United Arab Emirates at The Paralympics - Summer Paralympics

Summer Paralympics

The country made their Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, by sending only one athlete (Ali Saif), in weightlifting. The country has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, and Emirati Paralympians have won a total of nine medals: one gold, five silver, and three bronze. Until 2008, Emirati competitors were all men, and entered only athletics and weightlifting/powerlifting. At the 2008 Games, however, the country entered its first female competitor, Thuraya Alzaabi, in discus and javelin after previous having refused to allow women to represent the country at the Paralympic Games. 2008 also saw an Emirati, Abulla Al Aryani, compete in shooting - the first time the country had entered a competitor in any sport other than weighlifting/powerlifting or track and field.