63 teams from 16 Arab nations to compete in 9 games at 8th AWST

Under the patronage of Her Higness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026) will host 63 teams from 16 Arab nations from Feb.2 to 12. The sportswomen and athletes will compete across nine individual and team sports.

The sports programme includes basketball, volleyball (officially approved by the International Volleyball Federation), table tennis, fencing, athletics, shooting, archery, and also feature two newly introduced categories - taekwondo (G1 international classification) and rowing. Teams from Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE are participating this year.

AWST is the only tournament of its kind in the Arab world, uniting multiple women’s sports on a single competitive platform.

Organised with the endorsement of the League of Arab States and under the umbrella of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, the tournament has been hosted by Sharjah since 2012, and benefits from the direct guidance and support of Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi.

During the tournament, competitions and training sessions will be staged across 10 sports venues in three cities within Sharjah. Venues include the Sharjah Women’s Olympic Centre; the Sharjah Women’s Sports Club in Al Qulayaa; Al Thiqa Club for the Disabled; Al Dhaid Cultural and Sports Club; Al Hamriyah Cultural and Sports Club; Al Qarayen Children’s Centre; Khorfakkan Club for the Disabled; Al Batayih Cultural and Sports Club; Al Riqa Children’s Centre; and Al Hamriyah Beach.

Details of the upcoming 8th edition were shared during a press conference held at the Sharjah Women’s Olympic Centre in the presence of Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of AWST Higher Organising Committee; Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of the AWST Higher Organising Committee and Head of the Executive Committee; and Moza Al Shamsi, Director of the Tournament.

Also in attendance were Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council and strategic partner of AWST, and Dr Abdelrahman Bin Taliah‏, Director Corporate and Executive Affairs at Air Arabia, the official carrier of AWST, alongside representatives of leading UAE sports bodies, including the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport.

The conference was further attended by sports federations participating in the tournament’s eighth edition, chairpersons and board members of clubs hosting competitions and training sessions, as well as strategic partners, sponsors, and media representatives.

The press conference also marked the launch of the official anthem of the eighth edition, titled “Arab Women”. It is a collaborative artistic production featuring celebrated local singer Hussain Al Jassmi, with music composed by Fayez Al Saeed, and lyrics written by poet Dr. Abdul Salam Al Hammadi.

In his keynote, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said, “Over the years, the tournament has bolstered its role as an extension of Sharjah’s developmental project, established and nurtured by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who consistently emphasises the role of sport within society, particularly among youth, in instilling national values, developing talent, and preparing future generations.”

He added, “Since its launch in 2012 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, AWST has served as a practical model of sport as a tool for community development and women’s empowerment. Founded upon Her Highness’s vision of sport as a space for connection and opportunity, the tournament has provided a dedicated Arab platform to celebrate gifted female athletes and showcase their inspiring journeys at regional and international levels, reinforcing Sharjah’s status as an Arab hub for building confidence, capability, and competitive women’s sporting role models.”