# Arab Games

The Arab Games (Arabic: الألعاب العربية), formerly called the Pan-Arab Games, are a regional multi-sport event held between nations from the Arab world. They are organized by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees. The first Games took place in 1953 in Alexandria, Egypt. Intended to be held every four years since, political turmoil and financial difficulties have made the event an unstable one. Women first competed in 1985.

## Complications

Typically the games are to take place every four years. Initially Lebanon was set to host the 2015 XIII Arab Games, but the country "withdrew because of the crisis in the Middle East". Following Beirut's withdrawal Morocco was then chosen to host the games, but faced financial complications and also withdrew.
The same year, Egypt volunteered to host the event. "Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair, chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)" said, "We will be offering our full support to Egypt and we have also taken a decision to suspend the financial regulations and other requirements due to lack of time." Had the UANOC accepted Egypt's proposition the games would have taken place in December 2015; however, no such event was held.

## Editions

| Games | Year | Host | Opened by | Dates | Nations | Competitors | Competitors | Competitors | Sports | Events | Top nation |
| Games | Year | Host | Opened by | Dates | Nations | Men | Women | Total | Sports | Events | Top nation |
| 1 | 1953 | Alexandria | Mohamed Naguib | 26 July – 10 August | 9 | 650 | — | 650 | 10 | 70 | Egypt |
| 2 | 1957 | Beirut | Camille Chamoun | 13 – 27 October | 10 | 914 | — | 914 | 12 | 90 | Lebanon |
| 3 | 1961 | Casablanca | Hassan II | 24 August – 8 September | 9 | 1127 | — | 1127 | 11 | 90 | United Arab Republic* |
| 4 | 1965 | Cairo** | Gamal Abdel Nasser | 2 – 14 September | 14 | 1500 | — | 1500 | 13 | 90 | United Arab Republic** |
| 5 | 1976 | Damascus | Hafez al-Assad | 6 – 21 October | 11 | 2174 | — | 2174 | 18 | 120 | Syria |
| 6 | 1985 | Rabat | Hassan II | 24 August – 8 September | 17 | | | 3442 | 18 | 160 | Morocco |
| 7 | 1992 | Damascus | Hafez al-Assad | 4 – 18 September | 18 | | | 2611 | 14 | 150 | Syria |
| 8 | 1997 | Beirut | Elias Hrawi | 13 – 27 July | 18 | | | 3253 | 22 | 217 | Egypt |
| 9 | 1999 | Amman | Abdullah II | 15 – 31 August | 21 | | | 5504 | 26 | 323 | Egypt |
| 10 | 2004 | Algiers | Abdelaziz Bouteflika | 24 September – 10 October | 22 | | | 5525 | 32 | 330 | Algeria |
| 11 | 2007 | Cairo | Hosni Mubarak | 11 – 26 November | 22 | | | 6000 | 32 | 355 | Egypt |
| 12 | 2011 | Doha | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | 9 – 23 December | 21 | | | 6000 | 33 | 316 | Egypt |
| 13 | 2023 | Algeria (5 cities) | Aymen Benabderrahmane (Prime Minister) | 5 – 15 July | 22 | | | 3800 | 22 | 253 | Algeria |
| 14 | 2027 | Riyadh | King of Saudi Arabia (expected) | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 15 | 2031 | Bahrain | | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 16 | 2035 | Jordan | | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
* * United Arab Republic with Egypt and Syria.
* ** United Arab Republic with Egypt only.
* Not held in 2015 and 2019.
* 2015 Cancelled.

## Sports

37 sports were presented in the Arab Games history. Para Sports since 1999. Women since 1985.
| Sport | Years |
| Athletics (details) | since 1953 |
| Archery (details) | since 1953 |
| Badminton (details) | since 1999 |
| Basketball (details) | since 1953 |
| Bodybuilding (details) | since 1999 |
| Boxing (details) | since 1953 |
| Bowling (details) | since 2007 |
| Bridge (details) | since 1999 |
| Camel racing (details) | since 2007 |
| Cue Sports | since 2011 |
| Chess (details) | since 1999 |
| Cycling (details) | since 1957 |
| Diving (details) | TBA |
| Sport | Years |
| Equestrian (details) | since 1957 |
| Fencing (details) | since 1953 |
| Finswimming (details) | since 1999 |
| Football (details) | since 1953 |
| Golf (details) | since 1985 |
| Gymnastics (details) | since 1953 |
| Handball (details) | since 1961 |
| Judo (details) | since 1976 |
| Karate (details) | since 1976 |
| Kickboxing (details) | since 1999 |
| Modern pentathlon (details) | since 2007 |
| Rowing (details) | since 1957 |
| Sport | Years |
| Sailing (details) | since 1985 |
| Shooting (details) | since 1953 |
| Squash (details) | since 1999 |
| Surfing (details) | since 1999 |
| Swimming (details) | since 1953 |
| Table tennis (details) | since 1976 |
| Taekwondo (details) | since 1997 |
| Tennis (details) | since 1961 |
| Volleyball (details) | since 1957 |
| Water polo (details) | since 1961 |
| Weightlifting (details) | since 1953 |
| Wrestling (details) | since 1953 |

## All-time medal table

Below is the medal table of the Arab Games tournaments, up until the 13th tournament 2023.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Egypt (EGY) | 633 | 429 | 375 | 1,437 |
| 2 | Algeria (ALG) | 360 | 381 | 393 | 1,134 |
| 3 | Tunisia (TUN) | 303 | 273 | 346 | 922 |
| 4 | Morocco (MAR) | 300 | 275 | 301 | 876 |
| 5 | Syria (SYR) | 243 | 254 | 340 | 837 |
| 6 | United Arab Republic (UAR) | 122 | 74 | 49 | 245 |
| 7 | Jordan (JOR) | 88 | 140 | 228 | 456 |
| 8 | Iraq (IRQ) | 87 | 141 | 204 | 432 |
| 9 | Qatar (QAT) | 86 | 80 | 112 | 278 |
| 10 | Lebanon (LIB) | 82 | 122 | 189 | 393 |
| 11 | Saudi Arabia (KSA) | 76 | 106 | 154 | 336 |
| 12 | Bahrain (BHR) | 44 | 31 | 56 | 131 |
| 13 | Kuwait (KUW) | 40 | 65 | 143 | 248 |
| 14 | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 34 | 41 | 65 | 140 |
| 15 | Sudan (SUD) | 24 | 42 | 37 | 103 |
| 16 | Libya (LBA) | 23 | 42 | 61 | 126 |
| 17 | Oman (OMN) | 19 | 18 | 27 | 64 |
| 18 | Palestine (PLE) | 8 | 23 | 70 | 101 |
| 19 | Yemen (YEM) | 7 | 10 | 21 | 38 |
| 20 | Djibouti (DJI) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 21 | North Yemen (YAR) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 22 | Somalia (SOM) | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 23 | Mauritania (MTN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | South Yemen (YMD) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (24 entries) | Totals (24 entries) | 2,581 | 2,554 | 3,175 | 8,310 |
* * The United Arab Republic (1958–1971) contains 2 countries Egypt & Syria.

## Related Games
### Arab University Games

Editions
* 1970s ? Iraq
* 1998 ? Egypt
* 2004 Amman
* 2010 ? Egypt
* 2018 Agadir

### Arab University Beach Games

Editions
* 2016 Agadir

### Arab Games for the Handicapped

Editions
* 1999 Amman
* 2003 Algiers (cancelled)

### Arab School Games

Editions
Organized by the Arab Union for Physical Education and School Sports (AUPESS).

#### Unofficial

* 1949 Beirut
* 1951 Cairo
* 1952 Damascus
* 1954 Beirut

#### Official

| 1963 Kuwait City 1964 not held 1966 Damascus 1971 Baghdad 1973 Beirut (women were first allowed to participate) 1975 Alexandria 1977 Tripoli 1979 Mogadishu 1986 Tunis 0000 not held | 0000 not held 1998 ? Morocco 2000 not held 2002 Beirut 2004 ? Saudi Arabia 2006 Algiers 2008 Amman 2010 ? Lebanon 2012 Kuwait City |