Now may be as opportune a time to push this issue as ever.
Last week during the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, GCAA unveiled a proposed Light Sport Aircraft Regulation which is now in a 12-month long consultation phase.
Arabian Aerospace - Light aircraft boost for UAE as GCAA develops regulations to open skies for GA
It seems that a number of parties are interested in developing Sport Aviation (and the business this drums up). One of the more exciting aspects will be the development of VFR corridors for some cross-country flying, rather than just flight in the local traffic pattern.
While the LSA regulations make provisions for a "Sailplane" Category pilot certificate, a closer look mentions hang gliders, paraglider vehicles, and powered parachute vehicles as Variants of this Category.
One of the greatest impediments, in my opinion, is the availability of infrastructure and suitable airspace. The UAE's most active airspace for fixed-wing sport aviation, the Jazirah Aviation Club in Ras Al Khaimah, has a runway too short for glider launches and the airspace restrictions limit the maximum altitude of 1400'. In Fujairah, it is 2000'.
Nevertheless, I think that the GCAA might be more receptive now than ever, and if a business case could be put together for a location (might even be a dirt runway long enough for glider winch launches) in uncongested airspace, perhaps they would be able to provide a box area with a good height limit to allow for some serious thermalling.