UAE at Asian Games 2026: Jiu-Jitsu’s Golden Generation
Fresh off its best-ever Asian Games haul in 2023, the UAE heads to Aichi-Nagoya led by jiu-jitsu stars Faisal Al Ketbi and Shamma Al Kalbani. Here’s what’s confirmed so far about the UAE’s 2026 squads.
UAE’s Asian Games Track Record
The UAE’s medal count has grown each recent cycle, climbing from 14 in 2018 to a best-ever 20 in 2023, while also broadening its medal base beyond its traditional combat-sports core.
| Edition | Rank | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Jakarta-Palembang | 20th | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 2022/23 Hangzhou | 16th | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
Source: United Arab Emirates at the 2018 Asian Games and United Arab Emirates at the 2022 Asian Games, Wikipedia; Gulf News.
UAE’s Strongest Sport
Jiu-jitsu is clearly UAE’s number one Asian Games sport, topping its medal table in 2018 with 9 medals and growing to UAE’s best-ever haul in 2023 with 10 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) — driven by repeat gold medalists Faisal Al Ketbi and Shamma Al Kalbani. Judo, karate, equestrian, and cycling each contributed medals in 2023, marking a broadening of UAE’s medal base, while jet-skiing and football were notable contributors in 2018 but did not recur as medal sports in 2023.
UAE’s Official Squads by Sport
Equestrian is the only sport where a fully named 2026 Asian Games roster was found — most other sports remain in pre-selection mode as of mid-August 2026.
Confirmed via official federation/media sources
| Sport | Key Named Athletes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Equestrian (Dressage) | Bianca Schütz (riding Le Grand Ayden HB), Natalie Lankester (Tesla), Mohamed Al Serkal (Zen Liquidity), Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Lotus-S); reserve Gabrielle Thompson (Landlord H) | Confirmed |
Reported but not yet formally finalized
| Sport | Notes |
|---|---|
| Jiu-Jitsu | Faisal Al Ketbi (two-time defending Asian Games gold medalist, -85kg) and Shamma Al Kalbani (defending gold medalist, -63kg) remain the flagship names and are actively competing through 2026, but neither has been formally confirmed to the 2026 roster yet. |
| Karate | Reda Masoudi won silver for the UAE at the 2026 Asian Karate Championships, making him a plausible contender, but this is a qualifying result, not a Games squad announcement. |
| Bodybuilding | The UAE Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation has confirmed “extensive” participation for 2026, but no specific named athletes were found. |
Team confirmed, no roster yet / not found
| Sports |
|---|
| Football, Athletics, Shooting, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Cycling, Taekwondo, Judo |
Storylines to Watch
Jiu-jitsu as a national soft-power project. The UAE has built jiu-jitsu into a mainstream Asian Games medal sport through decades of institutional investment — Abu Dhabi hosts the sport’s biggest global events. Faisal Al Ketbi and Shamma Al Kalbani, both back-to-back Asian Games gold medalists (2018 and 2023), are UAE’s most bankable stars heading toward 2026.
An equestrian selection controversy. Reserve rider Gabrielle Thompson reportedly outscored selected team member Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri in qualifying (67.686% vs 66.166%) yet was left off the team in favor of Al Jahouri, who has only competed in dressage since February 2026. Thompson is reportedly planning to appeal.
Can the UAE keep climbing? The team’s medal count has grown each recent cycle, from 14 in 2018 to a best-ever 20 in 2023, with its sport base diversifying from jiu-jitsu/jet-ski dominance into judo, karate, equestrian, and cycling.