The United Arab Emirates School and University Sports Federation has announced the fourth edition of the School Games, to be held from January 7 to May 23, 2026. The event will see participation from students of public and private schools in 13 individual and team sports. The championship will be held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, and with the support and follow-up of Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktom, Assistant Under-Secretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports, President of the UAE School and University Sports Federation. The event is organized in cooperation between the Ministries of Sports and Education and a number of strategic partners. Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi confirmed that the championship embodies the wise leadership's directives to establish sports as a human and civilizational value and to prepare a generation that enjoys health, fitness, and skill, noting that school sports represent a main pillar for discovering national talents and manufacturing champions capable of raising the flag of the UAE in international forums. He added that the championship, which achieved great success in its previous three editions, has cemented its position as a national platform for discovering student talents, praising the role of schools in supporting the national sports system as the first incubator for talents. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktom clarified that the fourth edition of the championship will provide students with ideal opportunities to compete in 13 sports, including: football, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, archery, fencing, badminton, laser shooting, table tennis, and chess, in addition to including obstacle racing for the first time. He pointed out that the past three editions witnessed the participation of 17,224 students, resulting in the coronation of 1,928 champions, with the top performers being included in the programs of the UAE Committee for Talent Care.
