The focus of the UAE's sports scene this year is on the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, scheduled to take place in the Senegalese capital from October 31 to November 13, 2026. This will be the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games held on the African continent. The sports program for Dakar 2026 includes around 25 sports, with the participation of approximately 2,700 athletes from various countries around the world, reflecting the scale and diversity of the competitions and providing a valuable opportunity for young athletes to gain experience at an early Olympic stage. The National Olympic Committee, in cooperation with sports federations, has focused on several key criteria during the preparation phase, most notably the qualification journey and the technical requirements for each sport. These include the requirement to be in the international age-group rankings in some sports like badminton and swimming, in addition to defining the qualifying age groups, which for most sports include athletes born in 2009 and 2010. This necessitates precise and early physical and technical preparation to ensure the readiness of national athletes to compete for qualification spots. External participation in Asian championships has been a key stage on the path to Dakar, as national federations are currently preparing youth teams to participate in these championships, aiming to secure as many qualification slots as possible according to the rules of each international federation, thereby enhancing the chances of a proud representation for the country at this global event. The 3rd Asian Youth Games, held in Bahrain in October 2025, were one of the most prominent preparation stops, after the UAE's athletes won 31 medals, which helped accumulate the required points on the qualification path towards the Youth Olympics in Dakar. The Dakar 2026 Olympics program includes a number of sports that have seen remarkable development in recent years, led by athletics, taekwondo, boxing, judo, shooting, and triathlon, along with other sports included in the Olympic program. This opens up wide prospects for a multi-sport Emirati participation, reflecting the diversity and progress of the national sports system. The UAE's participation in the Dakar 2026 Olympics embodies the strategic direction towards preparing a young generation of athletes capable of competing internationally, in line with the goals of the National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to develop talent, enhance professionalism, and solidify the UAE's presence at major global sporting events, transforming Olympic participation from a goal in itself into a sustainable path for achieving success. The history of the UAE's participation in the Youth Olympic Games dates back to the first edition held in Singapore in 2010, followed by a second participation in Nanjing, China, in 2014, and then the third edition in Buenos Aires in 2018, where the UAE achieved its first Youth Olympic medal through rider Omar Abdulaziz Al-Marzooki, who won the silver medal in the jumping competition. Noura Al-Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, stated that the qualification of player Ryan Malhan for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar is the fruit of the continuous work carried out by the federation as part of its strategic plans to prepare young players. She noted that the remarkable results achieved by the player in the recent past at the regional and international levels reflected his technical development and his right to be in this Olympic event, especially as the player is part of the elite program with the support of the Ministry of Sport. Sultan Al-Yahya'i, a member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Equestrian Federation, explained that the federation gives the highest priority to preparing young riders within its strategic plans for participation in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. He pointed out that the preparation programs focus on providing a high-level competitive environment that meets the requirements of qualification and the approved international standards. He stated that the recent International Jumping Championship was one of the important stations in the preparation path, through the participation of 9 riders from the UAE, which provided them with an opportunity for technical and competitive exposure and to gain the necessary experience, and to measure their levels in preparation for selecting the qualified elements to represent the country in the upcoming events. Faisal Al-Khamiri, Secretary General of the UAE Athletics Federation, confirmed that the federation places the preparation of athletes among its priorities within its strategy for participation in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. He indicated that the current phase is witnessing the implementation of comprehensive technical and physical preparation programs that align with the requirements of qualification and the approved international standards.
