Dubai’s Crown Prince gave encouragement from the sidelines at this gruelling obstacle course…

How did you spend your weekend? Binge-watching Orange is the New Black and enjoying an iftar or two? It’s ok, so did we.

The same can’t be said for more than 650 of Dubai’s athletes who took part in the NAS Night Challenge last Thursday in the desert.

Set over 13 stages, 140 teams competed through a gruelling 5km obstacle course that involved crawling through tunnels, climbing huge vertical walls and vaulting across bodies of water. We’re exhausted just thinking about it.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present at the event to give words of encouragement to participants with one competitor in particular drawing the focus of the Crown Prince’s support.

Affectionally known as Uncle Saeed, HH Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Padel Tennis Association participated in the physically demanding course completing all 13 obstacles, with Sheikh Hamdan cheering him on from the sidelines.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan, the challenge is part of the NAS Ramadan Sports Tournament, and can be undertaken by teams of five people or more.

A team from Abu Dhabi Police took top honours in the men’s category, while a group from Skydive Dubai placed first in the women’s competition.

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