The UAE makes history by sending a senior team to the Winter Olympics for the first time at Milan-Cortina 2026, showcasing its determination and investment in winter sports despite geographic challenges.

Alex Astridge is set to make history this month as the first male alpine skier to represent the UAE at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. This milestone is the culmination of a decade-long strategic partnership between Majid Al Futtaim’s Ski Dubai,

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the UAE in cooperation with the UAE Winter Sports Federation and Ski Dubai, on Sunday honoured the athletes

It’s amazing for all the kids back in Ski Dubai because they can see that there's a pathway and there's an end goal."

There are 206 National Olympic Committees worldwide, which are devised by the IOC and the International Sport Federation. These two organizations are the sole authorities who come together to recognize NOCs for the official Summer and Winter Games.

• Let the games begin: Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the 2026 Winter Olympics open. Two cauldrons — one in Milan and one in Cortina — have been lit, marking a first in the Winter Games’ history.

Bissau, along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the Middle East, are making their Winter Olympic debuts, while North Korea has not received an invitation. The exclusion is not due to political reasons or sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC),

"Amid pressing international conflicts, the Olympics is one of the most significant geopolitical events of the year."