Five Brothers, One Current: National Identity and Family Unite at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi
Reflecting the UAE’s Year of the Family, the Guinness World Record-holding Al Jasmi brothers embody OMGAD’s spirit of inclusivity, community and healthy lifestyles
Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 5, 2026: When the five Al Jasmi brothers help raise the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi (OMGAD) flag at the event’s opening ceremony on Friday, it will unite family, national identity and ADNOC with the ancient sport of swimming.
For the five brothers – all senior figures within ADNOC, and four of them Guinness World Record holders – swimming has always been far more than a sport, it is an enduring bond that connects them.
“I remember the day our journey began very clearly,” says the eldest brother, Obaid Al Jasmi, 45, a team leader in talent development at ADNOC Sour Gas. Obaid will address attendees with a speech on unity during the ceremony as his brothers raise the flag.
“Our late father initially planned to take us to Al Wahda Club to play football. But the coach suggested swimming instead. My father, who was himself a former pearl diver, understood immediately that swimming required patience, resilience and discipline – values that would stay with us for life.”
That decision set each brother on a lifelong pursuit of excellence in the sport. More importantly, it established a framework of mentorship where older brothers guided younger ones, and responsibility flowed both ways, strongly reflecting the values of the UAE’s Year of the Family.
“From our earliest competitions until his last days, our father was always present,” Obaid adds. “He believed consistency mattered more than results.”
That philosophy aligns closely with the spirit of OMGAD, running from February 6 to 15 under the theme “United by Sports, Active for Life.” OMGAD is the first Masters Games event to be hosted in the Middle East and one of the largest international multi-sport gatherings of its kind.
Welcoming athletes over 30 years old with no upper age limit – including an 83-year-old table tennis player – organizers expect more than 25,000 competitors across 38 sports at multiple venues in Abu Dhabi.
For the brothers, appearing at the event together underscores how swimming has become less about glory, and more about togetherness, identity and connection.
“Swimming taught us how to manage pressure, repetition and long-term goals,” says Sultan Al Jasmi, 36, a senior specialist in strategy within ADNOC’s Downstream Industry, Marketing & Trading Directorate.
“It supports longevity and clarity. It helps manage stress, sustain energy and perform consistently – professionally and personally. It also builds mental resilience, focus and time management. These are not sporting traits, they are leadership traits.”
While each brother today leads his own path, sport remains a shared anchor.
“Each of us carries different responsibilities and commitments,” says Bakheet Al Jasmi, 40, manager of HSE planning and programs at ADNOC Offshore. “We don’t depend on constant interaction. But when we do come together through sport, it reinforces alignment, purpose and continuity.”
For the Al Jasmi brothers, appearing at OMGAD is not about medals or podiums. It is about what commitment looks like over a lifetime.
“The dedication starts with yourself,” Sultan explains, “then influences those around you – colleagues, friends, and the wider community. Ultimately, this is about responsibility. If we speak about healthy lifestyles and resilience, we must walk the talk. Legacy is built through action, not words.”
That sense of purpose is reflected in the brothers’ extraordinary milestones. In Dubai in 2010, four of the siblings – Obaid, Bakheet, Saeed and Faisal – achieved a Guinness World Record as the first set of brothers to make up a single relay team at the FINA World Swimming Championships.
In 2023, they completed Swim62 – a 62-kilometre open-water journey around Abu Dhabi Island – one of the longest endurance swims ever achieved in the region, recognized by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
And in Doha in 2024, the five brothers raced side by side in a single event at the World Masters Championships, an achievement now under review for another potential Guinness World Record.
The moment was especially poignant. It was originally meant to include all six brothers, before the family suffered the tragic loss of Mohamed in January 2024. Though he could not be physically present in Doha, his absence was felt in every stroke – and his memory carried through everything they achieved.
“Our parents raised us to stay aligned, regardless of what happens in life,” Obaid reflects.
“So, we continue – not out of obligation, but out of purpose.”