UAE to field 248 athletes in two major youth games

October 01, 2025 / 10:55 PM

Sharjah 24: The UAE National Olympic Committee has officially announced the country's participation in two major multi-sport events: the third Asian Youth Games, which will be hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31, and the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games, taking place in Saudi Arabia from November 7 to 21. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Committee’s headquarters in Dubai, attended by officials and representatives from various sports federations.

152 athletes to represent UAE in Bahrain

Ahmed Al Tayeb, Director of the Committee’s Technical and Sports Affairs Department, confirmed that the UAE delegation will comprise 152 athletes, including 107 males and 45 females. They will compete across 19 sports, ranging from team games like handball and 3x3 basketball to individual disciplines such as equestrian, athletics, swimming, boxing, and martial arts including muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, and MMA. This year’s Games will feature more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian nations, competing in 24 sports and 253 events. Notably, the event will include equestrian endurance, jiu-jitsu, and muay Thai for the first time, reflecting the expanding scope of Asian youth sports.

Al Tayeb highlighted the significance of the Games as a platform for discovering emerging talent aged 14 to 18, and as a qualifying event for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The participation also aims to foster cultural exchange and competitive experience among young athletes.

Islamic Solidarity Games: 96 UAE athletes headed to Saudi Arabia

In addition to the Asian Youth Games, the UAE will also participate in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia. The delegation will include 96 athletes—64 male and 32 female—competing in 15 sports such as judo, karate, taekwondo, equestrian, fencing, weightlifting, table tennis, swimming, and e-sports. The event will also feature competitions for People of Determination in athletics and weightlifting. Over 3,000 athletes from 57 countries are expected to take part in this edition, the second time the Games are being hosted after the 2005 event.

Strategic vision for Olympic development

His Excellency Nasser Al Tamimi, Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Technical Affairs Committee, emphasized that both participations are part of a broader strategic vision developed by the National Olympic Committee. This strategy, initiated nearly a year ago, focuses on preparing athletes for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It targets specific age groups—athletes born between 2008–2011 and 2010–2014—through structured programs involving local and international training camps and talent selection initiatives.

Federations committed to excellence

During the press conference, representatives of the national sports federations outlined their teams’ training plans and competitive goals. They expressed confidence in achieving strong results and reiterated their dedication to upholding the UAE’s presence on international podiums, particularly at the Islamic Solidarity Games. The event served as a platform to highlight the collaborative efforts across the sports sector aimed at advancing the Olympic movement and elevating national sports standards.