Dubai 2025 Grand Prix: Preview, stars and how to watch  

As the curtain rises on the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Dubai as the World Para Athletics Grand Prix season is set to kick off from 10 to 13 February at the 16th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The venue

The recently renovated Dubai Club for People of Determination athletics track will once again host the event. A venue with a long tradition in the sport, it has been part of the GP calendar since the inaugural season in 2013 and held the World Championships in 2019.

The newly-placed 400-metre blue Mondo track has nine lanes, much like the earlier track, with two long jump fields in the stadium that has a capacity of 1,300 audience. 

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Top names

This year’s Dubai Grand Prix will see 370 athletes and 14 guides representing 42 nations competing. Among them, plenty of Paris 2024 Paralympic champions.

Wen Xiaoyan is the star of the nine-strong Chinese team travelling to the Emirati city. She won four out of her nine Paralympic gold medals in Paris last year. Xiaoyan will be competing in one event at the GP, the women’s 100m T37 in which she is not only the reigning world and Paralympic champion but also world-record holder (12.27 at the Kobe 2024 Worlds).

Cai Bingchen (men’s shot put F33), Wu Qing (women’s shot put F33), Zou Lijuan (women's Javelin F34 and women's Shot Put F34) and Zhou Xia (women's 100 m T35 and 200m T35) are the other current Paralympic champions representing China at the Grand Prix next week.

A familiar face, seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Marcel Hug (T54) will be racing in four events in Dubai. The Swiss has two world records to his name competing in that same venue – the men’s 1500m T54 and 5000m T54.

“Dubai is like coming home – every year is like a routine coming and racing here in the sun, great atmosphere. The first competition in Sharjah was a good kick-off to the season. I’m not in the best shape but it’s normal, good, and the timing was okay. I won all the races. Here, I am looking for some good races as well,” said Hug who aims to race in the major marathons this season.

Hug will be accompanied by seven other Swiss athletes in UAE, the largest European team at the GP alongside Great Britain, Romania and Ukraine. 

The fastest T11 sprinter in the world will also be in Dubai. Greece’s Athanasios Ghavelas is set to compete in the men’s 100m T11 as the Paralympic champion and world record holder.

Another Paris champion in action will be Canada’s Cody Fournier, in the two events he won gold at the Paralympic Games, the men's 100 m T51 and 200 m T51. 

India will be sending the largest delegation among the visitors with 30 athletes, followed by Saudi Arabia (24) and Japan (18).

🇦🇪Dubai 2025 in Numbers 🔢

📍 Dubai Club for People of Determination
📆 10-13 February
🏃🏻‍♂️ 370 athletes
🌍 42 countries

The Grand Prix season opener kicks off soon, who's ready? 🔥#ParaAthletics @DCDuae @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/sJ1VPmwEYd

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) February 7, 2025

Home stars

Hosts UAE will be represented by 64 athletes including newcomers making their international debut. While their usual star Mohammed Hammadi will be missed after he retired from the sport since Paris 2024 Paralympics, the focus will be on youngsters including Mohammed Othman, who competed in men’s 100m T34 wheelchair final at Paris. 

Among others top names in UAE team are - Sara Aljneibi, Rio 2016 bronze medallist in women’s shot put F33 and home-grown player Siham Alrasheedy (women’s discus throw F57) among others. 

"The Fazza Championships have remained the focus of development in the Para sports in all levels and have had positive impact for Dubai to continue its great journey in organising various international championships,” said Majid Al-Usaimi, Director of the Organising Committee of the Grand Prix. 

Where to watch?

Follow all the action from the Dubai 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix live on

Complete schedule and results are available here.

World Para Athletics 2025 Grand Prix calendar

Dubai (UAE): 10-13 February

New Delhi (India): 11-13 March

Marrakech (Morocco): 24-26 April

Jalisco (Mexico): 9-12 May

Cali (Colombia): 16-19 May

Nottwil (Switzerland): 23-25 May

Paris (France): 2-4 June

Tunis (Tunisia): 16-18 June

Olomouc Women’s GP (Czechia): 3-5 July