By Duncan Mackay

Sheikh Mohammed has donated AED35 million so the UAE National Olympic Committee has finish building its new headquarters ©UAE NOCThe United Arab Emirates National Olympic Committee has been given a donation of AED35 million (£6.5 million/$9.5 million/€8.5 million) by Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to complete its headquarters in Dubai, it has been announced.


The new five-storey building, with an area of ​ 116,000 square metres, has been construction since 2011 in the Al Nahda 1 area.

The cost of the new headquarters had originally been estimated at AED16.5 million (£3 million/$4.5 million/€4 million) but run into difficulties because of rising building costs.

But now the donation from Sheikh Mohammad, the Emir of Dubai and President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, will allow work to be completed. 

It is due to accommodate the 21 Olympic national governing bodies in the UAE when it is completed.

The new five-storey headquarters of the UAE National Olympic Committee will accommodate 21 sports when it is finished ©UAE NOCThe new five-storey headquarters of the UAE National Olympic Committee will accommodate 21 sports when it is finished ©UAE NOC

The money from Sheikh Mohammad, the vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE, will be used to finish the building and also fit out the interior. 

The grant was announced Abdul Rahman Al Owais, vice-president of the UAE NOC and and chairman of the Executive Office.

The Al Nahda, which means Awakening in English, is a new development in eastern Dubai in Deira.

The Dubai Women's College is also based there.

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