Fujairah Martial Arts Club Commits to Gender Equity by Signing Global IWG Declaration

Mr Andrew Clark, Deputy Consul General, British Embassy Dubai. Mr Nader Abushawish, Club Director, FMAC. Mr Mohammed Bakr Majed, Special Advisor to FMAC. Lisa O'Keefe, IWG Secretary General & Ms Amal Al Kindi, Deputy Director, FMAC

Accelerating its mission to create an inclusive, sustainable sporting ecosystem, the Fujairah Martial Arts Club (FMAC) has become the first Club in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to sign the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. In signing, FMAC joins a global community of over 700 signatories.

Currently, female athletes account for 28% of FMAC’s total membership, a figure that already more than doubles the national participation average for Emirati women. The club has set a bold target to reach 35% female participation by 2028.

To make this vision a reality, FMAC has implemented a data-driven, holistic approach to athletic development, mapped directly to the Declaration's 10 Principles:

• Equity, Equality, and Leadership: Enforcing strict anti-discrimination policies, ensuring equal opportunity, and actively advancing women into decision-making roles through initiatives like the Empowered Sport Leaders collaboration with the UK Embassy.

• Accessible Facilities & Safe Environments: Providing fully accessible, women-friendly facilities with equitable scheduling, female-only training slots, and dedicated prayer and family areas, alongside rigorous safeguarding training.

• Grassroots, Youth, and Developing Participation: Creating seamless pathways from school to club development through strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Education and the "Ajyal Al Mustaqbal" (Future Generations) youth programme.

• High Performance and Sport Information: Offering a holistic elite pathway supported by equitable access to technical coaching, medical care, and advanced, AI-driven performance and injury surveillance systems.

• Equitable Resources and Global Cooperation: Committing to the fair allocation of resources through ring-fenced budgets for women’s sport, while fostering deep domestic and international exchange partnerships.

  
  

Lisa O'Keefe, IWG Secretary General &  Ms Amal Al Kindi, Deputy Director, Fujairah Martial Arts Club

FMAC’s executive leadership said:

"Empowering women in sports is not just our goal; it is a fundamental pillar of our club's future and international legacy. Our dedication to women and girls in sport is not a destination, but an ongoing journey of empowerment, equality, and excellence."

Lisa O’Keefe, Co-Chair of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport, welcomed the club to the network, adding:

"FMAC's approach is a fantastic example of what the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration is all about: practical, systemic change. By bringing data, innovation, and strategic partnerships into their commitment to equity, they are laying the groundwork for sustainable progress for women in sport."