Sharjah Women’s Sports concluded its “Intilaqa” summer program, which ran through August 20, 2026, after offering Emirati girls aged 12 to 17 a community sports experience that introduced them to a range of sports and gave them the opportunity to practice the fundamentals in an organized and encouraging environment. The program formed part of the organization’s efforts to expand opportunities for sports participation and strengthen the role of physical activity in girls’ everyday lives.
Designed as an alternative to specialized competitive training, the program allowed participants to move between a variety of sporting experiences and gain a practical understanding of each discipline and its basic skills. This gave every girl a wider opportunity to discover her interests and abilities and build a positive first experience that could encourage further participation in the future.
The program deliberately maintained a limited number of participants to ensure the quality of the experience and allow for close supervision. This gave each participant sufficient time and space to take part fully, interact with the coaches, and learn the fundamentals of each sport, rather than simply observing or receiving limited opportunities within larger groups.
“Intilaqa” also enabled participants to benefit from the organization’s sports environment and facilities through an experience that combined learning, movement, and enjoyment. The program placed equal emphasis on values that extend beyond sporting skills, including commitment, patience, endurance, self-confidence, and teamwork.
Al Suwaidi: Sport Is Part of a Way of Life
Alyazia Al Suwaidi, Director of the Women’s Sports Department at Sharjah Women’s Sports, said “Intilaqa” reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding opportunities for girls to participate in sport and giving them the freedom to explore and discover different activities without requiring an early commitment to competitive sport.
“We see sport as part of a way of life, which is why it is important to give girls the opportunity to explore different activities in an environment that offers them the time and space to discover sports for themselves,” she said.
“The goal is not for every participant to become a competitive athlete. What matters is that every girl leaves the program with a more positive relationship with sport, a broader understanding of the options available to her, and a desire to keep physical activity as part of her life.”
Al Suwaidi added that the organization’s community role complements its work in developing athletes and teams by providing programs and facilities that give girls and women diverse opportunities to participate in sport at different stages of life, making access to physical activity easier and more sustainable.
Kashwani: We Wanted Every Girl to Truly Experience the Sport
Maryam Kashwani, Community Sports Executive at Sharjah Women’s Sports, said the program was designed to give participants a genuine hands-on experience rather than simply introducing them to different sports in theory.
“It was important to us that participants did not leave simply knowing the name of a sport, but that they had actually tried it, learned some of its fundamentals, and gained a clearer understanding of how it is practiced and what it requires,” she said.
“That is why we kept the number of participants appropriate for the nature of the experience, ensuring that every girl had enough time to train, engage, and benefit.”
She added:
“Throughout the program, we noticed that the girls became more comfortable trying new sports and more confident in taking part. Some joined with very little knowledge of certain activities, but by the end they were asking how they could continue practicing them. For us, that is one of the clearest indicators of the program’s impact.”
From Trying Something New to Wanting to Continue
Participants’ feedback reflected the impact of the program. Fatima Al Muaini said:
“What I enjoyed most was being able to try the sports myself and learn their fundamentals firsthand. It was a fun experience, and I discovered sports that I enjoyed more than I expected and would like to continue practicing.”
Muzna Al Hammadi said the program also gave her a broader understanding of what sports participation requires.
“I learned that sport is not only about skill; it also requires fitness, endurance, and patience,” she said. “As the training continued, I felt that my abilities and confidence were improving, and that encourages me to keep practicing sport after the program.”
Extending the Organization’s Community Role
“Intilaqa” reflects Sharjah Women’s Sports’ commitment to extending the impact of its sports ecosystem beyond competitive pathways and into the wider community by using its facilities, expertise, and programs to create diverse and accessible opportunities for girls and women to participate in sport.
Sharjah Women’s Sports continues to develop its community initiatives to ensure that sport remains accessible at different stages of women’s lives, giving girls broader opportunities to explore, participate, and continue within an integrated sports environment that combines accessibility, quality experiences, and pathways for development.
