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UAE Athletes Shine in Cairo With 54 Medals at Special Olympics MENA Games

Published

31 minutes ago

September 26, 2026

Shorya

After participating in Cairo for the 10th Special Olympics MENA Regional Games, Special Olympics UAE is leaving with an outstanding collection of 54 medals. The athletes won 21 gold medals, 17 silver and 16 bronze medals in four sports.

The Cairo competitions were the second phase of the 10th MENA Regional Games which are taking place in a new decentralized format. Competitions are now being organised in multiple cities and countries throughout the year, providing extra competition opportunities in the region.

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UAE Delegation Delivers Across Four Sports

The UAE team consisted of 28 members comprising 15 athletes, technical team, administrative team, medical team and media team. The athletes took part in the rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, powerlifting and equestrian competitions in Cairo.

The total count of medals won was for all 4 disciplines. Gymnasts performed both artistic and rhythmic events, and powerlifters tested their strength in their powerlifting events. The equestrian team also had good performances during the competition.

Three Gold Medals for Mohammed Al Shamsi

UAE’s equestrian eventing athlete Mohammed Zubair Al Shamsi won three gold medals in Cairo. He claimed that his preparation and training enabled him to take part in the competitions with confidence and head towards best performance.

A very well-rounded preparation program was delivered, including some specific technical and physical training, and the results of this were then summarized. The programme was created to enhance the athletes’ abilities, fitness and competition readiness for their regional appearance, according to Special Olympics UAE.

Building Experience for Santiago 2027

The Cairo results are part of the long-term planning for the preparations of Special Olympics UAE for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile, in 2027. Regional competitions offer athletes the chance to develop further and get experience in other, commonly different, competition settings.

Today launched a new regional format that provides more opportunities for athletes to compete throughout the region, said Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE. He also pointed out the importance of various prepared competitive experiences for athletes in their preparation for the Santiago World Games.

New Regional Games Format

The 10th MENA regional Games are designed on a city-by-city basis, which will give sports athletes the opportunity to enjoy one another’s active events. According to the new system, during the year events are assigned to 5 countries.

The second stage was conducted in Cairo and the next stage is to be in Oman. The format is designed to expand the regional representation and increase competitiveness for athletes.