Nagoya:The United Arab Emirates celebrated its most successful performance at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, securing its best-ever medal tally since its debut in 1978. The UAE's athletic contingent concluded the Games in Japan by placing 13th out of 45 participating nations in the overall medal standings.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE's achievements at the Games were praised by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee. Sheikh Mansoor highlighted the determination of UAE athletes in raising the nation's flag and their ambition to enhance the country's status as a leading sporting nation in Asia.
The UAE athletes won seven gold medals, marking a historic first for the nation at the Asian Games. Sheikh Mansoor acknowledged this as a significant achievement, attributing it to the dedication of the athletes, technical and administrative teams, and national sports federations.
Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum was commended for her record in equestrian competitions, contributing to the UAE's silver medal in the show jumping team event. Her career total of four Asian Games medals places her alongside Malaysia's Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil for the highest medal tally by a female equestrian in the history of the Games.
The UAE's show jumping team and individual competitors were also praised for their silver medal achievements. Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi secured an individual silver in the show jumping event on the final day of the Games.
Another standout performance was by UAE athlete Mariam Kareem, who set a new Asian Games record in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 54.31 seconds, also establishing a new Asian U20 record. Her success highlighted her remarkable talent and resilience, following an earlier effort in the UAE mixed 4x400m relay team.
Overall, the UAE earned 13 medals at the Games: seven gold, five silver, and one bronze. The gold medalists included athletes from various disciplines such as judo, jiu-jitsu, and athletics. The silver medalists featured competitors in athletics, jiu-jitsu, and equestrian events, with Ammar Al Hosani also contributing a bronze in jiu-jitsu.
The UAE's delegation, consisting of 165 athletes, participated in a wide range of sports, including athletics, swimming, taekwondo, and more. The modern pentathlon and padel teams made their debut, highlighting the UAE's expanding presence at the Games.
The Asian Games, held from September 19 to October 4, 2026, brought together over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries, making it the second-largest multi-sport event globally after the Summer Olympic Games.