AWST 2026 volleyball: Six teams vie for championship title

Al Wasl of the UAE will open the competition at 3:00 pm against Acad Ankawa Club of Iraq, followed by a 5:00 pm match between Lebanese Shabab Al Bouchrieh and Kuwait’s Al Fatat. The opening round concludes at 7:00 pm, with Sharjah Women’s Sports Club facing Taldara Club of Syria.

The volleyball tournament, which has received official approval from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and refereeing accreditation from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), brings together clubs from the UAE, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria and is played in a single round-robin league format. Three matches will be held per round at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 7:00 pm, with mandatory rest days between rounds. The champion will be decided on 12 February. The FIVB approval ensures the matches are played under internationally sanctioned regulations and officially recorded within the global volleyball framework, enabling participating athletes to earn international ranking points and have their performances recognised.

The start of competition follows the conclusion of the technical meeting, held in the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Hayat Al Khalifa, Chair of the Supervision and Follow-up Committee; Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Arab and Bahraini Volleyball Federations; Her Excellency Mouza Al Shamsi, Director of AWST; and Saleh Ashour, Chair of the Technical Coordination Committee. The meeting was also attended by Ayyoub Lashkari, Vice Chair of the Technical Coordination Committee, along with members of the technical committees, referees, and team representatives.

During the meeting, Saleh Ashour praised the cooperation among the participating Arab club federations, noting that FIVB approval represents a significant step that reflects AWST's advanced standing. He noted that the approval will raise the technical standard of competition, supported by Asian accreditation of refereeing teams and the use of the Video Challenge system during the tournament, enhancing officiating fairness in a manner comparable to football’s VAR system.

For his part, Sheikha Hayat Al Khalifa said: “The success of the competition depends on strong coordination between all committees and a clear technical framework that ensures a positive and fair competitive environment for all teams.”

Discussions during the meeting focused on competition regulations, scheduling, and operational readiness, and included a briefing by the National Anti-Doping Agency on approved procedures and compliance requirements.

The technical meeting also confirmed the use of Video Challenge technology, similar to VAR in football, to support officiating and ensure fair competition throughout the tournament.