The Special Olympics Saudi Arabia delegation departed for the Arab Republic of Egypt on Thursday, 17 September 2026, to participate in the 10th Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Regional Games, taking place from 17 to 23 September 2026.
Ahead of the delegation’s departure, Dr. Maha bint Ahmed Al-Juffali, Chair of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia, met with members of the Saudi delegation in the presence of Board Member Mohammed Bareq Siraj. The meeting was held to support and encourage the athletes ahead of their participation. Dr. Al-Juffali reviewed the teams’ preparations and readiness for the competitions and wished them success in representing the Kingdom with distinction.
Saudi Arabia is competing in three sports: equestrian, powerlifting, and artistic gymnastics. The competitions in Egypt represent the second stage of the 10th Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Regional Games, following Special Olympics Saudi Arabia’s participation in the first stage, held in Tunisia last June, as part of a series of competitions taking place in several stages throughout the year.
The Saudi delegation consists of 18 members, including nine male and female athletes competing across the three sports, in addition to technical, administrative, and medical staff. The delegation is headed by Talal Alhoumiedan, with Nawaf Al-Shahri and Fahad Al-Mutairi serving as team administrators, alongside delegation physician Dr. Haneen Junbi.
Saudi Arabia will be represented in equestrian by Sarah Filimban, Sarah Al-Wuthainani, Omar Al-Ali, and Muhannad Al-Mudaraa, under the supervision of coach Latifa Moumina.
In powerlifting, Azhar Al-Sinan, Aida Aziz, Hassan Hadriti, and Ahmed Majali will represent the Kingdom under the guidance of coach Ali Al-Yami and coach Hiyam Al-Mousa.
Yara Al-Ashari will compete in artistic gymnastics under the supervision of coach Rahima Al-Malki. This participation marks the introduction of gymnastics as a new sport within Saudi Arabia’s Special Olympics participation, reflecting the continued expansion of sporting opportunities and the provision of a wider range of competitive experiences for athletes.
Head of Delegation Talal Alhoumiedan said Special Olympics Saudi Arabia’s participation in the 10th Regional Games represents an important opportunity for athletes to represent the Kingdom and showcase their sporting abilities and potential, while also gaining valuable experience through competition with Special Olympics athletes from across the region.
Alhoumiedan added that the participation reflects the values of Special Olympics, including the courage to try, equal opportunities, respect, and inclusion. He noted that the athletes enter the competitions with sporting ambitions to further develop their performance and achieve results that reflect the progress they have made.
He also highlighted that the delegation includes athletes with previous experience and achievements in regional and international competitions, alongside athletes taking part in new competitive experiences. He explained that the preparation phase focused on technical and physical development and enhancing the athletes’ readiness for competition.
“We are proud to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at this regional event and look forward to seeing our athletes deliver str
