HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum and her team, UAE Polo, recently secured their second consecutive victory at the British Ladies Open Championship, held at Cowdray Park Polo Club in Midhurst, West Sussex.
We couldn’t have found a better moment to spotlight her remarkable athletic journey, one that has established her as a leading sporting figure in the UAE and across the region.
Sheikha Maitha’s story is quite an interesting one, from a martial arts Olympic athlete to an accomplished champion and professional polo player. Her journey was supported from the very beginning by her father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who wanted his daughters to set an example by competing publicly, a vision he began pursuing in the 1990s, starting with endurance races.
But due to riding injuries, Sheikha Maitha turned to a different field. In 2000, she began her journey in martial arts, starting with the Pan Arab Games, where she placed 10th. Just four years later, she became the first Emirati woman to bring home an international gold medal.
Two years after that, Sheikha Maitha went on to win a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in the women’s over-60kg karate category.
Showing unwavering dedication and determination, Sheikha Maitha broke barriers for women across the GCC. She was on a mission to represent her country and set an example for women in the region. And oh, she did. In 2008, she qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, making history as the first woman to represent the UAE at the Olympics.
In 2007, she received the World Fair Play Award for her commitment to integrity in sport, once again making history as the first Arab athlete to be honoured with this prestigious award.
Unfortunately, a back injury forced her to retire from martial arts. But fortunately, it opened the door to polo. She took up the sport as a form of rehabilitation, and as a seasoned rider with experience in endurance races, the transition came naturally. Remarkably, within just five months, Sheikha Maitha was already showing an impressive performance on the polo field.
Just like in martial arts, Sheikha Maitha couldn’t help but challenge the status quo for women in polo. She was setting an example, paving the way for more women to take part in the sport.
Today, Sheikha Maitha continues to inspire in the world of polo, dominating the sport with her team, UAE Polo, and she’s not slowing down. After all, she’s been competing since the age of 12, and has no intention of stopping.
Alongside her athletic career, she’s also made her mark in the entrepreneurial arena, launching her own competitive horse stables, Team Z7. Now home to over 150 horses, Team Z7 competes in equestrian events across the globe.
