DUBAI: Emirati racing driver Amna Al-Qubaisi has spoken of how her “love of racing” led to her fulfilling big dreams by attending the inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala in New York last week.
The event on Thursday came just weeks after the 26-year-old became the only Arab to make TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Sports list.
Her inclusion placed her alongside sporting icons including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Victor Wembanyama, Carlos Alcaraz, Caitlin Clark and Lando Norris, recognizing not only her achievements on the track but also her growing influence beyond competition.
“It all began with a dream and a love for racing. I had no idea where this sport would take me. I just knew this is what I wanted to do,” Al-Qubaisi said.
“Being recognized on the TIME100 list is something I never imagined growing up. It’s a reminder that the biggest dreams begin with one small step.
“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in me along the way.”
The first Emirati woman to compete professionally in international motorsport joined some of the world’s biggest sporting names and celebrities at the event.
The participants included Prince Harry, Jalen Brunson, Alex Morgan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lindsey Vonn, Olympic champion Alysa Liu, Olympic snowboard champion Chloe Kim, and NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
The inaugural gala celebrated athletes and changemakers whose influence extends beyond competition, during an evening that offered a rare glimpse of athletes away from competition, with many swapping jerseys and race suits for designer looks on the red carpet.
Throughout the evening, speakers including James, Brunson, Morgan, Prince Harry and Liu reflected on the power of sport to inspire communities and create meaningful change.
James, who was honored as TIME’s Athlete of the Century, delivered one of the night’s most emotional speeches, thanking the medical team that helped save his son Bronny after he suffered cardiac arrest in 2023. He also encouraged families to be prepared for similar emergencies.
For Al-Qubaisi, the evening represented another landmark in a career that has redefined what is possible for women in motorsport across the Middle East.
Over the past decade, she has broken barriers in a sport traditionally dominated by men, becoming the first Emirati woman to race professionally while representing the UAE on some of the world’s most competitive racing stages.
