Dubai: Picture a hot May morning in Dubai. The Dubai Police’s Proud of UAE community cycling race was nearly over. Cyclists zipped past the finish line of the 60km race to applause and celebrations. In that moment, however, no one realised that two people were missing.

A little further away, Nick Watson was stuck on the side of a busy road, trying to navigate his son Rio, a person of determination, to safety.

The 56-year-old British expat said: “We knew it would be a challenge for us physically because our adaptive bike set-up is very heavy, compared to standard race bikes, but we were excited to be part of [the race].” Their bike had Watson pedalling, and 22-year-old Rio sitting in the front, on a custom-built seat.

The race from Nad Al Sheba Police Station to Global Village and back, was conducted on a course safely closed to traffic, but Watson abruptly found himself in a dangerous situation.

He explained: “Unfortunately, we missed the cut-off point during the race and were asked to leave the course. The support vehicles that arrived could transport standard bikes, but our adaptive set-up simply would not fit. Suddenly, I found myself on the side of a busy road with Rio, trying to work out the safest solution.”

Watson waited for help to arrive, but it was growing hotter, and Rio was getting restless. Watson switched into problem-solving mode, and decided to cycle back. He powered his son over a flyover, and then manoeuvred across two lanes to the hard shoulder – in peak traffic.

“For the first time in a very long time, I was scared,” he admitted in his video log of the incident.

Once they were in relative safety on the side of the road, Watson stopped and reassessed. It was looking risky, but he would have to try something. Could he lift the bike over the divider and get out of the way of traffic? Try a backroad? What should he do?

That’s when he saw a car pull up behind him. It was the Dubai Police.

Captain Nasser Yousuf had arrived. Watson said: “He was calm, kind, reassuring, and completely focused on helping us. He spoke to Rio beautifully, helped coordinate transport, stayed with us while everything was arranged, and made us feel genuinely looked after. What stayed with me most was not simply the practical help – it was the humanity behind it.”

The police captain called for a special truck that could accommodate Rio’s adaptive bike. Meanwhile, he ensured the father and son could rest in his air-conditioned vehicle. He even drove them home.

Watson said he had joined the race with the intention of showing support for the country, and the special consideration the Dubai Police showed his family on the same day, is an example of why he is proud to call the UAE ‘home’ for over 28 years: “That moment reminded me why we feel so safe and supported here in the UAE.”

Meet Team AngelWolf

Watson is no stranger to the magic that happens when a community comes together. He is the founder of Team AngelWolf, a Dubai-based non-profit foundation, licensed under the Community Development Authority (CDA), which has been promoting an inclusive, active lifestyle with people of determination since 2014.

But his connection to the UAE goes back long before he set up his inclusive foundation. He said: “Back in 1996, I was leaving my military service with the Royal Marines [in the UK] and retraining in personal training and sports therapy. That is where I first met [my wife] Delphine, who had just returned from a year backpacking around Australasia. By the time we finished the course, we both knew the same thing – we wanted to explore somewhere new. Neither of us really wanted to settle back into life in the UK. We were young, curious, loved sport, loved travel, and honestly just wanted to experience more of the world – preferably somewhere warmer, as well!”

When they attended a family wedding, they discovered the groom’s brother lived and worked as a teacher in Dubai – what he told them about the city piqued their interest. Watson said: “We literally got a paper map out to look at where Dubai actually was, and started researching more about the UAE. The more we read, the more intrigued we became. So, we bought one-way tickets, packed our backpacks, and came out to Dubai, planning to explore for a while. We never ended up going back to live in the UK.”

Now, he and Delphine work full-time running Team AngelWolf, and together with their 18-year-old daughter Tia, they lead a community of participants they have dubbed the ‘wolf pack’. They organise regular training routines, races, sporting challenges, and inclusive community activities, often working with schools and corporates, to create an impact.

At the centre of their efforts, and the reason for Team AngelWolf, is Rio, who has a rare chromosome condition called de novo 1Q44 deletion, which causes neurodevelopmental and physical disabilities.

Rio Watson, 22, has a rare chromosome condition called de novo 1Q44 deletion. Picture credit: Supplied

Watson said: “When Rio was younger, we quickly realised that many environments unintentionally excluded people with disabilities – especially within sport and community participation. Instead of accepting that, we decided to start showing what inclusion could look like in real life. We entered races together as a family, adapted equipment where needed, and simply kept showing up. Over time, what started as a family journey grew into a wider community movement around inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.”

Building an inclusive community in the UAE

Their efforts have been inspirational.

Last year, a few days after turning 18, Tia participated in the Dubai T100 Triathlon alongside her older brother – she pulled Rio along in a kayak during her 2km swim, both carried and walked with him for 18km, and cycled on their adaptive bike for 80km. She has succeeded over and over again, in various races, partnering with Rio each time.

Watson said: “Watching her grow into an athlete, speaker, advocate, and founder of LittleXWolf has been incredibly special, as parents.”

Tia Watson participated in the Dubai T100 Triathlon alongside her older brother Rio, and her father, Nick. Picture credit: Supplied

When Rio is not busy inspiring his little sister, he spends his time on the beach, at malls, and participating in community activities. His life in Dubai is peaceful and wonderful in its normalcy – a perspective that was honoured recently.

Just last month, Delphine and Rio were invited to attend an award ceremony by Erth Dubai, a cultural initiative dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich stories of Dubai. Delphine’s story about growing up in the city, written through Rio’s eyes, was shortlisted in the Best Dubai Resident Story category.

Watson said it was a moment of pride for the family: “Delphine is the quiet strength behind everything we do. She carries an enormous amount emotionally, creatively, and practically within our family and within Team AngelWolf. To see her recognised in Dubai, the place we have called home for so many years, was deeply meaningful for all of us.”

These triumphs are just a few examples in a long list of ongoing efforts by Team AngelWolf. The idea, at the heart of it, is something they call ‘inclusive impactivity’.

Watson explained: “For us, inclusion works best when people experience it together – not just talk about it. It is not simply about making space for someone. It is about genuinely including people within communities, activities, conversations, workplaces, schools, and everyday life. We believe inclusion should feel human, visible, and lived – not theoretical. Embracing differences while discovering connection.”

The response from the Dubai and UAE community has been incredible.

Over the years, Team AngelWolf has been welcomed into schools, universities, sporting events, workplaces, government initiatives, and community spaces across the country. Watson said the people he meets often express a genuine interest in inclusion and accessibility, with many just needing opportunities to experience it more directly.

He added: “Some of our most meaningful moments are actually the quieter ones – seeing children naturally include Rio during a school activity, seeing people who were initially nervous become more confident around disability, or watching communities come together during inclusive races and events. Those moments matter enormously to us.”

His foundation is continuing to expand opportunities for community inclusion across the UAE, with new accessibility and inclusion concepts, including their Impact Mobility (IMO) Chair project, which is designed to help create more inclusive participation opportunities within sport and outdoor environments.

As they power on, raising awareness about inclusive impactivity, Watson said he was grateful to the UAE, its leaders, its authorities, and its community.

He shared a message for residents, while remembering the kindness of the Dubai Police captain: “Inclusion does not always require huge actions. Sometimes it is simply kindness, patience, understanding, empathy, or making someone feel welcomed and safe. Everyone needs to feel that they belong – it goes far beyond disability inclusion. Those small moments can change everything.”

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