{"id":50022,"date":"2025-11-06T13:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/?p=50022"},"modified":"2025-11-07T02:38:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T23:38:42","slug":"gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Gamechangers: Women in Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By Izabella Rekiel\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n<p>Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has undergone a profound transformation in women\u2019s sport. What began with only a handful of registered female athletes and no official women\u2019s clubs has evolved into a thriving ecosystem of opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Women\u2019s participation in sport has risen by more than 150 per cent, with over 330,000 registered female athletes and more than 400 women\u2019s sports clubs nationwide. Female membership in community clubs has reached about 45 per cent of all members \u2014 a remarkable leap from less than 10 per cent, likely closer to 5 per cent, before 2016.<\/p>\n<p>This acceleration reflects not only national policy and investment but also a deep cultural shift. Female athletes, coaches and administrators are now visible across fields, tracks and stadiums, shaping the Kingdom\u2019s new sporting identity.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50027\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50027\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"50027\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia\/dania-akeel-profile-_photo-credit-mch-photo\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1706\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;MARIAN CHYTKA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1747472364&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;MCH PHOTO&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;44&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dania Akeel profile _photo credit MCH Photo\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-50027 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-60x40.jpg 60w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dania-Akeel-profile-_photo-credit-MCH-Photo-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50027\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dania Akeel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b>From Barriers to Breakthroughs<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Among those driving the change in motorsport is Dania Akeel. The rally raid driver, who made history as the 2024 FIA Middle East Cup Baja Champion says her early development depended on two crucial factors \u2014 knowledge and access.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Izabella in Riyadh, Dania says <em>\u201cThe support I got really from the Federation was how much knowledge they gave me and access to the sport,\u201d<\/em> she said. <em>\u201cThey invited me to the events, the rallies, and yeah, with that access I got to know the game.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Financial obstacles, she added, were a major challenge, especially in the early stages of her career.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAfter signing with Red Bull, I became exposed to better quality sports tools \u2014 better equipment, better championships. I got the right advice from that environment because they were exposed to top athletes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For Dania, the next step is ensuring structured, long-term support for future athletes \u2014 programmes that build skills, mentorship, and funding from the earliest stages.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50029\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50029\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"50029\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia\/jana-mohammed-profile-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Jana Mohammed profile 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-819x1024.jpeg\" class=\"wp-image-50029 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-scaled.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-1638x2048.jpeg 1638w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-60x75.jpeg 60w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-480x600.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jana-Mohammed-profile-1-600x750.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50029\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jana Mohammed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b>Football: Building from the Ground Up<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Football has experienced one of the most visible transformations. The creation of the Saudi Women\u2019s Premier League, regional training centres and national youth teams has made the game accessible to thousands of young women.<\/p>\n<p>Jana Mohammed, assistant coach at Al-Qadsiah Saudi Women\u2019s Football Club based in Al Khobar in the Eastern Province, began her journey when no such structures existed.<\/p>\n<p>At a women\u2019s summit in Riyadh, Jana spoke of her early experience &#8211; <em>\u201cAt the time, there was nothing \u2014 there was no coaching, nothing. I wanted to join courses so I can learn more about football\u2026 Then Monika Staab the technical director of Saudi football at that time saw me and believed in me\u2026 She explained how things will change in the future and how the government is really supporting the federation \u2014 there will be Saudi Women\u2019s football actually.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Today, Jana is focused on developing youth pathways and equal access across the Kingdom\u2019s vast regions.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAny girl who wants to play football in any region, in any town, in any small village, there should be a place where she can go and practise and play football in a safe and professional environment,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause, you know, as girls, we cannot go to the streets and play. It\u2019s not common. So we need these places.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Her perspective highlights the next phase of growth \u2014 grassroots inclusion, education, and scouting. She believes many talented young girls remain unseen simply because they lack access or opportunity.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"50030\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia\/al-qadsiyah\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Al Qadsiyah\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-819x1024.jpeg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-50030 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-60x75.jpeg 60w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-480x600.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Al-Qadsiyah-600x750.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b>A Culture in Motion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>The rapid rise in women\u2019s sport mirrors wider social change. Families are increasingly supportive of daughters who compete publicly, while federations and sponsors are investing in development programmes and global expertise. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced increased funding for the 2024-2025 season. 60 million SAR was allocated to support and develop women\u2019s football clubs , an extra boost of 10 million SAR from the previous season.<\/p>\n<p>New facilities, coaching licences, and professional competitions are reshaping expectations \u2014 both on and off the field.<\/p>\n<p>For Dania and Jana, the message is consistent: empowerment comes from structure, opportunity and belief. Saudi women are not only participating in sport; they are helping build the frameworks that will define it for generations to come.<\/p>\n<p>From rally tracks to football stadiums, the Kingdom\u2019s female athletes and coaches are leading a movement that embodies Vision 2030\u2019s spirit \u2014 one of ambition, excellence, and inclusion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you have a clear goal, there are no barriers,\u201d Dania said.<\/p>\n<p>The statement captures the essence of Saudi Arabia\u2019s sporting transformation: clear goals, shared purpose, and the determination to make opportunity the new normal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Izabella Rekiel\u00a0\u00a0 Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has undergone a profound transformation in women\u2019s sport. What began with only a handful of registered female athletes and no official women\u2019s clubs has evolved into a thriving ecosystem of opportunity. Women\u2019s participation in sport has risen by more than 150 per cent, with over 330,000 registered female athletes and more than 400 women\u2019s sports clubs nationwide. Female membership in community clubs has reached about 45 per cent of all members \u2014 a remarkable leap from less than 10 per cent, likely closer to 5 per cent,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":50023,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Gamechangers: Women in Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Izabella Rekiel\u00a0\u00a0 Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has undergone a profound transformation in women\u2019s sport. What began with only\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thesauditimes.net\/en\/gamechangers-women-in-sport-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gamechangers: Women in Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Izabella Rekiel\u00a0\u00a0 Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has undergone a profound transformation in women\u2019s sport. 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