Spend enough time on rugby sidelines across the UAE and you realise quickly that this game has earned its place here. What started years ago as a largely expat-driven competition has grown into something far more established, structured, and ambitious. As someone who has followed UAE rugby closely for more than a decade, it is impossible not to feel proud of what has been built and equally curious about where the next phase will take us.
There is no doubt that the foundations are strong. Participation numbers have increased, competitions are deeper, junior and women’s pathways are more visible, and the standard of rugby across the leagues has lifted year on year. Much of that progress has been driven by the work of the UAE Rugby Federation, supported by clubs, volunteers, coaches, referees, and a rugby community that has consistently shown up and invested in the game.
That context matters when we talk about recent change. The decision by Apollo Perelini to step down as Director of Rugby late last year marked the end of a significant chapter. Under his tenure, the UAE national team made a genuine leap forward, climbing from outside the world’s top 100 to inside the top 40 globally. That kind of progress does not happen without structure, accountability, and belief. It is fitting that his departure is being treated not as an ending, but as a moment of renewal.
Qais Al-Dhalai – President of Asia Rugby
In that light, the federation’s first board meeting of the new term, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, is an important marker. The meeting outlined a roadmap running through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond, with approval given to national team participation plans for 2026 and a broader high-level strategy stretching to 2032. Ambitions were clearly stated. Olympic qualification in Brisbane and a gold medal at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha.
That level of intent should excite anyone invested in the game here. According to Secretary General Mohammed Sultan Al Zaabi, the focus in the coming phase will be on developing Emirati players, male and female, through a sustainable, grassroots-led system, while strengthening partnerships and sponsorships to ensure the strategy is properly resourced. Participation plans already include men’s and women’s involvement in the Arab Rugby Sevens Championship in Morocco, Asian Sevens Series rounds in Sri Lanka and China, and age-grade representation at under-15 and under-18 level across Asia.
Structurally, some bold decisions were also taken. Existing committees were dissolved to streamline governance, with a new working-file system introduced and moves made to privatise league competition through an external committee. An independent referees’ committee is also planned. These are steps that signal a desire to professionalise operations and raise standards across competitions. Development initiatives such as school pathways, mini-tournaments across emirates, and the “Emirati Player Path” project, supported by HSBC, underline a clear commitment to long-term growth rather than short-term fixes.
With international fixtures approaching in April and May, communication matters. Not because every detail needs to be public, but because transparency builds trust and alignment between the federation, clubs, players, and supporters. Encouragingly, the federation has also highlighted a 300 per cent increase in sponsorship revenue under its previous marketing strategy, alongside plans to further strengthen digital platforms and media engagement heading into 2026.
All of this places UAE rugby in an interesting position regionally. Around Asia, unions such as Sri Lanka Rugby and the Korea Rugby Union are signalling ambition through clearer pathways and discussions around semi-professional structures. Within Asia Rugby, momentum is building, and the UAE is well placed to define its own identity within that movement.
For those of us who have watched the game grow here over the last ten years, the pride is genuine. So is the desire to understand what comes next. What does success look like between now and 2028? How can clubs, administrators, and the federation work more closely together? And how can fans and the wider rugby community actively support these ambitions rather than simply observe them from the sidelines?
This moment feels like transition. The achievements of the past decade deserve recognition. The plans now on the table deserve engagement. If the next chapter is built on communication and collaboration, UAE rugby will accelerate it’s progress.
