The inaugural Gulf Youth Games will be held in the UAE from 16 April to 2 May and will see 3,500 athletes, both male and female, from across the GCC compete in 25 individual and team sports under the theme "Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising".

To achieve this, various facilities and infrastructure had to be put in place, all of which are now 100% complete, according to the Organising Committee of the inaugural Gulf Youth Games.

Nabil Ashour, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the first Gulf Youth Games "UAE 2024", said: "We are keen to host a memorable tournament that reflects the image of the UAE". To this end, all the necessary facilities and equipment have been provided in coordination with the National Olympic Committee, the General Sports Authority and the Sports Councils.

Abu Dhabi will host football, swimming, judo, track cycling, sailing, jiu-jitsu and boxing. Dubai will host table tennis, athletics, volleyball, e-sports and golf competitions.

Sharjah will host basketball 3×3, handball, karate, chess, archery, equestrian events such as show jumping and dressage, and track cycling. Fujairah will host taekwondo, fencing and badminton, while Ajman will host triathlon.

Nabil Ashour, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the first Gulf Youth Games "UAE 2024", stressed the organising committee's commitment to meeting the needs of all GCC teams, including training venues, equipment and facilities.

The historic hosting of the inaugural edition underlines the UAE's esteemed reputation for hosting major sporting events. Nabil Ashour confirmed that 99% of the stadiums and sports facilities designated to host the official competitions have been approved, with only the final steps remaining for full approval.

"All facilities are 100% ready to host various sporting events, but there are some facilities and stadiums that require additional special equipment as they will host specialised sports such as equestrian, archery and chess," added Ashour, who also confirmed that "these venues will undergo thorough assessments to ensure that they are fully equipped and prepared for training sessions".

Among other things, Nabil Ashour revealed that the allocation of matches to different regions of the country was decided in cooperation between the relevant federations and the tournament's organising committee. 

For example, it was decided that the jiu-jitsu events would be held in Abu Dhabi, given its importance as the capital of the sport. Dubai will focus on padel, while Sharjah will host the handball tournaments, reflecting the popularity of these sports in these emirates.

The Organising Committee has appointed Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Director of Technical and Sports Affairs at the National Olympic Committee, to head the UAE Delegation. "I am grateful for this role, which will require increased efforts and constant coordination to ensure a quick response to the needs of the Emirati delegation that will represent the nation at this pretigious event," he said.

Finally, a delegation directors' meeting will be held in Dubai on 14 April, bringing together the directors from the GCC countries participating in the event. The purpose of this meeting is to closely monitor all developments related to the hosting of sports facilities, accommodation arrangements, transport logistics and delegation reception protocols.