UAE set for a historic Winter Olympics 2026 debut with two Alpine Skiers in Italy

The United Arab Emirates are set to create history next month by competing at the Winter Olympics for the first time! The nation will send two Alpine skiers to the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, marking a major milestone for Emirati sport. Until now, the UAE had only appeared at the Winter Youth Olympic Games and not the main Olympic event.

Alex Estridge and Piera Hudson will represent the UAE at the Games, which will be held in Milan and Cortina from February 6 to 22. Their participation was officially announced on Thursday during a press conference at the UAE National Olympic Committee headquarters in Dubai, confirming a breakthrough moment for winter sports in the country.

UAE leaders hail breakthrough moment for winter sports

Hamel Al Qubaisi, vice-president of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, described the announcement as the result of years of effort. He said the federation is proud of the progress made and excited to see Emirati athletes compete on the Olympic stage. He added that the UAE’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games is a historic achievement and shows that sport in the country is not limited by geography or climate, but driven by ambition and a vision for global excellence.

The opening ceremony will be unique, with events taking place across four locations. Estridge will carry the UAE flag in Milan, while Hudson will serve as flagbearer in Cortina, underlining the significance of the moment for both athletes.

Estridge, who is just 19, is a prodigy of the UAE’s growing winter sports system. He learned to ski at Ski Dubai and first took up the sport at the age of three. He later began racing competitively and has represented the UAE at several youth events. Speaking last year, he explained that he has lived in Dubai his whole life, learned to ski locally, raced for the first time at seven, and recently competed at the Youth Olympics in Gangwon.

Hudson, 29, brings international experience to the team. She previously represented New Zealand before switching her sporting nationality to the UAE in June 2025.

Al Qubaisi also pointed to earlier achievements, including participation in the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024, the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, and the Asian Winter Games 2025. He said these events proved the UAE can develop high-level winter athletes.

UAE skiers have benefited from international training programmes, including the FIS Development Programme in Switzerland. The country also became an official member of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in September 2024.

Around 2,900 athletes from across the world will compete at the Games, with 114 medals on offer across eight sports and 16 disciplines.

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