With great pride, joy, and ambition, Emirati equestrian and jockey Fatima Al-Amiri still recalls the details of the exceptional moment she experienced during her participation in the 'March of the Union' parade in Al-Wathba area during Union Day. At that moment, she presented the 'equestrian salute' to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, who reciprocated the salute, thereby inscribing the name of the daughter of the UAE onto the list of distinction and declaring the valor of the nation's women and their ability to perform the most challenging tasks.
In the atmosphere of that moment, Fatima Al-Amiri began her conversation with 'Emirates Today', confirming: 'It was a moment of pride that cannot be described, because this unique gesture that warmed my heart was not a product of chance, but the fruit of daily arduous training and daily journeys to the field from morning till evening, ultimately leading to achievement and excellence in those seconds when I stood before His Highness the President of the State. Fear did not creep into my heart when the doors opened and I was told the performance would be directly before His Highness. Instead, I set off with a smile born of pride in my belonging, and as I passed before him, I greeted him with the equestrian salute, worthy of his esteemed stature.'
She added about her feelings: 'I saw His Highness following me with a paternal smile, and beside him was His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. This made me feel that all the effort I had put into training had crowned with success. That salute was a landmark moment in my journey. After the parade ended, social media was flooded with news about it, while I was surprised to be given the title 'The UAE's Knight' by the people.'
A Not-So-Easy Journey
Despite holding a master's degree in finance and banking and working in that field, Fatima chose to venture into various experiences and a journey that was not easy in the world of equestrianism. She faced severe psychological and physical challenges, explaining: 'During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in 2020, I decided to make a list of things I had never tried before, in search of renewal and breaking the monotony that had befallen most of us during the pandemic. I started by learning to ride a bicycle, then I entered the world of horses. But the surprise was facing a harsh rejection linked to my excess weight at the time. I was not nominated for any race. Therefore, I decided to prove to myself and everyone that willpower is stronger than all obstacles.'
She continued: 'Because of this rejection, I chose the hardest path. I learned the most difficult equestrian arts, such as archery and shoeing horses, then moved on to dangerous skills, or what is known as 'gymnastics on horseback.' I trained to stand and dismount during a horse's gallop. I still remember my trainer was amazed at the speed of my learning and pushed me into public shows after a series of consecutive training sessions that lasted for months, which opened the doors for me to excel and prove my worth in this field.'
The Heritage of the Ancestors
Fatima's ambitions did not stop at equestrianism; her passion led her to explore the heritage of the ancestors through the 'ships of the desert.' She said: 'Equestrianism is in my heart, but at the same time, I sought a new challenge among the sand dunes, so I entered the world of camel racing about a year and a half ago, successfully participating in a camel race in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and I became the first Emirati woman to venture into this competition. Despite it being my first experience and the adventure fraught with risks, it honed my skills, making me a trainer and jockey.'
She went on: 'I also achieved first place and won the gold medal at the King Abdulaziz Camel Marathon, becoming the first Emirati woman to win in the kingdom. Additionally, I won the silver medal at the Islamic Solidarity Olympics in the two-kilometer race and the bronze medal at the same Olympics in the 8-kilometer race. I also won two bronze medals at the 2024 King Abdulaziz Camel Race. I named my camel 'Al-Wathba' after the venue where I was raised and trained. I was crowned first place at the Al Ain Camel Festival in October 2025 in the first-ever women's dedicated race. This is an achievement I am proud of, as a daughter of this nation.'
A Dream Awaits Support
Fatima Al-Amiri confirmed that she now carries a responsibility towards the daughters of her country, adding: 'Today, I am a certified camel racing trainer and have supervised the training of over 30 girls as part of the 'Misrah' initiative, implemented in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the 'Act Abu Dhabi' youth initiative.' She said: 'Today, I am busy fulfilling the dream of establishing a specialized school and camel stable in the Al-Wathba area to pass on this heritage sport to children and girls in an innovative style through a series of specialized training sessions and comprehensive workshops.'
Fatima addressed an appeal, urging specialized institutions in the field to support her dream: 'I hope the UAE Camel Racing Federation and specialized heritage institutions will adopt this project and support Emirati women more, because we need an official umbrella that enables us to compete in open competitions and prepare a promising and competent generation in the field, and to see the daughters of the UAE representing them on international platforms and continuing to preserve the heritage of our ancestors.'
