Twenty-seven sporting talents contend for recognition at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award

The prestigious tenth edition of the Award draws nominees from across the Arab world, celebrating excellence in nine categories and offering AED 2.2 million in prize money.

The Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award has revealed its shortlist for the 10th edition, presenting 27 remarkable individuals and entities across nine categories. The announcement reflects the Award’s growing prominence as a leading regional platform for honouring women’s sporting excellence, with each category narrowed to three distinguished contenders.

The shortlist encompasses an extraordinary breadth of achievement. In recognition of world and continental champions, the Best Arab Female Athlete category includes Kuwait’s Mashael Al Marzouqi in basketball, Jordan’s Fadia Mazen Kharfan in taekwondo, and the UAE’s Maryam Karim in athletics. The Best Emirati Female Athlete nominees all compete in jiu-jitsu: Maryam Adnan Ismail Al Ali, Asma Hassan Ali Al Hosani, and Al Anoud Ibrahim Abdullah Al Harbi, each recognised for their contributions to strengthening the UAE’s presence in the sport.

The Award, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, continues its mission of identifying and supporting sporting talent. As we reported in October, the tenth edition attracted 509 applications from 13 Arab countries, demonstrating the Award’s expanding reach across the region.

Emerging talents receive equal recognition. The Best Young Athlete category features Hind Sayed Adham Al Hashemi in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, Reem Yousuf Al Ali in taekwondo, and Fatima Adnan Ismail Al Ali in jiu-jitsu. Para-athletes also feature prominently, with the Best Female Paralympic Athlete category celebrating Aisha Salem Al Khaldi in athletics, Salama Rashid Al Khatri in cycling, and Moza Obaid Al Zeyoudi in powerlifting. The Best Female Athlete in Non-Olympic Sports includes Kulthum Mousa Al Mazmi in running, Egypt’s Nour Mohamed Ibrahim in powerlifting, and the UAE’s Alia Abdulsalam Mohammed in Formula 4 powerboat racing.

Recognition extends beyond individual athletes. The Best Influential Figure in Sports Media category features Oman’s Zainab Khamis Saeed Al Zadjali, the UAE’s Fatima Eidha Al Ameri, and Bahrain’s Maryam Al Shehab, honouring their contributions to developing sports media content and raising community awareness. The Best Coach category recognises Bahrain’s Farahnaz Sameer Al Saati in taekwondo, Tunisia’s Sahbi Khardani in rowing, and the UAE’s Al Yazia Khalfan Mohammed. The Best Sporting Family category acknowledges the families of Morocco’s Abdelilah Iskiri, the UAE’s Subha Bashir Muftah Mubarak, and Jordan’s Khaled Darwish Saifan, recognising their vital role in fostering a culture of sporting participation. The Best Women’s Sports Team category features the UAE Women’s National Taekwondo Team, Al Oyoun Girls Sports Club from Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi Athletics Club.

The tenth edition of the Award reflects a commitment to nurturing excellence across the region. Prize money totalling AED 2.2 million underscores the Award’s dedication to supporting sporting talent and expertise, encouraging Emirati and Arab women to pursue achievement on regional and international stages. The winners will be announced at a closing ceremony on 9 November 2026 at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The prominence of Emirati athletes, coaches and media professionals among the shortlist reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing strength as a centre of women’s sporting excellence. The inclusion of the UAE Women’s National Taekwondo Team and Abu Dhabi Athletics Club, alongside individual athletes from the Emirates, demonstrates the calibre of talent being fostered through the city’s institutions and training programmes. The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy has spent 16 years advancing women in sport, building the infrastructure and mentorship networks that enable such achievements.

The Award’s expansion, drawing 509 applications from across 13 Arab nations, positions Abu Dhabi as a regional leader in championing women’s sporting achievement. By celebrating diverse sporting disciplines from athletics and jiu-jitsu to powerlifting and powerboat racing, and by recognising not only athletes but also the coaches, media professionals and families who support them, the Award reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting culture that empowers women to excel at every level.

Source: WAM

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