Latest news with #AhmedAlMansouri
Sharjah 24
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
UAE Cycling team camps in Spain in preparation for next stage
The cyclists are getting ready for major events, including the World Track Championships scheduled for next August and the Asian Youth Championship taking place in October in Bahrain. The training camp features some of the team's standout athletes, supervised by coach Bader Thani. Key team members include captain Ahmed Al Mansouri, along with Mohammed Al Alili, Mohammed Mehrab, Abdullah Al Hammadi, Hamad Al Muhairbi, Yousef Amiri, Rashid Suwaidan, and Abdulaziz Al Hajri. Mansoor Buosaiba, the Chairman of the UAE Cycling Federation, emphasized that this camp is designed to improve the athletes' skills and physical abilities as they prepare for their upcoming tournaments. He praised the training plan developed by the Federation and the coaching team, which aims to build a larger group of talented cyclists and enhance their overall performance, allowing more young athletes to represent the UAE in international competitions.
Khaleej Times
04-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
This UAE hiker takes residents on free trips to mountain peaks, green hidden gems
For Ahmed Al Mansouri, hiking is more than just a hobby. It's a way to introduce people to the UAE's natural beauty. The Emirati organises free hiking trips to encourage tourism and make outdoor adventures accessible to everyone. "The main goal is to promote tourism by showcasing the UAE's landscapes, not financial gain," Al Mansouri said. "Many people don't know about the natural springs and green areas you find in the UAE throughout the year. Some of Al Mansouri's discoveries were mountains with diverse terrains, unique rock formations, and year-round springs known locally as Mawrid. Fossilised seashells on mountain peaks hint at the region's ancient past, while valleys like Wadi Arar in Ras Al Khaimah and Al-Abadilah in Fujairah feature flowing streams, enhancing the natural beauty of the trails. Team camping and night hikes allow participants to experience the outdoors differently, including observing nocturnal wildlife. "I train all my team members, men and women of all ages and different nationalities —Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, France, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Russia, the Philippines, Argentina, Germany, and several other countries — to adapt to rocky paths, identify safe routes at least ten metres ahead before stepping, and maintain safety throughout the journey," he noted Ahmed Al Mansoori's excursions include solo cave explorations, which lead to discoveries like the Shamal Cave in Ras Al Khaimah. The site consists of two caves of varying depths, one small and the other significantly larger. Inside, medium-sized bats can be seen, and proper lighting is essential for entry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 30آخرÙ�Ù� Ù�Ù�ا30 (@ahmeddd696) Al Mansouri's love for the mountains started at a young age. "My father used to take us to the mountains every Friday during the winter season," he recalled. "I loved sitting atop the hills, observing the landscapes and different areas. I would fall repeatedly until I learned how to climb up and down without getting injured." As he grew older, 25 years ago, his first real adventure occurred in the Shaam area in Ras Al Khaimah. "I sought to uncover the source of a frightening sound from the mountains between dusk and dawn prayers. After several daily attempts, I discovered that the sound source was an owl inside a cave, Al Mansouri said. Before the 2000s, Al Mansouri started hiking with friends and named his group Hiking Trails with Ahmed Al Mansouri. As interest grew and more people joined, he officially established a hiking group in 2021, rebranding it as Adventure with Nature. "We started going out regularly, every Saturday, in a structured way with planned routes and registered names." Beyond organising hiking trips, Al Mansouri has also become an advocate for environmental conservation. His initiative, Plant, Preserve, and Explore, was born from a habit of cleaning the places he visited during his hikes. "It all began when I cleaned the places I visited for hikes. Seeing the amount of litter motivated me to initiate cleanup efforts," he explains. Recognising the need for larger-scale action, Al Mansouri partnered with his friend Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Finance House's general manager, to launch an annual community-wide cleanup initiative, Plant, Preserve, and Explore. Over the past three years, the campaign has grown significantly, drawing participation from both residents and locals. "The goal is to promote environmental conservation, ensure clean tourist sites, and showcase the UAE as a clean and beautiful destination," Al Mansouri emphasises. Al Mansouri organises various hiking trips, catering to different skill levels, from beginner-friendly trails to more challenging routes for experienced hikers. "Sometimes, I divide the group into two categories, one for those with high fitness levels and another for beginners and intermediate hikers." Al Mansouri's future plans is to establish tracks in all of the emirates. Additionally, organizing initiatives includes organizing trips for government department employees and planning a three-day mountain trip with an overnight stay and also a focus on creating a safe route for people of determination.
