The first Emirati woman ever to win a medal for her country in the Paralympic Games has no time for naysayers who think women and girls with special needs should not be playing sport.
Sara Al Senaani, 27, made history three years ago when she earned a bronze medal in shot put at the Paralympic Games in Rio.
She reflects the spirit shown by more than 1,400 para-athletes who competed in 172 track and field events at the World Para Athletic Championships last week in Dubai.
"I tell people my body is special needs. God gave me this body. I didn't chose it. But my mind is OK, my mind is strong," Ms Al Senaani told The National.
“People say sport is not for girls, shot put is too heavy. I don’t listen to these people. I want to play sports for my country.”
Ms Al Senaani has cerebral palsy and, as a result, struggles with co-ordination and balance. The right side of her body is weaker than the left.
Buckled into a seat with a belt pulled securely over her hips, her right hand strapped on to a pole, she leans back before heaving forward to hurl the shot put.
People say sport is not for girls, shot put is too heavy. I don't listen to these people
Ms Al Senaani competes in the F33 seated position category for track and field athletes with cerebral palsy or other neurological conditions that affect muscle co-ordination and control.
In Rio, she clinched the third spot with a throw of 5.09m and has since thrown a personal best of 5.52m in the West Asian games in September.
Although she did not win a medal this time in Dubai, she remains focused on improving her game at the 2020 ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines in January and the Fazza championships in Dubai later next year.
Ms Al Senaani's story goes back to 2008 when she saw Usain Bolt on television make Olympic history.
The Jamaican set world records in the 100m, 200m and won gold in the 4x100m relay in the Beijing Olympics.
“I was so excited. I told my family this is [where] I want to be. I want to win medals,” she said.
Her family has backed her sporting career and supported her journey since.
The world of sport opened up when a physiotherapist told her of a sports clubs for people with special needs.
Ms Senaani tried various sports including table tennis, javelin, discus and shot put and won numerous national medals in the field events.
She earned a gold medal — her first overseas medal — in shot put and bronze in javelin during the regional championships in Kuwait in 2011.
She quickly realised that her strength lay in shot put and focused her training to that sport.
A dedicated athlete, her daily sessions include strength training in the gym as well as field practice. This intensifies to morning and evening workouts before major competitions.
Reading motivational books during training camps helps improve her concentration.
Her message to parents of children with disabilities is to allow them to find out what they enjoy.
“I tell them they can do anything. Maybe sport, maybe art, maybe photography,” said Ms Al Senaani, who has a diploma in health and safety from the Al Jazirah Institute of Science and Technology and trains at the Abu Dhabi Club for Special Needs.
She is driven by the ambition to hear the UAE national anthem at a world championship when she wins gold.
“That is my dream. I train hard for this,” Ms Al Senaani said.
Sport has been her way to give back for the support her family received from the government for her education and treatment of her condition.
“I wanted to do something for my country and leaders. They have helped me in everything. I thought I will play a sport to say thank you.”
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
