UAE National Olympic Committee unveils details of UAE’s participation in Asian Youth Games and Islamic Solidarity Games

• 152 athletes represent the UAE at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain

• 96 athletes to compete for the UAE at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

• UAE’s participation in the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain marks a historic milestone

• UAE secures 23 medals in the history of the Islamic Solidarity Games

The UAE National Olympic Committee has announced the details of the nation’s participation in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, to be hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain from 22 to 31 October, and the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, which will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 7 to 21 November.

The announcement was made during a press conference held this evening (Wednesday) at the Committee’s headquarters in Dubai, attended by representatives of sports federations and media outlets.

At the outset, Ahmed Al Tayeb, Director of Technical and Sports Affairs at the National Olympic Committee, conveyed the greetings of His Excellency Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the Committee, before outlining that the UAE delegation will compete in the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. The Games will feature around 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian nations, contesting 24 sports across 253 events. The UAE will be represented in 18 sports: handball, basketball (3x3), equestrian (show jumping and endurance), athletics, swimming, road cycling, boxing, muay thai, weightlifting, triathlon, taekwondo, table tennis, camel racing, badminton, golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts (MMA). The delegation will include 152 athletes, comprising 107 men and 45 women.

Al Tayeb highlighted key details of the competition schedule and programme, noting the historic inclusion of endurance equestrian, jiu-jitsu, and muay thai for the first time. He described this as a milestone that reflects the rapid development of Asian sport and strengthens cultural and sporting exchange among young athletes.

He added: “The Games are dedicated to athletes aged 14–18 and serve as a qualifying pathway to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. They provide an ideal platform to discover promising talent and prepare a new generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest levels, including the senior Asian Games and the Olympic Games. The event also offers athletes invaluable international experience, boosting their confidence and supporting their sporting and personal growth.”

The UAE national handball team will open its campaign on 19 October against Kazakhstan, followed by a match against Hong Kong on 20 October, before concluding the Group C stage against Iran on 21 October.

The Technical and Sports Affairs Department also unveiled details of the Committee’s participation in the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, which will be hosted for the second time in Saudi Arabia, following the first edition in 2005. More than 3,000 athletes from 57 countries are expected to take part. The UAE has participated in every edition of the Games, consistently winning medals and reaching the podium. In this edition, the UAE will compete in 15 sports: judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, muay thai, taekwondo, athletics, swimming, equestrian, fencing, weightlifting, table tennis, e-sports, camel racing, as well as athletics and weightlifting for People of Determination. The delegation will comprise 96 athletes, including 64 men and 32 women.

His Excellency Nasser Al Tamimi, Board Member of the UAE National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Technical Committee, opened the conference by emphasising the importance of these upcoming events in nurturing young talent, enhancing competitive experience, raising the standard of national sport, and fostering cooperation and sporting exchange. He underlined that these objectives are aligned with the vision and mission of the National Olympic Committee, as part of its role in strengthening the Olympic Movement, its principles, and values in collaboration with national sports organisations.

Al Tamimi added that around a year ago, the Technical Committee had reviewed the comprehensive strategy for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, focusing on athletes born between 2008–2011 and 2010–2014. The strategy covers athlete selection and development through talent identification, intensive training, and participation in a variety of competitions and sporting events, which serve as important milestones in refining abilities and improving performance among UAE athletes.

The UAE’s participation in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain holds historic significance, as the nation’s first medal in this competition will mark its inaugural achievement since its debut at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2009, where no medals were secured. Such an accomplishment would serve as a powerful motivation for all athletes to pursue this landmark success in the country’s journey in Asian Youth Games.

The UAE has won a total of 23 medals in the history of the Islamic Solidarity Games, with the majority earned at the most recent edition in Konya, Türkiye. That edition also saw the UAE claim its first-ever gold medal at the Games, secured by cyclist Ahmed Al Mansoori in the track scratch race.