Sailing Secures UAE's Second Gold Medal at Gulf Beach Games in Muscat

Sailing Secures UAE's Second Gold Medal at Gulf Beach Games in Muscat

The Team Claims First Place in the Optimist Team Category

• • Al Obaidli: A promising start to a fruitful campaign

• • UAE Ambassador to Oman welcomes national delegation on the sidelines of the 3rd Gulf Beach Games

• • Dr Ghanem Al Hajri: Leadership support enables UAE Tent Pegging Team’s participation on the international stage

The UAE delegation has raised its medal tally to two golds at the 3rd Gulf Beach Games, currently taking place in the Sultanate of Oman from 5 to 11 April, with the participation of 330 male and female athletes. The national sailing team claimed the gold medal in the Optimist team event, extending the country’s success on the second day of the competition, following the opening-day gold secured by Abdullah Nasser Al Hammadi in paragliding.

The Sultanate of Oman won silver in the Optimist team sailing event, while Kuwait took bronze. Representing the UAE in this event were Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Zayed Omar Al Hosani, Thiyab Al Muhairi, Hamad Al Muhairi, and Madiyah Khalid Al Niyadi.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Obaidli, Secretary-General of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, congratulated H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, and H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, on the impressive start delivered by the UAE’s young sailing representatives in the Optimist team event at the Gulf Beach Games.

Al Obaidli, who is accompanying the UAE delegation in Muscat, extended his congratulations to the team’s athletes for this achievement, which reflects the dedicated efforts of the federation, in collaboration with sports clubs, to foster the development of promising young talents in marine sports. He noted the consistent regional and continental excellence of the Optimist class, which continues to demonstrate its strength at the Gulf level.

He added that the team, crowned with gold in the Optimist team event, includes Arab champion Khalifa Al Rumaithi—winner of gold at the 2023 Arab Games in Algeria, two golds at the 2024 Arab Championship in Kuwait, and a gold and silver at the 2024 GCC Youth Games held in the UAE. The line-up also features Zayed Omar Al Hosani, who won silver in the youth team event at the GCC Youth Games, along with Thiyab Al Muhairi and Hamad Al Muhairi—the youngest athletes on the team—as well as emerging talent Madiyah Khalid Al Niyadi, who previously secured two bronze medals at the 2023 Arab Games and both a gold and silver at the GCC Youth Games 2024.

Al Obaidli expressed optimism for further success from the athletes, many of whom topped the Arab Team and Arab Girls Championships last year. He highlighted strong potential in the upcoming sailing categories: ILCA 7, ILCA 6, ILCA 4, and Optimist, noting the wealth of experience and accomplishments within the squad. The team includes Adel Khalid, Sultan Khalid Mohammed Al Owais, Othman Abdul Karim Al Hammadi, Mohammed Abdul Karim Al Hammadi, Mohammed Khalid Al Owais, and Mohammed Marwan Al Marzouqi, as well as female sailors Dhohaa Al Beshr, Kamilia Al Qubaisi, Marwa Al Hammadi, and AlyaziaAl Hammadi.

He extended his sincere thanks to the Ministry of Sports and the UAE National Olympic Committee for their continued support of the national teams, which made this participation possible through well-organisedpreparations and training via international camps and competitions held this year in Hong Kong, Qatar, and Malaysia in the lead-up to the 3rd Gulf Beach Games.

H.E. Mohammed bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, received the official UAE sports delegation participating in the 3rd Gulf Beach Games. The delegation included H.E. Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the UAE National Olympic Committee; H.E. Ghanem Mubarak Rashid Al Hajri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports; H.E. Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the Ministry of Sports; H.E. Nasser Al Niyadi, President of the UAE Air Sports Federation; H.E. Mohammed bin Darwish, Executive Director of the UAE NOC; and H.E. Mohammed Al Obaidli, Secretary-General of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation.

The athletics and tent pegging teams have arrived in Muscat to compete in the Games. The athletics team will compete in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, 1,600m race, and the 4×60m relay. Team members include: Muadh Fawzi, Naseeb Salmeen, Mohammed Hassan Al Noubi, Salem Ali Abdullah, Salem Hassan Al Baloushi, Saud Jumaa Al Zaabi, Mohammed Al Hammadi, Fatima Al Baloushi, Mahra Angelya, Alia Al Hammadi, Abeer Al Baloushi, Fatima Al Shamsi, Ruqayya Al Marzouqi, Fatima Khalil, and Jawaher Fareed.

The national tent pegging team includes riders Fahad Shanwan Al Shammari, Saif Mubarak Al Harthi, Mohammed Abdullah Hussein, Khalid Al Masoud Al Hashmi, and Eisa Abdul Majeed Al Baloushi.

Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, Secretary-General of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation stated that the UAE Tent Pegging Team is fully prepared for the 2025 Gulf Beach Games in Muscat. Five elite riders were selected following technical evaluations during domestic competitions and are now undergoing intensive training to ensure peak readiness and a strong representation of the UAE.

Al Hajri praised the exceptional support that equestrian sports enjoy in the UAE, under the guidance and patronage of the nation’s leadership. He confirmed that this support remains the driving force behind the national team's international participation and their continued honourable achievements, which consistently raise the UAE flag on global platforms.

He added that the national team recently delivered a standout performance at the international championship in Moscow, showcasing the ongoing advancement of equestrian sport in the country. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to achieve positive results at the 3rd Gulf Beach Games, building on a legacy of success.

Al Hajri concluded by reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to further developing the UAE’s equestrian sector and wished the tent pegging team success in their campaign, expressing his confidence in their ability to deliver another milestone that elevates the UAE’s stature in the discipline.

Fahad Al Shammari, a member of the UAE Tent Pegging Team, stated that the team’s preparations were conducted in optimal conditions. The training camp held in Boudheib during March, leading up to their departure, was marked by enthusiasm and discipline, with the entire team working diligently to ensure full readiness.

Al Shammari noted that the squad’s performance level is very high and that great efforts were made to test a wide range of horses to ensure flexibility and readiness for any challenge. “Expectations are high, and we aim to deliver results that reflect the strength and growth of our team in this sport,” he said.

“On a personal level, this event represents a key milestone. I always strive to give my best and raise the team’s profile. Building on past achievements, I hope to add another success that reflects the dedication we’ve shown. We wish all participating teams the best and hope to earn a share of the honours at this distinguished event,” he added.

On Sunday, the UAE Beach Handball Team defeated Saudi Arabia 2–1 after both sides won one set, with the UAE prevailing 6–4 in the penalty shootout. The team is scheduled to face Bahrain this evening.

Meanwhile, the UAE Beach Volleyball Team lost its first Group B match against Kuwait (2–1) and is set to face host nation Oman this evening in the second round of the group stage.

The athletics team is set to begin its campaign on Tuesday with the long jump and high jump events. The sailing team continues with individual events across all categories, while the tent pegging team will launch its three-day campaign with the individual, pairs, and team lance events—each contested over two rounds using 6cm and 4cm pegs, with a time limit of 6.4 seconds per round.