Dubai: The UAE National Olympic Committee has revealed the details of the country’s upcoming participation in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, scheduled from 22nd to 31st October, and the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, set for 7th to 21st November. This announcement was made during a press conference at the Committee’s headquarters in Dubai, which saw attendance from sports federations and media representatives.
According to Emirates News Agency, Ahmed Al Tayeb, Director of Technical and Sports Affairs at the Committee, shared greetings from Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the Committee. He detailed that the UAE delegation will join 5,000 athletes from 45 countries in the Asian Youth Games, competing across 253 events in 24 sports. The UAE team will be participating in 18 sports, including handball, basketball (3×3), equestrian, athletics, swimming, and more. The delegation will consist of 152 athletes, comprising 107 men and 45 women.
Al Tayeb noted the historic first-time inclusion of endurance equestrian, jiu-jitsu, and muay thai in the Games, emphasizing its significance in the development of Asian sport and cultural exchange. He highlighted that the Games, aimed at athletes aged 14-18, are a qualifying pathway to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. These events serve as platforms for discovering young talent and preparing athletes for future senior-level competitions.
The UAE’s handball team is set to start its campaign on 19th October against Kazakhstan, followed by matches against Hong Kong and Iran.
In addition to participation in the Asian Youth Games, the UAE will also compete in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, which will host over 3,000 athletes from 57 countries. The UAE has participated in every edition of these Games since their inception, consistently achieving medal wins. This year, the UAE will compete in 15 sports, including athletics, swimming, equestrian, and e-sports, with a delegation of 96 athletes, including 64 men and 32 women.
Nasser Al Tamimi, Board Member of the Committee, emphasized the importance of these competitions for nurturing talent and strengthening the standard of national sports. He highlighted that these objectives align with the Committee’s mission to reinforce the Olympic Movement in cooperation with national sports organizations.
Al Tamimi further explained that the Committee’s strategy for Dakar 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 focuses on athletes born between 2008-2011 and 2010-2014, aiming to refine their skills through talent identification, intensive training, and competitions.
The UAE’s participation in the Asian Youth Games is historically significant, as the nation aims for its first medal since debuting in Singapore in 2009. Such an achievement would serve as a landmark success and inspire future generations.
In the Islamic Solidarity Games, the UAE has previously won 23 medals, with significant success in the most recent edition in Konya, Turkey, where cyclist Ahmed Al Mansoori clinched the UAE’s first-ever gold in the track scratch race.