The Worldwide Professional Billiards and Snooker Federation (WPBSA) has recognized the "Cue Sports" Academy in Abu Dhabi as the first training center in the UAE and the Middle East for enrolling players in the global professional rankings. The academy, under the patronage of the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation, will organize three tournaments in January for elite players in the region, aiming to qualify them for joining the professional rankings.
Mohammed Shahab, captain of the UAE snooker team and responsible for the academy, stated that this accreditation from the international federation required five years of work to meet the necessary global standards on both technical and organizational levels. He said, "With the significant improvement in the technical level of snooker locally and Arably, there had to be an accredited center from the international federation to help players elevate their global ranking and join the professional tour, especially with the absence of any accredited center from the international federation in the region." He also noted that "the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation made significant efforts to obtain this accreditation and place it on the global professional map."
