Chairperson's Welcome



A chairde,


As Cathaoirleach, I would like to welcome you the Middle East GAA website. Our mission is to enrich the Middle East community by promoting and developing Gaelic Games.


The Middle East GAA County Board was formally established in 2013 and continues to facilitate the development of Irish sport and culture in the region, with approximately 1,700 members and over 25 nationalities represented. Our clubs can be found in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar. Recently, in the company of members, friends, and Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Thank you to everybody involved in this organisation over the last 10 years for your efforts, hard work, and dedication. Indeed, given that Gaelic Games have been in the region since the early 1990s, I extend those same thanks to all those who paved the way for what we have today, long before Middle East GAA was ever a concept.


Summer 2023 was a busy period for Middle East GAA, with the FRS Recruitment GAA World Games taking place in Derry, and a total of 4 teams travelling to compete in the codes of Men’s Gaelic Football, Ladies’ Gaelic Football, Hurling & Camogie. Thank you and well done to our players, coaches and referees from the region who represented the Middle East with distinction. Congratulations to our Hurling team who were crowned World Games Hurling Champions after a brilliant victory over Australasia GAA. Our teams were generously supported by the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce, Éire Gulf, NuLumenTek, Jones Engineering, FITT Meals and Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club. Thank you all.


Closer to home in the Middle East, activities typically begin in August of each year and continue to run until May. Over the course of the season, we offer an adult League and Championship competition in Hurling, Camogie, Men’s Football and Ladies Football, which sees up to 15 large tournament events take place in the region. We are grateful for the generous and continued support of the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce and their Secretary-General Ahmad Younis towards Gaelic Games in the region. Every year, winners in the Senior, Intermediate, Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, and Junior D divisions are crowned champions of the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce Middle East League.


Elsewhere, away from adult competitions, several of our clubs offer activities for Juvenile members, a section which is enjoying significant growth at the time of writing. This season, two juvenile tournaments are due to be hosted by Middle East GAA, offering a great day out for families and children, and ensuring continued growth and development into the future. Finally, proving that there is space for all skill levels in this organisation, our clubs may also offer social football via initiatives such as “Gaelic4Mothers&Others” and “Dads & Lads”.


You can keep up with all of our activities on social media via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. We always welcome feedback and can be reached via the “Contact Us” section of this website.


New members are always welcome in our clubs, whether you would like to play, coach, referee or get involved in an administrative capacity. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our members or clubs, and I am sure that you will enjoy a very rewarding experience.


Le gach dea-ghuí,

Gearóid Ó Cróinín

Cathaoirleach