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."

From deserts to snow-covered peaks, the Middle East and North Africa are making some serious noise at the Winter Olympics. Milano Cortina 2026 (February 6–22) isn’t just about medals, it’s about trailblazers rewriting what winter sport looks like.

The UAE’s participation in the Winter Olympics is particularly noteworthy, as it will be their first appearance in this prestigious event. Historically, Middle Eastern nations have faced challenges in winter sports due to their predominantly warm climates,

Astridge was born in Cambridge but moved to the UAE as a baby.

The winter Olympics will feature a new sport. In ski mountaineering, called “skimo” for short, athletes race both up and downhill, alternately wearing and carrying their skis in backpacks. This became an official sport in the 1980s. Switzerland, France, and Italy are likely to dominate the competition.

The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kick off in February 2026! Learn more about the opening ceremony festivities now.

Steps are being taken toward gender parity in the Games with the introduction of events like the luge women’s doubles and women’s large hill ski jumping, while women will be competing across the same distance as men in cross-country skiing for the first time.