Leading From The Saddle: Mariam Ali Karim

Redefining What's Possible For Gulf Women In Endurance Racing

"My love for horses has been rooted in my heart since I was a child," says Mariam Ali Karim. She was six years old when she started riding lessons. There was no family stable behind her, no dynasty to uphold. It was simply a child's instinct, nurtured by a mother who sacrificed everything to give her daughter the tools to succeed.
"It started as a hobby, only something I did for fun," she recalls, "and turned into a passion for endurance when I saw it once on TV. I remember being inspired — I imagined myself in one of those races, and that was when I decided to focus and dedicate more time to endurance training, which led to my first qualifier in 2019."

Today, Mariam is a three-time consecutive winner of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup for Women's Private Stables Owners, the flagship ladies' endurance event in the UAE, and a leading rider for Al Kamda Endurance Stables, one of the country's most successful private operations. Her journey from childhood riding lessons to record-breaking champion mirrors the broader transformation taking place across Gulf equestrianism, one in which women are no longer on the margins of the sport but increasingly at its centre.

A Mother's Guiding Hand

Behind every pivotal moment in that journey was a quieter force. Mariam credits her mother as the single greatest influence on her life and career. "She sacrificed a lot to make sure I had everything I needed to succeed," she says. "My mother once told me that the most important thing in life is always to be kind, to have good intentions, and that God will give me what I wish for when the time is right. She taught me to be patient and understanding. I can't thank her enough for all the lifelong lessons she taught me."

Finding A Home At Al Kamda

Mariam's career shifted decisively when she joined Al Kamda Endurance Stables, the Dubai-based operation owned by Major General (Ret.) Saeed Mohammed Al Kamda. Situated on more than one million square feet in Al Aweer, the stable has built a formidable reputation in UAE endurance racing. It has now secured five consecutive victories in the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup.

For Mariam, now in her third season with the operation, the relationship has been transformative. "The way this stable selects and trains horses is truly remarkable," she says. "They seem to always select the right horse for each rider and for each endurance village. My first experience with Al Kamda was memorable — the team works together because they share one goal. The guidance I got from the trainer and team in my first race with them helped shape me to become the rider I am today."
She speaks with particular warmth about the trust the stable places in her. "The trust they put in me, the guidance I get from them, and having a suitable horse to compete with have pushed me to become the best version of myself and perform to my best possible abilities," she says.

Integral to her development was fellow Al Kamda rider Leila Al Marzooqi, whom Mariam identifies as both a close friend and a turning point in her career. "Leila is the kindest rider out there, a friend who never hesitated to give me advice and helped me learn a lot about endurance," she says. "She was the first to believe in me, the first to see my potential, the first to give me one of the biggest opportunities that shaped my whole career."

The Art Of Preparation

Endurance racing over 100 kilometres is a discipline that tests every dimension of a rider's preparation, and Mariam's training regime reflects its unique demands. Off the horse, she runs, cycles, and undertakes strength training to build the stamina and muscular endurance required for hours in the saddle.

On the horse, her work is deliberately varied. "During horse training, I'm given experienced and inexperienced horses," she explains. "With the experienced horses, I focus on building stamina and muscles for the races. With the inexperienced horses, I focus on understanding them and preparing them for the qualifiers, then the races. That helps me gain more experience and develop a deeper understanding of the horses I'm riding."

Yet it is the mental and spiritual dimension that Mariam considers equally vital. “In horse riding, you need to prepare yourself mentally," she says. “It is not only the physical aspect you need to focus on. A negative mindset before a ride, whether in training or in a race, can negatively affect your performance. Horses are sensitive animals — they sense our energy. So, I try to always keep a clear mind by reading my prayers, greeting my horse with positive energy, and enjoying the ride."

A Record Beyond Words

That philosophy, balancing science with sensitivity, has delivered results. In December 2024, Mariam completed the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup's 100-kilometre course in three hours, 23 minutes and one second, at an average speed of 29.55 kilometres per hour, fending off a field of 121 riders at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba. The victory was her third consecutive title and left her speechless. "Winning the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup for three consecutive years means the world to me," she says. "To bring back home the gold medal and securing five consecutive wins for Al Kamda stable is a feeling that could never be described in words."

As a woman competing at the highest level of endurance racing in the Gulf, Mariam is acutely conscious that her achievements carry weight beyond the finish line. "I aim to inspire young women to pursue their passion, not only in endurance but in all sports, without limitations," she says. "My consecutive wins demonstrate that gender is not a barrier to success. I want to show that with determination, skill, and perseverance, Emirati and Arab women can compete at the highest levels and achieve remarkable results. I hope my journey encourages them to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and believe in their potential to excel."

She is equally clear that the pursuit itself matters as much as the prize: "I hope to inspire women to do it for the love of the sport and not only to win, but to actually enjoy it and care for your wellbeing as well as your horse's."

Reshaping The Landscape

Mariam is clear that the structural conditions enabling women like her to thrive have not emerged by accident. She points to the direct influence of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, whose initiatives across education, healthcare, and sport have created pathways that did not previously exist for women in the region. She is equally forthcoming about the role of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, whom she describes as 'the Knight of Arabs.'"His Highness is one of the biggest supporters of endurance racing, as he was one of the first participants in it from the beginning," she says. "To this day, he continues to motivate us as riders by his enthusiasm and encouragement, especially when he visits the races."

The broader shift she sees across the Gulf's equestrian landscape, women stepping into roles not just as riders but as trainers, stable managers, and federation officials, is one she views with genuine optimism. "I believe this change is driven by increased opportunities for education and professional development, as well as a growing awareness of the value women bring to leadership positions," she says. "The support and encouragement from both governmental and non-governmental organisations have played a significant role in fostering an environment where women can thrive in the equestrian industry."

On the question of what more can be done to ensure women have equal pathways to leadership, Mariam advocates for targeted mentorship programmes specifically designed to support women's career advancement, transparent criteria for leadership positions within equestrian federations, and greater gender diversity on governing committees to bring a wider range of perspectives to decision-making.

She notes, however, that progress is already visible on the ground. "These actions have already started taking place since we have ladies' races, and seeing different women win races shows we are starting to get equal opportunities as riders," she says.

The Road Ahead

For all her success over 100 kilometres, Mariam's ambitions extend further — literally. Her next major target is the 160-kilometre President Cup, the flagship event of UAE endurance racing and one of the most demanding rides on the global calendar. "I aspire to get first place in the 160-kilometre President Cup, as well as compete in international endurance championships and explore new, challenging distances to test my abilities further," she says.

In five years, she envisions herself continuing to excel at the top of the sport while fulfilling a purpose that reaches beyond personal achievement. "I hope to be a role model that women look up to, to pursue their dreams in the equine disciplines like I did when I was younger," she says, "as it had the biggest impact on my journey."
She also wants to contribute to the growth and development of the industry itself —a signal that, for Mariam Ali Karim, leading from the saddle has never been about the trophies alone. It has been about proving, one ride at a time, that the future of Gulf endurance racing has a woman's name on it.