From football to jiu-jitsu, UAE posts unprecedented sporting year

The United Arab Emirates closed 2025 with its most successful sporting year on record, posting unprecedented medal hauls across regional, continental and global competitions.

Historic performances came at major multi-sport events, including the GCC Beach Games in Muscat, the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, where the UAE achieved its highest-ever totals.

In football, Sharjah FC lifted its first AFC Champions League Two title after a 2–1 victory over Lion City Sailors in the final.

Cycling continued to deliver global success as UAE Team Emirates-XRG enjoyed another dominant season. Tadej Pogačar won the UCI World Championships road race for a second time and secured his fourth Tour de France title, while the team also claimed overall victory at the Tour de Pologne.

Jiu-Jitsu remained a flagship sport, highlighted by a landmark 50-medal haul at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Thailand. UAE athletes also reached the podium at the World Games in Chengdu, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and amassed 66 medals across the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour. 

Karate added further medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games and Asian championships.

Para-athletes delivered standout results, led by Thekra Alkaabi’s gold in the women’s 100m T71 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. The UAE also collected nine medals at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain.

Success extended across chess, pentathlon, water sports and badminton, with several first-time continental and world medals. 

Traditional sports continued to shine, as Emirati athletes swept endurance horse racing titles and claimed historic medals in camel racing during its debut at the Asian Youth Games.

The breadth of results underlined the UAE’s growing sporting depth and its strongest overall year to date.