UAE flag flown at Asian Games

The 19th edition will feature all competitions in Hangzhou, eastern China, with a two-hour opening ceremony. Nearly 12,500 competitors—more than ever before—from 45 countries and territories will compete in 40 sports.

Cycling athlete Ahmed Al Mansouri and shooting team member Ghaya Al Shuhail carried the UAE flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony.

Since the 1978 Bangkok Games, the UAE flag has not been absent from the country's representation in key continental events, serving as the best testimony to the nation's sporting successes and a significant mark in each edition.

Qais Al-Dhali, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Olympic Committee, confirmed in a press statement that UAE sports aspires to rise to the podium in several sports in the Asian Games and to increase the number of medals compared to the “Jakarta Asiad 2018”, in which our athletes won 13 colourful medals.

The UAE is taking part in the current tournament with a sports delegation of 140 male and female athletes competing in 20 individual and team games. Al-Dhali stated, "We are betting on several sports to win medals, including jiu-jitsu, judo, and cycling." We will also compete strongly in rugby, given that we are ranked second in Asia.

Al-Dhali confirmed that after the current session concludes, preparations will begin for the Asian Youth Games in Tashkent in 2025, the Nagoya Asian Games in 2026, and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in 2026, particularly the Gulf Youth Games, the first edition of which will be held in the Emirates next December.

We will also compete strongly in rugby, given that we are ranked second in Asia. Al-Dhali confirmed that after the current session concludes, preparations will begin for the Asian Youth Games in Tashkent in 2025, the Nagoya Asian Games in 2026, and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in 2026, particularly the Gulf Youth Games, the first edition of which will be held in the Emirates next December.