Princess Haya: ‘Women in the UAE are seizing opportunities for themselves’

The royal passionately speaks out on gender equality in the sporting field.

As an Olympic show-jumper, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein knows a thing or two about women in sports.

In fact, it’s a subject the royal is passionate about, and one she hopes to inspire the younger generation to fully embrace.

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To mark this year’s International Conference Of Sports For Women, which is being held in Abu Dhabi this week, Princess Haya used her social media channels to commend the leaps and bounds made by women in the region.

“Credit to Dalma Rushdi Malhas, May El Khalil and Nada Al Bedwawi among others for blazing a trail for Arab women in sport,” the royal posted on Twitter.

The two-day conference, which is in its fourth year, is organised by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, which hopes to promote sport as a part of Emirati women’s daily life.

HE Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Tolerance, and HE Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, also attended day one, while Saudi mountaineer Raha Moharrak and Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari are scheduled to speak on day two.

“The Arab world is embracing a paradigm shift around women’s sports. I commend the efforts of leaders such as HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak to facilitate international conversation, knowledge-sharing and debate on this important subject,” HRH posted on Facebook.

The royal, who was the first female to represent Jordan internationally in equestrian show jumping at just age 13, also praised the “motivational stories of Arab women joining and inspiring a global movement of women in sport”.

Credit to Dalma Rushdi Malhas, @ElKhalilMay & @Nadaalbedwawi among others for blazing a trail for Arab women in sport #ICSW_AD

— HRH Princess Haya (@hrhprincesshaya) November 6, 2017

“There is so much more work to do to empower women in sports, but I believe this is our moment,” wrote Princess Haya on Twitter.

“I dream of a day when there will be no need to talk about gender equality in sports, when it’s no longer a goal, but a given.”

The royal represented Jordan in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where she competed in show jumping, and was also her home country’s flagbearer.

In 1992, Princess Haya also became the first and only female to win a Pan-Arab equestrian medal at the Pan-Arab Equestrian Games.

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“Sports have helped shape me into the person I am today,” HRH said ahead of ICSW.

“I’ve experienced the incredible role that sports can play in improving a person’s life and in helping individuals to grow and develop. My hope is that, in time, every girl across the world will have the chance to participate in sport and experience the passion and joy it can bring.”