Sheikh Mohammed hopes the financial support will help boost athletes' participation in local, regional and international disability sport events, as he claimed disability is never a barrier to creativity and excellence.

He made the announcement while attending the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting World Championships, currently taking place at the Dubai Club for the Disabled until April 11.

He also met with IPC President Sir Philip Craven and toured the facilities at the venue, while getting to know some of the athletes competing in the sport's flagship tournament.

Sir Philip also praised the Dubai Club for the Disabled and was delighted by the "exceptional" World Championships, which has attracted some 360 athletes from 65 countries, including 20 world record holders and more than 30 medallists from London 2012.

Abdulla Alaryani won a gold medal for the UAE at the last Paralympic Games in London in 2012 ©Getty Images


The UAE first competed at the Paralympics in 1992 in Barcelona and has since won several medals.

The country sent just one athlete, weightlifter Ali Saif, to those first Games but has increased its participation as the years have gone on.

It sent 15 athletes to the last Paralympics in London in 2012, winning a gold medal in shooting thanks to Abdulla Alaryani, and a silver and a bronze in the men's T34 200 metres and 100m respectively thanks to sprinter Mohamed Hammadi.

The country has also participated in a number of other disability sport events, including the Para-athletics element of the Pan Arab Games, the Asian Para Games and the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games.

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