For me, sport does not end with competition; it remains a tool for building awareness, promoting balance, and supporting individuals to become more connected with themselves and to face life with stability and awareness. She supports girls. She noted that she feels great happiness and confidence when she receives inquiries from girls considering entering the sports field or unconventional paths, with their questions often focusing on how to start, persist, and overcome challenges. She added: "My experience has proven to me that sport contributes to building character, enhancing self-confidence, and developing thinking and problem-solving skills, which reflect in daily life and help individuals face challenges and build resilience, in addition to its role in maintaining physical and mental health and improving quality of life." Amina Haddad also revealed that, alongside her athletic career, she ventured into real estate, seeing a strong similarity between the two fields as they require clear goals, the ability to handle variables, and making precise decisions at the right time—skills she acquired through her sports experience. She also explained that after graduating from the American University of Sharjah, she worked in English media, expressing pride in conducting an exclusive interview with UAE Olympic shooting champion Sheikh Ahmed bin Hasher Al Maktoum, emphasizing that media is a fundamental element in raising awareness. Amina Haddad: "We are still in an early stage and need to encourage girls to practice it, especially as it requires high discipline and an early start. Moreover, the development of any sport depends on a comprehensive system and long-term preparation, especially for women." Abilities and Talent She confirmed that girls in the UAE possess the ability and talent, but the real challenge lies in the early discovery of talents and identifying the athletic path at a young age, pointing to the importance of integrating sport as a comprehensive system from the first years of schooling to guide talents toward sports that suit their physical capabilities. My journey, which spanned over 15 years, was not just an 'inspiration project' but a real commitment, and I believe that real impact occurs when others see that the path is possible for shaping the future." She added: "I am proud that this inspiration has contributed to changing the image of Emirati and Arab women's participation in competitive sports, documenting it locally and internationally, and writing about it in publications. I am also pleased that this journey is immortalized at Madame Tussauds in Dubai, a natural result of a true ambition." She pointed out that her experience in weightlifting was a major turning point in her life, especially after she won the Arab Woman in Sports award in 2016. In addition to her local achievements, Haddad won six gold and three silver medals in International Weightlifting Federation championships at the Arab and West Asian levels, as well as Asian club championships, in addition to several medals in national tournaments. Investing in Experience She confirmed that Amina Haddad is keen to translate her sports experience and transfer its most important chapters to community life, saying: "What I learned in sport, I have strived to share through dialogues, workshops, and initiatives." And Haddad said to "Al-Ittihad": "For me, sport was like a school where I learned how to build and develop character before it became a path of competition and a space to enhance discipline, patience, mental focus, dealing with challenges and pressure—the same skills we need in life." She added: "I strive to guide them, share my experience and perspective with them, and broaden their horizons to enable them to make conscious decisions that align with their ambitions and circumstances." Development of Women's Weightlifting Regarding the reasons for the lack of development in women's weightlifting at the national level, Haddad said: "We cannot compare our situation to countries that have practiced this sport for decades. Sport for me does not end with competition; it remains a tool for building awareness." She also stressed the need to move from viewing sport as merely a hobby or lifestyle to considering it a professional path through which one can build achievements and a name that ensures financial stability for the future. Raising Awareness about Sport and Mental Health She stated that her role in raising awareness about sport and mental health stems from her belief in the importance of individuals leading their own lives and trusting their choices. Former UAE national weightlifter Amina Haddad (36) has become a distinctive model reflecting the capability of Emirati women to achieve success in multiple social, cultural, and professional spheres, starting from athletic excellence, overcoming challenges, and pursuing her diverse passions. Amina Haddad, who has become an inspiration for elite girls aspiring to take up and excel in non-traditional sports for women, was close to participating in the Rio 2016 Olympics, reaching the qualifying stage but sustaining an injury weeks before the event. Haddad believes that her persistence in weightlifting and excelling in it opened many doors in her life, leading her to work in various fields, including media, real estate, authorship, and mental health.
