HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been honoured with the Local Sports Personality award.
At a ceremony that was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre with royalties, government officials and sports figures all in attendance at the prestigious event, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein was recognised for her admirable sporting efforts and contribution to equestrian sport.
So respected is the princess at the popular sport that she was given a standing ovation as she accepted the award from her proud husband Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Princess Haya at the San Patrignano equestrian event in Italy. Princess Haya has represented her country as an international athlete since age 13.
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Princess Haya has enjoyed a long and respected career in the equestrian world. She was the first woman to represent her native country Jordan in the International Equestrian Sport and the only woman to win a medal in the Pan-Arab Equestrian Games. As far as inspiring female sporting role models go, Princess Haya is a somewhat of a hero.
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If that wasn’t impressive enough, she also represented Jordan in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Australia for Show Jumping and was the country’s flag bearer.
Princess Haya rides her horse in the equestrian competition at the ninth Pan Arab Games in Amman 1999
The remarkable royal has served as the International Federation of Equestrian Sports or FEI president from 2007 to 2014. She also served on the IOC’s Athletics Commission between 2005 to 2010 and on the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, Advisory Board of the Economist Global Sports Conference. In June 2010, Princess Haya became a global patron for the World Academy of Sport and continues to be a firm supporter of sports advocacies up to this day.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents Princess Haya with the Local Sports Personality award
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Princess Haya’s accolades have often seen her awarded. In 2015 the United Nations Messenger of Peace was awarded the 2015 Hunger Hero Award by the UN World Food Programme.
She also wins our award for being a totally inspiring female role model.
Images: Getty and princesshaya.net
