Athletics in the Emirates…an upward path that establishes excellence and creates historical records

Abu Dhabi, December 27 / WAM / The achievements achieved by UAE athletics in the Arab, regional, continental and international championships embody the remarkable level of development in the levels of male and female players, in addition to the strength of the technical base for the different age groups, and the emergence of promising elements possessing high competitive capabilities.

The achieved results emphasized the importance of the qualitative steps adopted by the UAE Athletics Federation and its strategic plan aimed at development through well-thought-out plans and gradual stages.

The Third West Asian Championship for Boys and Girls, which was held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, last October, witnessed a notable achievement for the national team, represented by winning the Young Women’s Cup (first place), in addition to achieving second place in the overall standings, with a total of 19 medals, 11 gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze.

The positive results continued in the Arab Championship for men and women, which was held in Tunisia, as the team won 6 medals, 3 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze, in addition to the qualification of 5 players to the World Youth Championship under 20, scheduled to be held in the United States of America in 2026, in addition to winning two silver medals in the Islamic Solidarity Games in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last November.

The national team achieved the first gold medal for the UAE in athletics participation in the Asian Youth Games, during the third edition held in the Kingdom of Bahrain last October, and witnessed the winning of 6 medals, 3 gold, 2 silver, and a bronze.

In the World Schools Championship, the team won 6 medals, 3 gold and 3 bronze, in addition to setting two world records, through Suleiman Abdel Rahman in the 400-meter race, and Aminat Qamar Al-Din, who succeeded in breaking the world school record in the 200-meter race.

Sprinter Maryam Karim topped the global list of the best 400 meter hurdles runners under 18 years of age for the year 2025, after her distinguished results in a number of championships, most notably her victory in the 200 and 400 meter hurdles gold in the Asian Championship for male and female juniors, which was held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during September 2025.

The qualitative achievement of runner Arwa Ali was highlighted in the Third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain 2025, by breaking the country’s record and setting a new record of “11.45” seconds, confirming her high capabilities and remarkable speed, and presenting distinguished technical levels that reflect the qualitative value of a runner who is steadily making her way towards the world.

Athlete Salma Haitham Al Marri won the first gold medal for athletics in the history of women’s foreign participation, in the “Hammer Slam” competition within the Arab Championship for Junior Men and Women Under 18 in Tunisia during the month of August, setting a new personal record of “55.78 metres.”

She also added another achievement by achieving her new personal record in the women’s hammer competition during the international championship in Slovenia in early August 2025, which amounted to “49.02 metres”, breaking the country’s previous record at the level of juniors, young women and women, which amounted to “44.6 metres”.

In the West Asian Championship, which was held in Lebanon last October, the UAE team succeeded in the final of the 400-meter mixed relay race by breaking the championship and state records, recording a time of 3:26.62 minutes. The runner, Al-Yazia Tariq, also excelled by winning the silver medal in the 600-gram javelin throw, at a distance of 32.09 metres, setting a new record for the state in the category for young women and men.

The player herself set new national records, by breaking the women’s record in the pole vault, recording 2.70 metres, compared to the previous record of 2.25 metres, in addition to breaking the javelin throw record for a distance of 35.25 metres, during the Arab Championship in Tunisia last August.

The runner, Mohammed Al-Musabi, continued his excellence in setting records, as last July he achieved the gold medal in the 1000 meters race for the youth category, within the championship accompanying the Diamond League in the Principality of Monaco, recording a time of 2:34.44 minutes, to achieve a new record for the UAE in the youth category.

His Excellency Major General Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, President of the UAE Athletics Federation, said that the achievements achieved during the past period reinforce the federation’s vision that was announced since the first electoral cycle, which aims to build on strategic foundations aimed at comprehensive development and bringing the game to the best levels according to global indicators.

He pointed out that the federation relies in its work methodology on an integrated vision, in implementation of the strategic plans of the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee, and in line with national trends to achieve achievements in various foreign forums, by adopting advanced preparation programs, qualifying champions, and active participation in international tournaments.

In turn, Mohammed Abdel Nasser Al Khayyat, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Athletics Federation, said that preparing generations of talented people and establishing a strong base of promising elements with global competitive capabilities represent a future priority for the federation, within an integrated system that takes into account all the requirements necessary to present an honorable image for the sport of UAE athletics on the international scene.

For his part, Rashid Nasser Al Ali, a member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Athletics Federation and Chairman of the National Teams Committee, confirmed that the various national teams succeeded in achieving honorable achievements during the year 2025, as a culmination of the national strategy announced by the Federation since the first electoral cycle, within a long-term plan aimed at raising the level of achievements and raising the country’s flag on external podiums.

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