Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum

Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic) is a famous athlete and a member of the royal family of Dubai. Born on 5 March 1980, she has been involved in several sports, including karate, taekwondo, and polo.

She made history when she represented the United Arab Emirates at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She was the first woman from her country to compete in the Olympic Games, showing great bravery and skill. Her achievements have inspired many young people in sports across the United Arab Emirates.

Personal life

Sheikha Maitha is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and the ruler of Dubai. Her mother is from Algeria, named Houria Ahmed Lamara. She has sisters named Sheikha Shamsa and Sheikha Latifa, as well as a brother named Sheikh Majid. In 2015, she joined the board of the Global Initiative Foundation.

Sports career

Sheikha Maitha started her martial arts journey in 2000. She won her first international gold medal in 2004 at the 10th Pan Arab Games, becoming the first woman from the United Arab Emirates to achieve this. She also won a silver medal in karate at the 2006 Asian Games and another gold medal at the 11th Pan Arab Games in Cairo. In 2008, she made history as the first woman to represent her country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in taekwondo.

She continued to excel in sports, winning a gold medal in taekwondo at the GCC Women's Sports Championships in 2011. Later, she took up polo and, with her team, reached the semi-finals of the IFZA Silver Cup in 2021 and won both the Polo Masters Cup and the Dubai Polo Challenge that same year.

Accolades

In 2007, Sheikha Maitha was chosen as Arab Sportswoman of the Year after earning a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. That same year, she became the first Arab woman to receive the World Fair Play Award in Paris, France. In 2008, she was listed among the "20 Hottest Young Royals" by Forbes magazine.