Emirati sports in 2025…an exceptional harvest and unprecedented continental and global achievements

During the year 2025, the sports sector in the UAE recorded an exceptional number of qualitative achievements at the regional, continental and global levels, confirming the advanced position that Emirati sports now occupy on the global sports map.

During the current year, Emirati sports achieved its best 3 historical participations in multi-sport tournaments, as it began its attendance in the third edition of the Gulf Beach Games, which was held in Muscat last April, by achieving 23 colorful medals, recording the best participation in the country’s history in this event.

The UAE delegation continued its brilliance at the continental level, achieving 31 medals in the Third Asian Youth Games held in the Kingdom of Bahrain last October, achieving record numbers, in addition to participating in the sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last November, which the country’s delegation concluded with 27 medals, recording its best result compared to all previous editions.

Group games
At the team games level, the Sharjah team was crowned champion of the AFC Champions League 2 for the first time in its history, after defeating the Singaporean Lion City team with a score of 2-1 in the final match of the continental championship, which was held at Bishan Stadium in Singapore on May 18 last.

Individual games
In individual games, the year 2025 witnessed an exceptional harvest for Emirati sports on the global stage, as the Emirates Cycling Team continued its international brilliance by crowning Slovenian Tade Pogacar as world road race champion for the second time in a row in the Rwandan capital Kigali, in addition to achieving its fourth title in the Tour de France, while the Emirates Cycling Team “XRG” won the Tour of Poland title, confirming its leadership and position among the elite cycling teams in the world.

Jiu-Jitsu
In the sport of jiu-jitsu, the UAE established its global leadership with a historic tally of medals at the World Championships held in Thailand. The UAE national team won 50 colored medals, in addition to achieving 4 colored medals in the Chengdu World Games, and 5 colored medals in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in addition to a huge harvest of 66 colored medals in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam tournaments that were held in London, Paris, Jordan and Istanbul during the period from April to June. The team also won 7 colored medals in the Asian Youth Games, and 8 colored medals in The Islamic Solidarity Games, in confirmation of artistic continuity and Emirati dominance on the continent and internationally.

Sports for people of determination
The sport of people of determination confirmed its superiority through champion Dhikra Al Kaabi winning gold in the 100 meter race at the World Athletics Championships held in New Delhi, in addition to Mohammed Hashel Al Habsi winning gold in the World Paralympic Shooting Championship in the Czech Republic with a new world record, in addition to Mohammed Othman’s bronze in the 100 meter wheelchair race. The UAE delegation also won 9 colored medals in the Paralympic Shooting World Cup. Which was hosted by the city of Al Ain, and player Ahmed Al-Badwawi continued his brilliance on the continent by winning 3 bronze medals in the Asian Track Championship, which was held in Malaysia.

Chess
The sport of chess recorded a global achievement, with player Moza Nasser Al Shamsi being crowned with the title of the World Amateur Championship, which was held in Serbia. The UAE also recorded, in the sport of modern pentathlon, a historic global participation by winning 8 colored medals in the World Championship, which was held in South Africa, in the first global participation of the game.
Karate
The sport of karate achieved an advanced presence at the continental and regional levels, with two bronze medals won in the Islamic Solidarity Games by Reda Masoudi, in the weight of under 84 kg, and Omar Nabil Al-Shaltuni, in the weight of under 67 kg, in addition to two silver and bronze medals in the Asian Championship for Juniors, Youth and Under 21 years, which was held in China, in addition to achieving 12 colored medals in the West Asian Championship hosted by the Jordanian capital. Amman.

Duel
The sport of fencing continued its brilliance, achieving a bronze medal in the team competitions with fencing in the Islamic Solidarity Games, in addition to winning 4 colored medals in the Arab Championship held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Marine sports
In marine sports, the UAE modern sailing team won the gold in the Asian Championship for the “Optimist” category in the Sultanate of Oman, and the player Adel Khaled was crowned with gold in the overall standings of the European Modern Sailing League, in addition to the sailing team winning 6 colored medals in the International M’diq Championship in Morocco, while the modern rowing team won two silver and a bronze medal in the Asian Beach Rowing Championship in China.

Badminton
In the sport of badminton, the national team achieved unprecedented achievements, most notably the victory of player Rayan Malhan, the first Asian medal for the UAE in the history of the game, in addition to winning 5 colored medals in the Spanish International Championship for the under-19 category, in confirmation of the success of the rules preparation programmes.

Bow and arrow
The sport of bow and arrow strengthened its continental and European presence, winning 16 colorful medals in the West Asian Championships, the Central European Cup, and the European Cup.
In traditional sports, the Emirati endurance races confirmed their global and Asian dominance, by achieving the World Youth and Junior Championship titles, and crowning the Asian Championship, in addition to topping the individual and team competitions in the Asian Youth Games, in addition to winning the World Championship title for young horses in France.

Camel
The UAE National Camel Team recorded a historic presence in its first appearance at the Asian Youth Games, winning 4 colorful medals, in addition to achieving 5 other medals in the Islamic Solidarity Games.