Union of Arab National Olympic Committees (UANOC) President Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal handed Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz, head of the Saudi Arabian delegation, the UANOC flag at the Closing Ceremony of Algeria 2023 on Saturday (July 15).

The handover confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the Games in four years’ time.

It will be the first time Saudi Arabia has staged the event which was inaugurated in 1953.

As well as being head of UANOC, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal is also Saudi Arabia’s Sports Minister and leader of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC).

Saudi Arabia placed 10th in the overall standings at the Pan Arab Games in Algeria including seven gold, nine silver and 29 bronze medals.

Athletes competed across badminton, judo, swimming, athletics, football, fencing, cycling, wrestling, karate, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, 3x3 basketball and handball, as well as Para athletics, goalball and wheelchair basketball.

Much of Saudi Arabia’s success came in karate where they topped the medal table with two golds, one silver and eight bronzes.

They also picked up two golds in weightlifting and table tennis.

Although the Saudi team were missing some key athletes due to participation in other international events, they were able to give young athletes the chance to shine.

According to the SOPC, the percentage of athletes under the age of 23 reached 46 per cent at the Games.