In the past decade, Khaleeji women have succeeded in breaking stereotypes and transforming the typical perceptions people have about them by successfully proving themselves in various new fields. One of these fields is competitive sports, a territory which was largely dominated by men.

Here are 5 examples of extremely strong Khaleeji female athletes who will motivate you and inspire you to get off of your couch and start lifting, climbing, riding and squatting NOW!

This young Emirati crossfitter is paving the way for females who aspire to become competitive athletes in the crossfit games. Qassemi or “Kiki” practices religiously and shares her daily grind and fitness tips with her thousands of followers on Instagram and Snapchat. She can lift, do muscle ups and box jumps without flinching, all while flicking her hair and looking great!

2. Abeer Al Shatti

This Kuwaiti female coach shows us that it is never too late to transform our bodies and become a healthier version of ourselves. Shatti regularly shares “before and after” photos of herself on Instagram to motivate her clients and followers. She also shares workout videos and nutrition tips, and clarifies common myths about women’s sport. Follow her page to plan your gym workout and get fitter!

Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum is an Emirati equestrienne and Olympian. She dedicates most of her time to playing polo competitively and aspires to win an Olympic gold medal. As if that wasn’t inspiring enough, Sheikha Maitha is a martial arts athlete and has won a silver medal in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Talk about sports royalty!

Despite being the daughter of one Kuwait’s most prominent religious figures, Nouri succeeded in becoming the only female member of Kuwait’s wakeboard team. She credits her father for encouraging her to pursue this mentally and physically challenging sport. Nouri is a great example of how wearing the hijab does not prevent you from becoming a skilled athlete and an inspiring role model.

In 2013, Moharrak became the youngest Arab and the first Saudi woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. She said that convincing her family to allow her to climb was as challenging as conquering the mountain itself! Moharrak travels around the world ticking off one mountain peak after the other and proving that Khaleeji women are as strong, brave and ambitious as anyone.