In a country known for its rapid modernization and forward-thinking policies, a quiet revolution is reshaping the sporting landscape. At its forefront is Coach Ayesha Al-Mansoori, a pioneering figure who has transformed women’s athletics in the UAE—not just through coaching, but through policy advocacy, cultural diplomacy, and unyielding leadership.
As the founder of the Emirati Women’s Sports Network (EWSN) and head coach of the UAE’s national women’s futsal team, Ayesha Al-Mansoori is not only breaking records—she’s breaking barriers, opening doors for girls and women to pursue sports at the highest level.
“Sport gives women a voice, a space, and a strength that transcends the field,” she says. “My mission is to make sure every girl in the Emirates hears that voice—her own.”
A Personal Journey: From Athlete to Advocate
Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Ayesha Al-Mansoori was a standout athlete from a young age—competing in basketball, track, and football at a time when girls’ participation in organized sport was rare.
After earning a sports science degree from Zayed University, she pursued further education at Loughborough University in the UK, specializing in sports development and gender inclusion. There, she saw firsthand how institutional support and public visibility empowered women athletes.
“I realized it wasn’t a question of ability,” she says. “It was about access and attitude.”
She returned to the UAE in 2015 with a mission: to build a national ecosystem where Emirati girls could thrive in sport—without fear, stigma, or limits.
Founding the Emirati Women’s Sports Network (EWSN)
In 2017, Al-Mansoori launched the Emirati Women’s Sports Network, a non-profit dedicated to promoting, supporting, and scaling women’s participation in athletics across the Emirates.
Today, EWSN supports more than 14,000 athletes, coaches, and volunteers across multiple disciplines including football, cycling, swimming, martial arts, and volleyball.
The organization’s four-pillar model includes:
🟣 Access & Participation
- Partnering with schools and municipalities to open all-girls sports clubs
- Mobile sports clinics in underserved areas
- Subsidized sports gear and transportation for low-income families
🟣 Training & Coaching
- Certification programs for female coaches
- Mentorship networks linking young athletes with female role models
- Talent ID programs in partnership with the UAE Olympic Committee
🟣 Policy Advocacy
- Lobbying for mandatory PE for girls in public schools
- Advising on the UAE’s National Women’s Sports Strategy 2030
- Inclusion of women’s leagues in national federation budgets
🟣 Media & Visibility
- Producing documentaries and campaigns featuring Emirati sportswomen
- Collaborations with influencers to normalize women’s sports in mainstream culture
- Launching the HerGame Podcast, now the UAE’s most-downloaded women-in-sports series
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Al-Mansoori says. “We are making women in sport visible, vocal, and valued.”
On the Sidelines—and the Frontlines
As head coach of the UAE Women’s National Futsal Team, Coach Ayesha isn’t just organizing programs—she’s leading by example. In 2023, under her guidance, the team qualified for the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship for the first time in its history.
Her approach is a blend of discipline, empathy, and innovation, integrating:
- Sports psychology into training
- Biomechanics and injury prevention strategies
- Community service requirements to ground players in leadership
Players like Latifa Al-Hosani, who recently signed with a Spanish club, credit Coach Ayesha not just for tactical skills but for instilling confidence and purpose.
“She taught me how to play—and how to believe,” Latifa says.
Cultural Change in Real Time
Transforming a nation’s mindset around women in sport requires more than goals and trophies—it demands cultural fluency and persistent dialogue.
Coach Ayesha has led initiatives to:
- Host modest sportswear fashion shows, highlighting performance hijabs and culturally sensitive kits
- Hold town halls with religious leaders and parents about the benefits of girls’ sports
- Design “safe space” gyms and time slots for conservative communities
Her work has helped increase female participation in organized sport by 300% since 2017, and the number of licensed female coaches has risen from 28 to over 400.
Recognition and Regional Leadership
Coach Ayesha’s impact is increasingly recognized beyond the UAE:
- Appointed to the Arab Women in Sport Advisory Council
- Winner of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Creative Sports Award (2024)
- Named one of BBC’s 100 Women Changing the World
- Partnered with UN Women and Nike MENA for inclusive sports campaigns
In 2024, she was appointed a national ambassador for the Year of Sustainability, using sport to raise awareness about health, climate, and gender equity.
Overcoming Resistance and Rewriting Norms
Despite her success, the journey hasn’t been without resistance. From dismissive officials to public skepticism, Coach Ayesha faced many barriers early on.
“I was told girls aren’t interested. That there’s no audience, no future,” she recalls. “They were wrong.”
Through strategic partnerships and relentless proof of concept, she’s won over skeptics by showing:
- Improved school performance and mental health in girls who participate in sports
- Community economic boosts from local women’s leagues and events
- Positive shifts in media coverage, family attitudes, and public health outcomes
Vision 2030: From Pioneering to Normalizing
Looking ahead, Coach Ayesha’s goals are clear:
- A national sports academy for Emirati girls, combining athletics and academics
- A semi-professional women’s football league with live broadcasts and sponsorship deals
- Inclusion of women’s sports in national development KPIs
- Elevating Emirati female athletes to the Olympic stage by 2028
- Establishing the Gulf Women’s Sports Federation to foster regional cooperation
Conclusion: A Coach, A Catalyst, A Movement
Coach Ayesha Al-Mansoori is more than a sports figure—she’s a catalyst for cultural evolution, using footballs and futsal courts as platforms for gender equality, national pride, and social change.
In every whistle she blows and every wall she breaks, she sends a clear message: that Emirati women belong not just on the sidelines of sport—but at its very center.
“Sport taught me to fight, to focus, to lead,” she says. “Now it’s my turn to teach the next generation.”
