The United Arab Emirates shone at the culmination of the 15-day Gulf Youth Games.UAENOC

After 15 days of exciting competition in 24 individual and team sports, the Gulf Youth Games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to a close with the host nation leading the way with 286 medals.


The curtain came down on the first Gulf Youth Games to be hosted by the UAE in 2024. Spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah, the inaugural edition of the Gulf Youth Games, themed "Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising" came to an end this Tuesday.

Delegations from the GCC countries that came to compete will depart on Wednesday having made significant technical advances, participated in intense competition and discovered emerging talent ready for future success. Heading into the final push on the final day of action, the UAE consolidated their leading position by securing 12 more medals, taking their total to 286. They won 93 gold, 100 silver and 93 bronze medals.

Saudi Arabia followed in second place with 136 medals, 52 gold, 52 silver and 32 bronze. Kuwait completed the podium with 116 medals, including 33 gold, 43 silver and 40 bronze.

Successfully concluded, the Tournament in the Persian Gulf saw nearly 3500 young athletes across 24 disciplines.UAENOC
Successfully concluded, the Tournament in the Persian Gulf saw nearly 3500 young athletes across 24 disciplines.UAENOC


Off the podium, Qatar claimed fourth place with 72 medals, including 29 gold, 18 silver and 25 bronze, while the Kingdom of Bahrain secured fifth place with 71 medals, including 24 gold, 19 silver and 28 bronze, leaving Oman in sixth place with 58 medals, including 19 gold, 13 silver and 26 bronze.

Among the thousands of outstanding athletes, Salem Al Nuaimi, a prominent talent in the UAE national team, stood out during the billiards competitions. At just 12 years old, he showed off his skills and established himself as a promising champion in the making. Salem was honoured as the youngest player of the tournament, a testament to his ability and potential.

"It is an honour to represent my country," said Salem after his participation and winning the youngest player award. "Thank you to the National Olympic Committee and the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation for giving me this opportunity. A big thank you to my family for their unwavering support."

The tournament itself was seen as beneficial due to the popularity of the game in the Gulf. It provided a platform for young players from the participating nations to hone their skills through competition in 24 sports and nearly 3,500 young athletes from the region.