The triumph cements the UAE's dominance in the jiu-jitsu arena on both the regional and global stage. The UAE's chess players also got off to a good start on the third day of the Gulf Youth Games. The UAE leads the way with 85 medals. The United Arab Emirates continued to consolidate their dominant position. The two male athletes outperformed their rivals with a total of 48 medals. This included 25 gold, 36 silver and 24 bronze medals.

They were closely followed by Kuwait with 39 medals, including 10 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze. Saudi Arabia came third with 33 medals, including 15 gold, 10 silver and eight bronze. Oman is fourth with 18 medals, including 12 gold, four silver and two bronze, closely followed by Bahrain with 18 medals, including six gold, six silver and six bronze. Qatar is sixth with seven medals, including three gold and four bronze.

On the third day of competition, the UAE jiu-jitsu team secured a total of 23 medals. 10 were gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze. The Saudi Arabian team secured six medals, including two gold, three silver and one bronze. Kuwait and Bahrain each won two silver medals and one bronze.

The United Arab Emirates continued to strengthen their medal tally in athletics with 11 podium finishes, including two gold, five silver and four bronze. Kuwait followed closely with nine medals (two gold, three silver and four bronze). Saudi Arabia won six medals (three gold, two silver and one bronze), while Oman secured two gold and one bronze medals and Bahrain won one gold.

The UAE Disabled Athletes Team won a total of 14 medals. This includes four gold, five silver and one bronze. The Bahraini team also had a remarkable performance with six medals, including two gold and four silver. Meanwhile, the Saudi team won three gold medals. Oman secured three medals, including gold, silver and bronze, and the Qatari team won two gold medals.

China's Li Quanhai, president of World Sailing, praised the organisation of the first Gulf Youth Games in 2024, which will bring together 3,500 athletes. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, warmly welcomed Quanhai during his visit to Abu Dhabi, where he accepted an invitation to witness the sailing competitions. 

Accompanied by Quanhai, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan met with athletes and members of the Gulf national teams taking part in the tournament. Quanhai stressed: "The importance of such tournaments in preparing the younger generation for future progress in sport. Witnessing the enthusiasm and competitive spirit of these young sailors was truly inspiring".

Quanhai highlighted "the constructive and productive collaboration between World Sailing and the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, as well as all the federations in the GCC". The competitions were attended by Abdul Moneim Al Sayed Mohammed Al Hashemi, President of the UAE and Asian Federations and Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, along with Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the heads of the Gulf sports federations. 

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, pointed out: "This victory further solidifies the state's prominence on the regional and global jiu-jitsu stage". Mohammed Al-Saad, CEO of the Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: "We are delighted to see such a high level of organisation and competitive spirit among the players and their eagerness to win medals. This inaugural tournament has been eagerly awaited and we look forward to organising similar tournaments in the future".

Ali Abdulaziz Janahi, member of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and head of the delegation, highlighted the important role of the inaugural Gulf Youth Games in developing a new generation of young people. "This effort represents the achievement of many important goals, the most important of which is to foster closer ties and unity among the youth of the GCC countries. We are grateful for the diligent efforts of the United Arab Emirates in organising the event. God willing, it will be a resounding success," he highlighted.

On the third day, the UAE Athletics Team won a total of 11 medals, including two gold, five silver and four bronze. Meanwhile, the UAE Athletics Team for Persons with Disabilities dominated the competition on the first day. They won a total of 14 medals: four gold, five silver and five bronze. The Bahraini team won six medals, including two gold and four silver, while the Saudi team secured three gold medals. Oman won three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze) and Qatar won two gold medals.

Rashid Al-Mismari of the UAE took first place in the men's F36 shot put. Abdullah Khalaf came third. Sayed Hussein Ahmed of Bahrain was second. Bahrain's Zeina Al Balushi took first place in the women's shot put F37. Her compatriot Fatima Ahmed finished second and Shamma Al Jadidi was third. Continuing their success, Sayed Hussein Ahmed of Bahrain won gold in the discus F36. Rashid Al-Mismari of the UAE took silver and Abdullah Khalaf took bronze. 

Paralympian Mohammed Al Shehhi of the UAE took first place in the men's 200m T53 wheelchair race, with Ahmed Nooh of Bahrain second and Nasiba Al Qatami of Qatar taking gold in the women's event. Saudi Arabia's Al-Baraa Al-Qarni won the men's 800m T54 wheelchair race. Mohammed Al-Shehhi of the UAE finished second. 

UAE's Omar Al Hammadi took first place in the men's 100m T12. Mohamed Khamis Al Farsi of Oman won the gold medal in the men's 100m T13. The gold medal in the men's 400m T13 race went to Abdullah Al Kindi of Oman. Ahmed Al Bana of the United Arab Emirates took gold in the men's 200m T13.

With athletes from across the Gulf competing in a variety of sports and disciplines, the coming days promise more excitement and action at the inaugural Gulf Youth Games. In this celebration of youth sporting talent in the Gulf region, spectators can expect to see exciting and outstanding moments as young athletes compete for glory and victory.