8th edition of AWST features strong Arab representation in athletics and archery

Athletics competitions will begin on Monday, February 8, as part of the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026), organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports (SWS).

The tournament is being held from February 2 to 12 across the Emirate of Sharjah, with the participation of 63 teams from 16 Arab countries competing in nine individual and team sports.

Athletics will bring together 10 teams representing nine Arab countries, competing across a broad programme of disciplines—including sprints, endurance races, jumps, and throws—with results decided by recorded times and distances, underscoring the diversity of the technical line-up and the depth of competition across the participating teams.

Participating teams in the athletics competitions include Sharjah Women’s Sports Club and Abu Dhabi Athletics Club (United Arab Emirates), Salwa Al Sabah Sports Club (Kuwait), Al Khaleej Club (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Al Qadisiyah Club (Jordan), Libyan Women’s Al Ittihad Club (Libya), Al Mawhoobein and Olympic Champion Club (Egypt), Al Fatah Sports Club – Nineveh (Iraq), Palestine Club (Palestine), and Al Arabi Sports Club (Qatar).

Most athletics disciplines will be contested at Al Thiqa Club for the Disabled, with the hammer throw and pole vault events designated to the Sharjah Women’s Sports Olympic Centre. Official training sessions for participating teams will be distributed between both venues under an approved operational plan, ensuring clear coordination and compliance with the highest technical and organisational standards.

Dr. Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Al Thiqa Club for the Disabled, said the club’s hosting of athletics is based on full facility readiness, disciplined operational planning, and the strict application of safety procedures to provide a secure and stable competitive environment.

Sharjah Women’s Sports invites the public and sports enthusiasts to attend the competitions, support Arab women athletes, and experience the events in a competitive atmosphere that reflects the continued development of women’s sport across the Arab world. SWS also enables the public to access competition schedules and race timings through the tournament’s official website, https://awst.ae/

Host clubs and venues have announced the completion of all maintenance and technical preparations and confirmed their readiness to host competitions and training sessions in accordance with approved standards. These efforts aim to ensure smooth organisational operations, accommodate participating delegations and spectators, and deliver a comprehensive sporting experience befitting the scale of the tournament.

The holding of athletics competitions aligns with the tournament’s vision to strengthen core sports, build sustainable development pathways for women’s sport, and reinforce Sharjah’s position as a leading Arab platform for hosting comprehensive women’s championships in line with best operational practices.

Meanwhile, archery competitions will begin on Tuesday, February 3, as part of the eighth edition of the AWST 2026.

A total of eight teams representing seven Arab countries will take part in the archery competitions. Participating teams include Sharjah Women’s Sports Club and Abu Dhabi Archery Club (United Arab Emirates), Kuwait Shooting Club (Kuwait), Al Riffa Club (Bahrain), Libyan Women’s Al Ittihad Club (Libya), Iraqi Airways Club (Iraq), Palestine Club (Palestine), and Al Rami Sports Club (Qatar). The competitions combine precision, focus, and mental discipline, marking a strong presence within the tournament’s individual sports programme.

Archery competitions will be held at Al Hamriyah Cultural and Sports Club, while official training sessions for participating teams will take place at the Sharjah Women’s Sports Olympic Centre. This operational distribution ensures adherence to the highest technical and organisational standards and supports athletes’ readiness throughout the competition period.

Hosting archery reflects the tournament’s broader role in advancing women’s sport regionally, according to Humaid Al Shamsi, Chairman of Al Hamriya Cultural and Sports Club, who confirmed that all technical and organisational arrangements have been completed to ensure smooth competition delivery.

Archery is witnessing growing interest within the Arab women’s sports landscape, given the high levels of precision, control, and mental focus it demands, in addition to its role in developing athletes’ cognitive skills and concentration.