UAE Muay Thai team win three medals at Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh

The UAE Muay Thai national team secured three medals at the sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games, currently taking place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The event features 3,000 athletes from 57 countries, with the UAE participating across 14 sports.

Mohammed Mardi captured the gold medal in the 65–70kg category following an exceptional performance in the final against Saudi athlete Amer Al-Anzi—a historic achievement that underscores the strong presence of UAE competitors in Muay Thai.

Zainab Bu Hamada delivered a commendable performance in the final of the 50–55kg category, earning the silver medal after a competitive bout with Türkiye’s Gulistan Turan. UAE Muay Thai standout Ilyas Habibali Ali also impressed, securing the bronze medal in the 75–80kg category after a spirited contest against Afghanistan’s Saeed Hamid Sadat.

The UAE delegation at the Islamic Solidarity Games has now collected 11 medals, surpassing its tally of 10 medals achieved at the previous edition held in Konya, Türkiye. With strong prospects of adding further podium finishes in the days ahead, UAE athletes continue to write new chapters of success and elevate the nation’s flag at every opportunity.

The UAE has secured a total of 11 medals—two gold, one silver, and eight bronze—moving up to 15th place in the overall standings. Türkiye leads the table with 105 medals, comprising 58 gold, 28 silver, and 19 bronze, followed by Uzbekistan in second place with 49 medals, including 15 gold, 18 silver, and 16 bronze. The Arab Republic of Egypt sits fifth and tops the Arab nations with 29 medals, featuring 10 gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze. Meanwhile, host nation the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands ninth with a total of 25 medals—five gold, two silver, and 18 bronze.

UAE Muay Thai athlete Mohammed Mardi emphasised that the road to gold and reaching the podium at the Islamic Solidarity Games was far from straightforward, noting that the journey required overcoming numerous challenges and demanding bouts across the various stages. He explained that determination and perseverance were his greatest strengths, while his strongest motivation came from seeing the UAE flag raised high at such a significant sporting event.

Mardi praised the high technical standard of the tournament, highlighting that the quality of performances delivered by athletes from many nations made the experience invaluable in terms of skill development, physical conditioning, and competitive exposure.

He concluded by extending his appreciation to the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation for its continued support and confidence, as well as to the technical and administrative teams for their dedicated work in preparation and follow-up. He also expressed his gratitude to the members of the UAE delegation, who fostered a positive and supportive environment throughout the Games.

Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, Vice President of the International Federation of Muay Thai and President of both the Asian and Arab Muay Thai Federations, as well as President of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, expressed profound pride in the exceptional showing of the UAE Muay Thai national team at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh. He affirmed that the outstanding results achieved reflect the sport’s growing prominence on the continental and international stage, and embody the impact of the unwavering support extended by the UAE’s wise leadership to sport and athletes.

He stated that these accomplishments are the product of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation’s focused and ambitious vision, together with the high commitment and competitive spirit demonstrated by the athletes across all their bouts—qualities that contributed to presenting an honourable and confident image of Emirati sport.

He extended his congratulations to the team’s athletes for their strong performances and refined fighting spirit, noting that their display highlighted the significant progress in their technical development. Their remarkable presence, he added, further strengthened the UAE’s leadership in Muay Thai at both regional and international levels.

He also commended the considerable efforts of the technical and administrative teams, the National Olympic Committee staff, and the encouragement of parents, stressing that the combined contributions of all parties were essential to achieving this distinguished success.

Neyadi added that the results at the Islamic Solidarity Games represent an important milestone in the journey of the national teams and reinforce confidence in their ability to compete and secure further notable accomplishments in upcoming events.

He concluded by emphasising that these achievements provide strong motivation to continue developing young talent and to cement the UAE’s position as a global hub for martial arts, and a leading centre for nurturing champions and shaping a bright sporting future.