The UAE School and University Sports Federation confirmed that the fifth edition of the national school games for the 2026-2027 academic year will open on October 20 under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports. The multi-stage event will unfold in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, the Sharjah Sports Council and various national sports federations. Organisers have partnered with Ferrero Gulf and additional local entities to support delivery of the programme that targets wide participation from both boys and girls.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, assistant under-secretary for sports development and competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports and president of the federation, underlined the importance of the initiative. “The School and University Games are national platforms that promote sport as a way of life in educational institutions and develop students’ abilities across individual and team sports,” he said. Al Maktoum added that schools and universities remain central to spotting and nurturing sporting talent for the UAE.
Fifth UAE School Games to launch on 20 October with 15 sports, according to the federation’s announcement distributed by the Emirates News Agency. The new season introduces wrestling and basketball for the first time while retaining established disciplines that include football, athletics, archery, badminton, laser run, table tennis, obstacle course racing, chess, fencing, judo, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and swimming. Qualifying rounds will begin immediately after registration closes, with events distributed across multiple emirates.
The UAE School Games advance through successive phases that begin at school level before regional qualifiers feed into national finals, a structure designed to maximise participation and talent identification. Gulf News data from the third edition shows more than 7,000 students from 518 schools took part in 13 core sports plus obstacle course racing. That turnout contributed to a cumulative total of nearly 12,166 participants and 1,928 recognised champions across the pilot programme and first two full editions, according to UAESUSF records.
Earlier seasons have aligned with the National Sports Strategy 2031, which sets a target of more than 30 UAE athletes qualifying for the 2032 Olympic Games, a goal the federation supports through systematic scouting and follow-up training. Successful competitors undergo detailed performance reviews conducted in partnership with the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support and Elite Sport UAE. The approach provides tailored development pathways that combine advanced technology with specialist coaching.
Separately, the federation has set October 5 as the start date for the third season of the UAE University Games, which will feature seven individual and team sports under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports. The university programme extends the talent pipeline established in the school games and operates in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Both initiatives seek to embed sport within educational routines while strengthening the country’s overall athletic infrastructure.
