The UAE has joined World Curling, giving the country formal representation within the international governing body for the sport.
The UAE Winter Sports Federation has been accepted as a Conditional Member Association following approval from the World Curling Board. The move makes the UAE World Curling’s 78th member.
Curling is played on ice, with teams sliding stones towards a circular target while teammates use brushes to influence their speed and direction. It features at both the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The UAE Winter Sports Federation now plans to develop the sport locally, identify players and build national teams capable of competing internationally.
Hamel Ahmed Al Qubaisi, vice president of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, said membership would give UAE teams access to World Curling development programmes and more opportunities to compete overseas.
The federation also plans to develop coaches and players as it establishes the sport in the country.
World Curling announced the UAE’s membership on September 24, with president Beau Welling welcoming the country to the organisation.
Juma Al Dhaheri, secretary general of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, said joining the governing body would help the federation develop athletes and create opportunities for curling in the UAE and the region.
The move comes during a significant year for winter sport in the Emirates. The UAE made its Winter Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026, where alpine skiers Piera Hudson and Aleksander Astridge became the country’s first athletes to compete at a Winter Games.
World Curling’s current membership list now includes the UAE with 2026 recorded as its year of entry.
