Rugby league is one of the two major codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union. The league code is most prominent in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and France, where the sport is played professionally. The inception of Rugby League in the United Arab Emirates is part of the ongoing expansion of Rugby League in the MENA and Euro-Med Regions. The operation of United Arab Emirates Rugby League (UAERL) operates under the auspices of the Rugby League European Federation’s Euro-Med Department.

The United Arab Emirates is seen as a natural candidate under this expansion program because of its maintained growth and development of sports and other youth programs, as well as its potential for being a popular destination for professional rugby league teams from all parts of the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The project’s main aim is to instill a cultural element in Emirati society through the game of Rugby League. This model has proved successful in several countries, such as Lebanon and Morocco.

The UAE project is seen by the European Federation as a long-term project that has the potential to produce magnificent results. Accordingly, the objective of establishing a solid base for the sport is the immediate and essential short term objective in order to facilitate later expansion into other areas of UAE society.

We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with your organization and wish you all the best in the future of Rugby League in the Emirates.