Kazakhstan’s Special Forces Take Gold and Silver at UAE SWAT Challenge

Kazakh special forces units won gold and silver at the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026. The competition took place in Dubai from February 7 to 11. This year, 109 teams from 48 countries competed for the top prize, Orda.kz reports.

The UAE SWAT Challenge is an unofficial world championship for special operations units from law enforcement and security agencies. It is often referred to as the «Special Forces Olympics».

The event featured five challenges: hostage rescue, assault, officer rescue, a tower obstacle course, and an overall obstacle course. Each stage tested speed, accuracy, teamwork, and tactical skills, requiring participants to complete tasks in the shortest possible time while maintaining shooting precision, handling multiple types of weapons, carrying heavy dummies, overcoming complex obstacles, and rappelling down tall towers using ropes.

Kazakhstan was represented by five combined teams (units from the State Security Service, the National Security Committee, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs). They delivered one of Kazakhstan’s strongest results in the tournament’s history.

In the overall team standings, Kaz SWAT Team C took first place, and Kaz SWAT Team A took second. Third place went to a team from China.

Kaz SWAT Team B finished eighth, Kaz SWAT Team Tomiris placed 18th, and Kaz SWAT Team D came 20th. The Tomiris team also ranked first among women’s teams, finishing ahead of some men’s teams from other countries.

Kaz SWAT Team C on the fifth day of the competition during the obstacle course. Video: National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Original author: Oksana Matvienko