On a warm Friday evening in Dubai, the cheers of fans echo across the modest but packed Rashid Stadium. The UAE Women’s National Football Team is playing Jordan in a thrilling friendly match—and leading 2–1. At the edge of the technical area, issuing sharp commands and encouraging her squad with measured focus, stands Coach Fatima Al-Zahra, the woman transforming women’s football from a peripheral activity into a symbol of national pride and progress.
A former midfielder and now a trailblazing head coach, Fatima is at the center of the UAE’s women’s football revolution. In a few short years, she has turned a fragmented, semi-professional landscape into a structured, competitive, and internationally respected program. And for many, she’s not just building a team—she’s building a movement.
“Every goal we score is about more than just football,” she says. “It’s about changing what’s possible for women in this country.”
Early Journey: From Aspiring Player to Visionary Coach
Fatima Al-Zahra’s love for football began in Sharjah’s schoolyards, where she played alongside boys until the age of 13. With few options for girls’ football in the early 2000s, she moved into futsal and informal community matches.
In 2008, she earned a spot on the UAE’s fledgling women’s national team. Though facilities were basic and matches rare, Fatima’s drive stood out. After retiring from playing at 26 due to a knee injury, she pivoted to coaching—earning her AFC coaching licenses and completing a sports leadership degree in the UK.
“I wanted to be the coach I never had growing up,” she says.
A New Era: Rebuilding the National Women’s Program
In 2020, Fatima was appointed head coach of the UAE Women’s National Team—the first Emirati woman to lead the squad. The team had been dormant for years, lacking funding, structure, and competitive exposure.
Fatima started from the ground up:
- Recruited local talent through school visits, futsal tournaments, and social media outreach
- Introduced professional training schedules and modern tactical systems
- Pushed for investment from the UAE FA and Ministry of Youth and Sports
- Created a national scouting network in partnership with regional sports councils
Today, the program boasts:
- A 40-player national pool from all seven Emirates
- A full-time training facility in Abu Dhabi with access to nutritionists, psychologists, and analytics experts
- Regular friendlies with top regional teams and European training camps
- A youth feeder system linked to 27 academies and clubs across the country
“We had the talent,” she says. “What we needed was belief—and a system to support it.”
On the Pitch: A Tactical, Tenacious Team
Fatima’s tactical approach blends possession-based football with a high pressing style, inspired by both Spanish and German systems. She focuses on:
- Technical training with an emphasis on first touch and ball control
- Tactical drills simulating game pressure
- Strength and conditioning tailored to female physiology
- Detailed video analysis to break down mistakes and wins
Under her leadership, the UAE women’s team achieved:
- A historic victory over Bahrain in 2023 (3–0)
- Qualification for the AFC Women’s Cup qualifiers for the first time
- Entry into the FIFA World Rankings in 2024
- Hosting of the Arab Women’s Football Cup 2025, drawing regional attention
Beyond the Game: Building a Movement
Coach Fatima is clear: her mission extends far beyond the scoreboard. She’s using football to champion gender equality, national unity, and cultural change.
She has led initiatives such as:
- “She Plays UAE” – a national awareness campaign promoting women’s football in schools and universities
- Annual Girls’ Football Festivals, combining clinics, workshops, and mentorship
- Collaborations with Nike, Etihad Airways, and UN Women to launch inclusive sportswear and visibility campaigns
- Establishing a coaching academy for women, training over 120 new Emirati female coaches since 2022
“It’s not just about playing—it’s about leading,” she says. “Every girl who steps on that pitch sees that she belongs.”
