How UAE is helping female students embrace sporting excellence

Safiya was not alone in Paris, though. Dubai-born Indian shuttler Tanisha Crasto overcame a gruelling qualifying challenge to reach the Paris Olympics.

Dubai swimmers Karin Belbeisi and Christina Rach also represented Jordan and Eritrea respectively at the Paris Summer Games.

And recently, Rouda Essa Alserkal, a teenage chess prodigy, made history as the UAE’s first female grandmaster.

There are myriad other inspiring stories of excellence from UAE’s female athletes in recent years which haven’t been scripted overnight.

Meticulous planning and visionary steps to empower women have inspired young girls in the country to step into the sporting arena.

Michael Lowery, Director of Sport, GEMS Metropole School – Motor City, says their school has seen an incredible 260 per cent jump in female students’ participation in sporting activities.

“At our school, we have taken numerous steps to ensure our female students engage in school sport. We provide protected spaces for girls, so they don’t need to share spaces with boys, in turn helping them to feel safe and confident to express themselves. Our sports spaces are also reserved 50 per cent of the time for girls-only sports,” Lowery told the Khaleej Times.

Lowery has also observed a remarkable change in the mindset of parents with more people now allowing their girl child to play sport.

“Yes, there has been a huge shift in expectations when it comes to girls’ sports – particularly in junior school – with more girls taking part in what used to be perceived as a traditionally male-dominated field,” Lowery said.

“We have seen a huge uptake in girls’ football, basketball, and combat sports at the school. There is still more work to be done in terms of the post-14 drop-off, which is a global issue.”

The vast majority of people still want their children to make academic goals the top priority, but many UAE schools, including GEMS Metropole School – Motor City, are taking initiatives to educate parents about the key to balancing sports and academics.

“We are actively educating our parents and young women, emphasising that life is about balance and that when exam pressure starts, a great coping strategy is engaging in physical activity,” Lowery said.

“Not only does it stimulate the brain, but it also provides space to de-stress. Physical activity, sleep, and good nutrition are fundamental to good well-being.”

Keiyerling Briceno, a basketball player in the under-16 team at GEMS Metropole School – Motor City, says the sport holds the key to her future ambitions.

A Venezuelan national who was inspired by her father to take up basketball, Briceno follows a bespoke strength and conditioning programme with an expert trainer at her school.

“I would love to combine my passion for basketball with my academics – maybe I’ll get a scholarship from a university overseas. It would be a dream; basketball is something I enjoy a lot,” she said.

Siryne Ben Ali, a Moroccan national who was born in Belgium, said Dubai’s cultural diversity is playing a key role in her development as an emerging combat athlete.

“I like Dubai because it’s very diverse, with multiple cultures and everyone is friendly and welcoming,” said  Siryne who plays Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), kickboxing, and boxing.

“I am learning a lot about different people and their cultures, which I find very interesting. I see myself moving somewhere else for university and then coming back to Dubai.”

While Siryne hopes to join the world of MMA (mixed martial arts), teenage basketball player Tania Abouhawili is hoping to move to ‘a different country for university while continuing my sports’.