Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum
Sheikha
Born (1980-03-05) 5 March 1980 (age 43)
Dubai
Names
Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Maktoum
HouseAl Falasi
FatherMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
MotherHouria Ahmed Lamara

Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: مَيْثَاء بِنتِ مُحَمَّد ابْنِ رَاشِد آل مَكتُوم; born 5 March 1980)[1] is a karate, taekwondo, polo athlete and Sheikha of Dubai.[2] She was the first woman from UAE to represent the country in the Olympics in 2008.[3]

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 (UAE), and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.[4] Her mother is an Algerian, Houria Ahmed Lamara. She is the full sister of Sheikha Shamsa, Sheikha Latifa, and Sheikh Majid.

She was appointed as a board member of the Global Initiative Foundation in December 2015.[5]

Sports career

In 2000, Sheikha Maitha began her martial arts career. In 2004, she won the karate 65-kg class at the 10th Pan Arab Games and became the first UAE woman to win an international gold medal.[6][7][8]

Representing the United Arab Emirates in the 2006 Asian Games, she won the silver medal at the Women's Over 60 Kilogram karate event.[citation needed] In 2007, she won another gold medal at the 11th Pan Arab Games in Cairo.[9]

In March 2008, the UAE National Olympic Committee announced Sheikha Maitha's participation at the 2008 Summer Olympics, making her the first woman to represent the UAE carrying the national flag.[3] She participated in taekwondo in the 67 kg category for women.[10]

In March 2011, she participated in the GCC Women's Sports Championships in Abu Dhabi and won the gold medal in Taekwondo.[11][12]

Sheikha Maitha started playing women's polo at the age of 32 as injuries prevented her from continuing martial arts.[13][14]

She participated with her team in the IFZA Silver Cup 2021 and advanced to the semi-finals.[15] At the Polo Masters Cup 2021[16] and the Dubai Polo Challenge 2021 Sheikha Maitha led her UAE team to victory.[17]

Accolades and awards

In 2007, Sheikha Maitha was named Arab Sports woman of the Year for winning the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games.[18]

In December 2007, she was the first Arab woman to receive the World Fair Play Award in Paris, France.[19]

In 2008, she was included as 17th on the list of the "20 Hottest Young Royals" as compiled by Forbes magazine.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Sheikha Maitha ALMAKTOUM - Olympic Taekwondo | United Arab Emirates". International Olympic Committee. 25 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "The 20 Hottest Young Royals - 17. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum". Forbes. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  3. ^ a b "About HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum". Team Z7. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum: Who is Dubai's ruler?". BBC. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Mohammed establishes Global Initiatives Foundation". Emirates 24/7. 29 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Interview: Sheikha Maitha, The UAE's martial arts maestro". Sport360. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. ^ Gupte, Pranay (January 2011). "Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis". Google Books. ISBN 9788184755046. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Shaikha Maitha claims individual gold in kumite". Gulf News. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Maitha clinches karate gold". Gulf News. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Shaikha Maitha bound for Beijing Olympics". Gulf News. 24 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  11. ^ "Shaikha Maitha wins taekwondo competition". Gulf News. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Golden girl Shaikha Maitha keeps UAE right on top". Khaleej Times. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Sheikha Maitha on women and polo". The National. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  14. ^ "100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport: Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid". Sport360. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Sheikha Maitha-led UAE Team storm into Silver Cup semis". Gulf Today. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Sheikha Maitha-led UAE Polo clinch Polo Masters Cup crown". Gulf Today. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Maitha bint Mohammed leads the UAE team to win the "Dubai Polo Challenge" – local sport". en24news.com. 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Sheikha Maitha set for Olympic honour". Arabian Business. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Maitha first Arab woman to get World Fair Play award". Gulf News. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
Preceded bySaeed Al Maktoum Flagbearer for  United Arab Emirates Beijing 2008 Succeeded bySaeed Al Maktoum
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