Milano Cortina 2026, AKA the 2026 Winter Olympics, is almost coming to a close, officially ending on February 22, 2026. Over the last two weeks, we saw athletes from all over the globe withstand the cold, dramatically competing with one another and achieving historic milestones on the way. And the Middle East, with its mostly sunny climate, was right there along with them.
While the women participating were few and far between—with only 3 female athletes representing Türkiye and the UAE—it made us reflect on the Middle Eastern women from the past and present who have broken boundaries as winter athletes.
As we continue to cheer on those who are currently competing, here are some other Middle Eastern women athletes to know.
Zahra Lari
Starting with the name most have probably heard, Zahra Lari is an Emirati figure skater and one of the first Middle Eastern figure skaters to compete internationally, participating in the Asian Winter Games and the Winter Olympics qualifiers. In 2023, she became a Guinness World Record Holder, achieving the most upright spins while ice-skating in one minute.
She was also the first hijabi figure skater, bringing modesty to the rink, even when judges and audiences didn’t understand. Inspiring millions of women and girls around the world by being authentically herself, Zahra is currently the CEO of Emirates Skating Club and the President of the UAEWSF Figure Skating Committee, championing women to do what they love and not let conventional standards hold them back.
Ada Hasırcı
One of the three female athletes competing in this season’s Milano Cortina, Ada Hasırcı, is an alpine ski racer who specialises in slalom events. While she unfortunately failed to rank in the women’s slalom competition, she has already broken barriers by representing her country on the global stage.
Irem Dursun
A cross-country skier, Irem Dursun is another one of the few female Middle Eastern athletes we got to see this season. Representing her country in the 10km freestyle cross-country skiing for the very first time, she ranked 103 with a time of 31 minutes and 26 seconds.
Amenah AlMuhairi
An Emirati snowboarder who first got her taste of the cold at a holiday in Bosnia when she was 8. Since then, she has been snowboarding nonstop. When she was 15 years old, she made history as the first Emirati athlete to represent the UAE at the World Junior Championships in Freestyle Snowboarding. She went on to represent the UAE at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympic Games. Now at 17, she is currently working her way to represent the UAE once again at the next Milano Cortina.
Manon Ouaiss
A Lebanese skier who first fell in love with the sport in the mountains of Lebanon, Manon Ouaiss’s story is an incredible one. Working the corporate life in Dubai, she couldn’t pull away from the snow, finally quitting and qualifying for the Winter Olympics. She became the sixth Lebanese female skier to compete at the Olympics, participating in the 2022 Beijing Games.
In 2026, she was once again qualified for the Winter Olympics, set to represent Lebanon, but had to withdraw three weeks before the official games began due to a serious injury sustained while training. In a recent post on Instagram, she bid farewell to the sport but reaffirmed her ambitions, stating that the setback will be fuel for what’s next. And considering her fiery passion, we’re sure to see Manon make appearances once again, inspiring the next generation of women behind her.
Sharifa al-Sudairi
Breaking ground in more ways than one, Sharifa al-Sudairi is Saudi Arabia’s first-ever female alpine skier. But that’s not all. While most athletes turn pro at young ages, Sharifa shifted the tide by going pro in her 30s after becoming a mother to two children. And it all happened unexpectedly, with the Saudi government reaching out to Sharifa to represent the country on the world’s stage as part of their Vision 2030 initiative. She took the opportunity, competed in many international events, and has become one of many firsts, trailblazing the scene and empowering the Kingdom’s women to join her.
Hamda Al Suwaidi
Beginning skiing as a hobby, Emirati skier Hamda Al Suwaidi quickly realised that the sport was her calling. Overcoming the obstacle of living in the humid Middle East, she began training at Ski Dubai while working as an IT professional at a Dubai firm. As one of the few Emirati women representing the UAE on the international stage, she continues to train hard, setting her sights on the Winter Olympics.
Joud Farhoud
Making history at the 2025 Asian Winter Games alongside Sharifa al-Sudairi, alpine skier Joud Farhoud has been competing in international events, carrying the flag of Saudi Arabia with her. Learning how to ski at just 2 years old in Switzerland, Joud has transformed her hobby into her craft. Now, she trains for the chance to represent the Kingdom at the next Winter Olympics.
