- Over 4,000 young athletes from more than 50 countries gathered in Dubai for the Global Encounters Festival 2025
- The event was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates
- Team Tanzania recorded East Africa’s highest medal haul with a total of 41 medals, including 17 gold, 15 silver, and 9 bronze
Over 4,000 young athletes from more than 50 countries gathered in Dubai for the Global Encounters Festival 2025, a multi-sport and cultural event featuring participants from across the Ismaili community. Among the standout delegations were Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who made their presence felt through athletic performance and competitive spirit.
The event was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to competitive sports, it featured exhibitions, concerts, service projects, and leadership workshops. But for sports followers across East Africa, the athletes on the podium told the real story.
Tanzania Leads the Region with Swimming Excellence
Team Tanzania recorded East Africa’s highest medal haul with a total of 41 medals, including 17 gold, 15 silver, and 9 bronze. The majority of the medals came from swimming, where a talented group of youth athletes displayed consistency and power across multiple age categories.
Sixteen-year-old Aminaz Kachra stood out with six gold medals in U17 swimming events. Her teammates Khairaan Inayat and Kaysan Kachra secured additional silver and bronze medals. In the U19 division, Natalia Ladha emerged as one of the top performers of the entire festival, winning five gold medals. She was joined by Aliyana Kachra, who added multiple silvers and a bronze.
Tanzania’s women’s Throwball 19 plus team earned silver after a strong run through the tournament, while the Traditional Volleyball Open team took bronze in a tightly contested final. These results reflect the growing attention to structured coaching and team discipline in Tanzania’s community sports programs.
Kenya Shows Strength Across Multiple Sports
Team Kenya collected 27 medals and demonstrated balance across individual and team sports. What made Kenya’s showing unique was its presence across five different disciplines, with standout moments in tennis, swimming, squash, track, and golf.
Tennis was a major strength for Kenya. Zayyan Virani won gold in the U19 singles event and then partnered with Raqeem Virani to take gold in the doubles. The same pair later contributed to silver in mixed doubles, with Rinaaz Kassam joining them in another doubles final.
Swimming saw success as well, with Webber Aaliyah winning four gold medals in the women’s category. Rahim Ali Rashaad and Aman Ladak also medaled consistently in the U17 group. In squash, Muqtadir Nimji secured gold in the Open division. In golf, Maria Cristina Torrado earned gold in the 19 plus category, while Alyssa Jamal and Rizwan Charania picked up silver medals in their divisions. Alyssia Fazal rounded out Kenya’s results with a bronze medal in the track event.
Uganda’s Presence Signals Growing Ambition
Team Uganda earned two bronze medals at the festival, both in swimming. While the medal count may not match their neighbors, the significance lies in Uganda’s growing sports infrastructure and emerging pipeline of talent.
The athletes, drawn from communities in Kampala and Jinja, showed strong discipline and potential. The swimmers’ performance in the U17 heats was particularly promising, considering the limited resources and exposure available at home.
Uganda’s participation was also symbolic. It marked a growing presence in regional sports festivals and a deeper commitment to organized youth sport among local communities.
About Global Encounters and AKDN’s Role in East Africa
The Global Encounters Festival is organized by the Ismaili community and supported by the Aga Khan Development Network. It aims to bring youth together through sport, service, leadership, and the arts. This year’s edition in Dubai was the largest to date.
The AKDN plays a key role in building educational institutions, clinics, and community programs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many athletes who competed in Dubai came through AKDN-supported schools or were trained through AKDN-affiliated sports programs.
Final East Africa Medal Table
| Country | Gold 🥇 | Silver 🥈 | Bronze 🥉 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 11 | 8 | 8 | 27 |
| Tanzania | 17 | 15 | 9 | 41 |
| Uganda | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 28 | 23 | 19 | 70 |
The Road Ahead
The festival in Dubai was a showcase of what East African youth can achieve when they are given the chance to train, compete, and grow. It also raised important questions about what comes next. For federations back home, this is an opportunity to build on momentum, invest in youth sports systems, and ensure these athletes continue to grow beyond just one international event.
From the swimming lanes to the tennis courts, from volleyball teams to squash finals, the athletes from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda brought skill, commitment, and national pride to the arena. Their stories are just beginning.
