As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development plan, the state has supported women athletes and encouraged participation in everything from mixed martial arts (MMA) to motorsports. During the Fortune Most Powerful Women conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, three women athletes spoke on the importance of sports in the Middle East and beyond. 

Thanks to government support, women’s sports are thriving in Saudi Arabia, said MMA athlete Rasha Alkhamis.

“From year 2021 to 2024, women’s boxing grew by 460%,” she said. “Women are registered across 84 government clubs where they’re competing with men.”  

By competing, especially in combative sports such as boxing, women are not just staying healthy but also learning essential skills, added Alkhamis.

“I’ve seen the impact of boxing mentally, physically; you gain those skills, the discipline, the determination, and … you also learn how to set goals,” she said. 

While women competing in organized sports is a relatively recent phenomenon in Saudi Arabia, the popularity of many sports has skyrocketed, and women are already showing their talent on the world’s biggest stages, added Mashael Al Obaidan, the first woman to obtain a rally license in Saudi Arabia.

“We are part of male-dominant industry sports, right? But I believe that women proved themselves because we showed our talent in spaces that we weren’t historically allowed to be part of,” she said.

Other highlights: 

Aalia Al-Rasheed, Head of the Women’s Football Department, Saudi Arabian Football Federation: “When I first started at the age of 14, back in 2011, we used to find some obstacles, challenges, finding fields to play at. But today, we’re very proud that every young girl in the country has the ability and has the platform she deserves to play football.”

Zamzam Al Hammadi, Fighter, Professional Fighters League: “I’m happy that investors are really believing in the athletes, or in the organization, for us to keep going and improve the sports more, especially in the female field.”