Her Highness Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan Al Maktoum is one of the few women leading the global horse racing scene. Fuelled by passion and a desire to honour her late father’s remarkable legacy, she continues to leave a lasting mark on the sport.
Sheikha Hissa, is the daughter of the late His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha Rodha bint Ahmad bin Juma Al Maktoum.
Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Voices of Future Generations initiative in the Middle East. Launched under the patronage of UNESCO, Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) is a global project that empowers children to write about sustainability and their rights, encouraging a new generation to think critically about the world they’re inheriting.
When HH Sheikha Hissa’s father passed away in the spring of 2021, the family entrusted her with the responsibility of taking over Shadwell Studs, the renowned estate her father had founded.
A role that gave her both purpose and a job, helping her navigate the grief of losing her father. It was a shared passion they both held dearly, one she wasn’t ready to let go of.
And what a decision it turned out to be. Since being named head of Shadwell, Sheikha Hissa has delivered truly outstanding results, proving that women from the GCC can be among the most successful figures in the industry.
Sheikha Hissa has brought a breath of fresh air to an industry long dominated by male entourages. For decades, that was the norm, but everything changed when she took over. At Royal Ascot, we now see Her Highness in her abaya and hijab, accompanied by her husband, Sheikh Maktoum bin Majid Al Maktoum, and primarily a female entourage, confidently navigating the racecourse grounds.
Her achievements go far beyond simply being seen at the races; she’s dominated them with results. It all began with the legendary Baaeed, who retired from racing in 2022. Then, in 2023, she continued to carve out her place among the industry’s brightest minds, with major victories including the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes, both secured by her star horse, Mustahdaf.
Her crowning achievement came with the prestigious British Thoroughbred Breeders’ Champion Owner title—placing Sheikha Hissa among an elite few. She became only the fifth woman in history to receive this honour, following in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who claimed it in 1954 and 1957.
What began as a way to mourn the loss of her father and find a way forward soon revealed itself as Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan Al Maktoum’s true calling. Today, she’s setting an inspiring example for more Arab women to rise to prominence in the world of racing, and her dream is to see many more follow in her footsteps.
