Mabrook!

The UAE Paralympians have returned home, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, met with them at his palace yesterday to congratulate them on their achievements.

The Dubai ruler hosted the welcome home ceremony for the UAE’s Paralympic heroes at his home, Zabeel Palace.

The team brought home seven gold, silver and bronze medals in total, beating the previous record of four medals at Athens.

Eighteen Paralympians represented the UAE at Rio – the largest team ever – female shotputters Noura Al Ketbi and Sara Al Senaani became the first Emirati women to win medals, with Ketbi taking home a silver and Al Senaani a bronze.

sheikh-mohammed-with-the-team

The record-breaking team brought home seven medals.

Shooter Abdullah Sultan Al Aryani (pictured top right with Sheikh Mohammed) brought in the most medals for the Emirates, with three silver medals across various contests.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Khamis Khalaf scored the second-ever gold medal at the Paralympics. The 46-year-old took out the top podium on in the men’s under-88kg powerlifting category.

“Willpower conquers the impossible and no success is without resolve and determination,” Sheikh Mohammed told the athletes according to news agency WAM. 

sheikh-mohammed-paralympics

Khamis Khalaf is congratulated by Sheikh Mohammed.

Sheikh Mohammed also compared the athletes’ willpower to that of the UAE: “The UAE leadership, government and people believe in the culture of willpower, determination and in making the impossible possible.”

He added that they all shared “the determination to succeed in every field”.

– For more about Dubai straight to your newsfeed, follow us on Facebook.

Images: SheikhMohammed.ae