UAE Teams To Compete Across All Nine Sports At AWST 2026 In Sharjah

Fifteen UAE teams will compete at the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026) in Sharjah, running from 2 to 12 February. The sides will contest all nine approved sports, underscoring wide national representation and adding fresh momentum to women’s sports development across the country and the wider Arab region.

The UAE contingent targets strong results after national clubs finished second overall in the 2024 medals table. That performance highlighted sustained progress in women’s training systems, and strengthened expectations that UAE teams are increasingly prepared to participate across regional, continental, and global competitive levels.

Sharjah Women’s Sports Club anchors the UAE presence, entering every sport on the AWST 2026 programme. The club fields athletes in basketball, volleyball, fencing, shooting, archery, table tennis, rowing, and taekwondo. Taekwondo contests carry the international G-1 classification awarded by World Taekwondo, giving added weight to performances in Sharjah.

Specialised UAE clubs complement that broad participation. Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club joins the basketball competition, while Al Wasl Sports Club contests volleyball, which at AWST is accredited by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). Fujairah Martial Arts Club enters both fencing and taekwondo, alongside Abu Dhabi Athletics Club and Abu Dhabi Archery Club.

Across the tournament, 63 teams from 16 Arab countries will participate, with matches and events scheduled at 10 venues in three emirate cities. AWST, held every two years, offers a structured environment for both individual and team sports, with regulations designed to create fair conditions and consistent competitive standards for all delegations.

The UAE squads feature several athletes with recent achievements. Amina Al Hosani competes after earning the Best Libero award at the West Asia Women’s Clubs Championship. Alya Al Naqbi represents Sharjah Women’s Sports Club’s basketball team, which completed its season unbeaten, reinforcing expectations around the side’s performance at AWST 2026.

Hurdler Mahra Abdulrahim returns following a silver medal in the 2024 edition, while archer Amna Al Awadhi will defend the compound bow title won at the previous tournament. Organisers expect the scale of UAE participation, combined with local venues, to deepen fan engagement and community support for women’s sports across the emirate.

With inputs from WAM