Winter Sports In UAE: Growth Driven By Strategic Development And Ice Hockey Success

Winter sports in the UAE have seen significant growth, especially in ice hockey. The country has focused on developing national teams, discovering talent, and organising championships. It actively participates in regional and international competitions. The UAE is recognised as a leader in ice hockey both regionally and globally, contributing to its development across Asia and beyond.

The UAE's commitment to ice hockey is evident through its membership in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 2001. It became the first Arab nation with full membership in 2013, earning two voting rights after meeting all conditions. These included establishing a local league, developing Olympic-standard rinks, and training referees.

The UAE boasts modern facilities that meet global standards, supporting events and activities in ice hockey. This infrastructure attracts diverse age groups to the sport, expanding its reach. The growing enthusiasm led to hosting the IIHF Asia and Oceania Championship in Abu Dhabi in 2009, where the national team won the title.

Locally, the Emirates Ice Hockey League features six teams competing each season under the UAE Ice Hockey Federation's oversight. The federation also engages with international bodies by participating in meetings of both International and Asian Ice Hockey Federations while hosting various events.

The UAE National Ice Hockey Team competes annually in the IIHF World Championship and every four years at the Asian Winter Games. Since 2013, the women's team has participated in the IIHF Asia and Oceania Championship. The men's team also competes in the U20 category of this championship.

The national team's achievements include winning first place at a Hong Kong championship debut in 1999 and second place in 2000. More recently, they secured gold at the Gulf Ice Hockey Championship in Kuwait in 2022 with a perfect score.

Future Goals

The team's success continued with victories at the 2023 IIHF World Championship Division II in Türkiye and Division III in Luxembourg in 2022. Hamel Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, stated: "At the federation, we are committed to elevating winter sports to a global level and fostering a healthy, cohesive society."

He emphasised their dedication to implementing programmes for talent discovery and enhancing global competitiveness while supporting national teams with promising talent capable of representing the UAE internationally.

The Abu Dhabi Ice Sports Club was established following these successes under Abu Dhabi Sports Council's guidance. This club evolved from an earlier version formed after winning the 2009 championship title.

With inputs from WAM