Sports have witnessed rapid and comprehensive development in UAE

Sports, like any other sector, have witnessed rapid and comprehensive development since the establishment of the UAE Federation in 1971. The UAE leadership, headed by the President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has given special attention to youth development.

Since sports forms one of the basic principles of building the youth, the country's leadership has been throwing their weight behind every effort to improve this sector by providing every facility.

As a result, the country now has 30 officially registered sports clubs each of whom can boast of high standard sports facilities for football, basketball, handball, table tennis, volleyball, swimming, athletics, chess and snooker.

Owing to the enviable position of football among the various sports, well-equipped stadiums have been built for all the clubs, now totaling 30 from eight in 1970. These, in addition to a number of girls clubs in various parts of the country, six chess clubs and boys scout and girls guides societies in each of the seven emirates.

Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, built in 1979, is a showpiece of the countrys sport's facilities. The sports complex is capable of hosting any world sport event in the country.

As a result of the UAE's pragmatic approach to sports development, the country recorded its first individual international sporting success in 1998 when Mohammed Al Qubeisi won the Bowling World Cup Championship in Mexico.

Bowling has since fast become popular among the country's youth with a results that the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Bowling Centre was built in Abu Dhabi. The centre successfully hosted the 1999 Bowling World Cup Championship in November 1999.

In football, the country's greatest achievement was its qualification for the 1990 World Wup finals in Italy, where the UAE locked horns with football giants.
Football remains the most popular sport in the UAE.

With the recent appointment of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a keen football enthusiast, as the new President of the UAE football association, the sport is on course for a big boost.

Sheikh Saeed's first major achievement in his new office is the securing the honour to host the 2003FIFA Youth World Cup.

The promotion of the sport through football clubs at schools and colleges, as well as at local, regional and national levels, has paid dividends in terms of raising the standard of the game in the country. A total of 30 football clubs, each with around 150 players, are currently affiliated with the UAE Football Association, which was established in 1971.

The UAE FA joined FIFA in 1972, followed by both the Arab Football and Asian Soccer Federations in 1974.

Another area where the UAE has made remarkable progress is camel racing, horse racing and boat racing – all being ancestral sports which the UAE Government is making every effort to revive and sustain.

In 1985 the UAE joined the Federation Equestre International (FEI) and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation was formed in 1992 with the clear mission to promote and sponsor equestrian sport in the UAE. Since the federation's inception, equestrian sport has become focused and highly successful.

Racing has already taken its place on the world stage while showjumping and endurance riding are now following its lead. Other equestrian associations, such as the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also organise equestrian events within the UAE.

Professional racing began in 1991/1992 season for both thoroughbreds and purebred Arabians.

During the 1990s the sport enjoyed phenomenal growth throughout the UAE, and the country now boasts of a number of prestigeous racing venues and hosts the world's richest horse race, the $6 million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race.

High-class race tracks have been developed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Great efforts are also being made by the UAE Racing and Equestrian Federation, under the chairmanship of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and with the support of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to promote international racing featuring Purebred Arabian horses.

Camel racing, a traditional sport, is extremely popular in the Emirates. Originally staged in an informal setting, at weddings or special festivals, camel racing now takes place on customised tracks that have been built throughout the country. Race meetings are held in the winter months from October to April, and crowned with the annual camel race festival at Al Wathba which attracts entrants from all over the world.

Sheikh Zayed's sponsorship of the Zayed grand prize is an indication of the special focus and encouragement given to the revival of heritage sports and camel racing festivals in particular. A total cash prizes of Dhs10 million is on offer for winners of the 112 individual races held during the festival.

The UAE also supports camel racing in other countries, including Mauritania, Australia and Germany, where cups and cash prizes in Sheikh Zayed's name have been instituted.
In rallying Mohammed bin Sulayem, has earned recognition for the sport at the 12-time Middle East champion.

Polo has been played in the UAE since the Dubai Polo Club was established 24 years ago. In recent years it has become so popular, especially amongst local players, that the Emirates Polo Association was formed to organise the game on a more professional basis.

Watersports, which include wooden boat races, powerboat races, regattas, yacht races, sailboat races, are held regularly while the Dubai-based Victory Team has won world recognition for the region in powerboating. The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) and Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club are internationally recognised watersports facilities.

Less than three decades ago golfers were restricted to playing on oiled sand, putting on 'browns' rather than greens.

Today, proponents of the fastest growing sport in the UAE can choose from eleven world-class golf courses throughout the country, with distinctive clubhouses, immaculate greens and lush fairways.

Some of the courses are of such a high standard that they have been chosen to host major international golfing tournaments.

The UAE junior cycling team made a mark at the seventh Asian Cycling Championship in Shanghai, China in July 2000 where Mattar Obaid finished seventh, while Hisham Mohammed was one place behind him in the 21-kilometre individual time trial.

Shooting is another sports area where the UAE is gaining ground. Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum finished a close second in the Italian international grand prix, which hosted over 140 shooters representing eight nations.

Sheikh Ahmed also competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the olympic trap event and in the double trap event and won a medal at the World Cup in Cyprus in october 2000.

Rugby is another sport that has a large following among the expatriate popula