Amal Al-Mufti

Pioneered women's sports participation in Saudi Arabia through grassroots advocacy

Amal Al-Mufti is a trailblazing Saudi Arabian activist and athlete who fought to enable women's sports participation in a country where such activities were historically prohibited. Starting in the early 2000s, she organized secret running groups for women in Riyadh, eventually founding the Saudi Women's Sports Movement. Her advocacy led to the 2018 royal decree allowing women to participate in sports, culminating in Saudi women's historic debut at the 2012 London Olympics. Al-Mufti's story is featured in Sprint to Freedom: A Saudi Woman's Fight for Sports Rights, which documents her courageous efforts. She also co-founded the first women's gym in Jeddah, facing significant societal pushback but ultimately inspiring a national movement. Her work aligns with UN Women's HeForShe initiative, and she now advises global organizations like the IOC on gender inclusion. Al-Mufti's perseverance created a blueprint for other restrictive societies seeking to empower women through sports.