Zainab Al Eqabi
Doha, Qatar: For Zainab Al Eqabi, sports became a lifeline after losing her leg at the age of seven, but it wasn’t until college that she truly discovered its power as a tool for personal empowerment. Today, she champions sports as a vital means for societal change and inclusion.
“Sports in general have not been very accessible to women in this region. Girls, yes, but women, not so much. And when you add disability to the picture, it’s even harder to come across opportunities,” said Al Eqabi, Volkswagen Middle East Brand Ambassador and an avid advocate for the benefit of sports for all, particularly marginalized communities.
Since 2023, Volkswagen Middle East and Qatar Foundation (QF) have partnered to promote an inclusive football landscape. Their collaboration includes supporting QF’s Women and Girls Football Initiative, and Al Eqabi was at Education City during QF’s National Sport Day celebration to promote the same cause.
Al Eqabi took up sports when she was in college, and initially it was not for fun but for medical reasons. Her doctor told her that she needed to strengthen her back or her quality of life would be compromised. “That was a huge wake-up call for me, and so I took up swimming and eventually weightlifting,” she said.
The para-athlete said sports hasn’t just played a key role in keeping her healthy – both mentally and physically – but it has also empowered her. “It’s made me confident and independent. I travel solo, not just because I’m confident, but because I’m physically strong. I can handle my luggage and navigate airports and train stations, thanks to sports.
“To me, sports isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.”
Speaking about sporting accessibility in the Middle East, Al Eqabi points to two aspects: one is logistical, and the other is cultural.
When it comes to culture, she acknowledged there is still stigma attached to disability, saying: “Until people are accepted however they are, no amount of accessible infrastructure is enough.”
According to her, the responsibility of improving cultural acceptance lies not just with society, but also with persons with disability (PWD). “Get out there, let people see you, give them an opportunity to ask questions – change the narrative, bit by bit. The world needs you; the world needs us!”
When asked what role family and friends play in empowering PWDs, Al Eqabi said: “Undoubtedly it is the biggest role. The first people to build and influence a child’s mindset are the parents. If they don’t hold their children back and empower them to live a ‘normal’ life, then there is no stopping them. I am a walking example of this.”
And highlighting the role of governments in advancing inclusive and accessible sporting opportunities, she said: “When governments ensure that opportunities – educational, employment or health and fitness – are available to all members of society, regardless of disability, and that these opportunities are of the same quality and not just to check a box. It gives persons with disability a sense of solid backing and makes us more confident in claiming our rights.”
Despite how strong and determined she is today, Al Eqabi explains that her journey wasn’t always smooth sailing. Just like any other PWD, there were times when she was made to feel like, or even told, that she didn’t “fit” in certain places.
“Instead of letting these statements hurt or discourage me, I continued believing in myself and did what I could to fit into those very places, and it’s been an upward journey since and one that’s been possible because of my unwavering belief in myself,” she says.
