United Arab Emirates 2026 Winter Olympics Debut

posted on: Feb 18, 2026

By Claire Keefe/Arab America Contributing Writer

For the first time, the United Arab Emirates has made history by sending two athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics for the first time. Athletes Alex Astridge and Piera Hudson are set to compete in Alpine skiing events during February’s games. This is a signature event at the Olympics featuring challenging courses that differ in speed and require exceptional physical fitness and mental focus, and the UAE is proud to be participating for the first time.

UAE Rising Determination for the Winter Olympics

A primary reason for the country’s late appearance was due to the lack of infrastructure. The winter sports series requires extensive training; including exposure to snow, high-altitude, and differing courses to practice. Before the creation of Ski Dubai in the late 2000s, the UAE simply did not have the capability to compete and properly train. Additionally, the UAE struggled with athlete eligibility. For the country to develop and train athletes from scratch to meet the rigorous Olympic standards takes a great deal of time and often includes travel for specialized training.

However, things have changed in the past decade. The United Arab Emirates is actively investing in winter sports, as seen by its membership in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in 2022, as well as the funding for Astridge’s famous training site in Dubai. While the UAE does not have as strong a foundation of global winter sports, this year marked a turning point for the country. The participation in this year’s games signals an expansion of the country’s reputation beyond hosting only summer and desert sports. As Hamel Al Qubaisi, vice-president of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, states

“the country is driven by a vision to build a generation capable of excellence and global competitiveness.”

Astridge, the 19-Year-Old Standout

Born in the United Kingdom, Alex Astridge has referred to the United Arab Emirates as home since before the age of one. Astridge has been skating since the age of three, beginning his passion on the famous slopes of Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. He represented the country at the Junior Olympics previously in 2024 and finished 38th out of 80 athletes. Among his most notable achievements, such as the title of Absolute National Champion of the UAE and the National Ski Team, Astridge will be competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics. While competing professionally in alpine skiing, the 19-year-old also attends Heriot-Watt University Dubai, majoring in International Business Management.

Hudson’s Impressive Journey to the UAE

With a slightly different story, Pierra Hudson also represents the UAE at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in the country’s first-ever Winter Olympics team. Born and raised in New Zealand, Hudson has been skiing from a young age. She is a 14-time New Zealand National Champion, 2022 New Zealand slalom and giant slalom National Champion, and the 2024 ANC Continental Cup slalom yellow bib winner. Following COVID-19, Hudson decided to move to the UAE to continue to pursue her passion for skiing. Ultimately, she was frustrated by the issues of Olympic selections in New Zealand and was seeking a fresh opportunity. The UAE Winter Federation welcomed her and was able to gain support, allowing her to continue her strenuous training. Hudson is familiar with the UAE, as she has extended family in the area, as well as spending numerous holidays there. The 29-year-old had the special honor of serving as the country’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Want more articles like this? Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Check out our blog here!