Emirati Olympians Launch Women in Sport Initiative at Middlesex University Dubai
A new panel discussion series explores pathways for women and girls across sport, featuring elite athletes including an Olympic sprinter and snowboarder
Middlesex University Dubai has unveiled an innovative panel discussion series examining opportunity and representation in sport, convening distinguished Emirati athletes to advance dialogue on women’s participation and progression in the sector.
The three-part initiative, entitled Women in Sport: Changing the Narrative and Breaking Boundaries, was established through the university’s London Sport Institute in Dubai. The series transcends individual achievement to consider systemic support, professional pathways and accessibility across the sporting landscape.
The inaugural session, held at MDX Dubai’s Knowledge Park Campus on 30 September, brought together five accomplished Emirati athletes for an in-depth discussion moderated by weightlifter and mental health advocate Amna Al Haddad. The panel included Maryam Alfarsi, who achieved historic recognition as the first Emirati female sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games, competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics aged just 16; Amenah Almuhairi, a winter sports athlete representing the UAE at the Asian Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games; Zamzam Al Hammadi, the Emirates’ first female professional MMA fighter and PFL MENA athlete; and Maha Al Shehhi, a UAE national team Olympic swimmer.
The athletes engaged substantively with the practical dimensions of elite sport—the demanding training regimens, the financial and sponsorship frameworks necessary to sustain careers at the highest levels, and the distinctive pressures of representing one’s nation internationally. Discussion extended to the integration of education and athletic pursuits, with Amenah Almuhairi reflecting on how flexible academic arrangements have enabled her to balance snowboarding competition with her studies at LSID.
Maryam Alfarsi emphasised the significance of visibility and institutional support: “Events like this are important because they give women athletes greater visibility, create stronger support networks and show young girls that sport is a path they can genuinely pursue. My advice to young girls is to believe in themselves, stay consistent and never be afraid to take up space in sport.”
Maha Al Shehhi similarly highlighted the evolution of opportunity: “Equal opportunity in sport means every athlete gets a fair chance to shine. Over recent years, the rise in training opportunities and elite competition for Emirati women has transformed what is possible, inspiring us to aim higher, compete globally and carry the UAE flag with pride.”
The series will continue across forthcoming months with two additional sessions: Women’s Health: Training Through Every Life Stage, examining wellbeing and exercise across different life phases, and Breaking Into the Game: Women’s Careers On and Off the Field, broadening discussion to encompass professional opportunities beyond competitive athletes.
Charvi Ajay Bhatt, Sports Partnerships and Development Executive at MDX Dubai, underscored the institutional commitment: “Through this series, our aim is to create an ongoing conversation around how more women can participate in sport, continue progressing, and build meaningful careers across the sector.”
Source: WAM