerlifting event is the fourth competition for the disabled that has recently taken place in Dubai after the Fazza National Championships for People with Disability, Fazza International Para-Archery Competition and Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Dubai 2015.
The Fazza International Championship for Boccia is due to be held next month, followed by Fazza International Wheelchair Basketball Championships in May.
“Giving attention to disabled is very crucial to us in expressing the country’s civilisation because it plays a major role in planting the seeds of confidence among those who are disabled and raising the awareness on how others look at them when they become achievers in front of their nation and society,” said Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, executive director at the Dubai Club for the Disabled and director of the Fazza Championship for the Disabled.
But for all the public engagement and breaking down of social taboos, this remains a supremely competitive sporting event in its own right.
“Everyone who has come here wants to win. They are not here on a holiday,” Al Usaimi said. “Every year the Fazza Championships are becoming bigger and more competitive.
“It is important for UAE athletes to gain exposure of international competition especially with the Paralympic Games in Rio just one year away.”
Khamis finished second in the Men’s Open 97kg category, having lifted 230kg.
The Emirati has larger ambitions, however.
“We are preparing for the Asian Championship in July, and hopefully we can improve,” he said.
“The numbers that we got here are only trials for the coming competitions. All events are stops on the road to Rio.”
The man who beat Khamis was Mohammed Deeb of Egypt who managed consecutive lifts of 228kg, 235kg and 241kg, the last a world record.
“After the Olympics and World Championships, this event has one of the strongest fields,” Deeb said.
“This tournament is not only a great platform for Arabs, but also for foreigners.
“God willing, I can get even better numbers in Fazza 2016, which would be one of the last tournaments on the way to the Olympics.”
Egyptian athletes, in particular, have excelled in both the men’s and women’s events with Sherif Osman claiming another world record, in the 57kg division.
“This is my first participation at this weight,” Osman, 32, said. “I lifted 210, and that is a new world record. The old one of 194 belonged to an Englishman, but thankfully I was able to beat it. Now hopefully I can get to Rio de Janeiro.”
Osman said events like this offer hope and opportunity for disabled athletes.
“All the Fazza events have been exceptional for disabled athletes,” he said. “Of course, when an athlete has too many obstacles, he can lose interest and heart. But when things are made easy for him, he can improve and aspire to win.
“When you find the world is co-operating, society co-operating, and organisations co-operating, there is a motivation to be the best.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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