Khadija Abdulwahed (31 years old) is one of a kind. She is the only local female jockey on the Qatari circuit and, along with France’s Chloe Mignonneau, one of two women licensed in the country. Despite few opportunities, this season she already has one win and five placings in eight starts.
Khadija Abdulwahed’s presence in the paddock of Al Rayan or Al Uqda (Qatar’s two racecourses) immediately catches the eye. She is one of only two licensed women in the country and the only Qatari jockey on the circuit.
Abdulwahed started riding at the age of 7. After a brief stint in show jumping, in 2007 she decided to shorten the stirrups and focus on the always difficult and competitive world of turf. Since then and up to the time of writing (22nd December 2024) the Qatari has contested 225 races in her country, with 10 winners and 73 placings for almost 74,000 Qatari reals in prize money (just over 19,000 euros).
Unfortunately, opportunities are not plentiful for Abulwahed. In a turf with between 21 and 24 races per week and a season started in October and finished in April, the jockey rode only eight races last season and 12 in the 2022-2023 year.
However, the lack of riding doesn’t dampen Abdulwahed’s morale: “Since I was a child, my goal was to become a jockey. From a very young age, I loved watching the races. It’s definitely not an easy world. But, as I always say, nothing is easy but nothing is impossible when a person loves what you are doing.”
Her perseverance seems to be paying off. This season (which began in November) she has already ridden one winner and five placed horses, out of eight total rides. These are not insignificant numbers, especially if we take into account that the races rarely have less than ten or twelve runners.
Like all jockeys with tradition, Abdulwahed has her own war wounds. The most serious, a difficult fall in 2014 that kept her away from the tracks until 2017.
Despite being the only local female jockey, Abdulwahed has not felt discriminated against in the Qatari turf. The jockey, a fan of European turf, follows British champion Holly Doyle with particular enthusiasm. Abdulwahed also appreciates the fact that there are more and more female jockeys on the old continent.
When asked about her greatest goal in the world of turf, the Qatari does not hesitate for a moment and affirms, categorically, that her dream is to become a professional. She currently competes as an amateur, a title that allowed her to compete in the popular Magnolia Cup in the United Kingdom in 2023. Aimed at amateur riders and always with a charitable purpose, the Magnolia Cup is an institution in the islands. The 2023 edition raised more than £246,000 for charity.
Abdulwahed sealed her participation on a high note, finishing third. Especially if we take into account that she had no time to prepare for the race, as she was called to compete the same week of the event. The rush meant that the jockey arrived on British soil with all the competition equipment, but without a dress for the charity gala that precedes the event.
The Qatari, who can ride up to 46 kilos, takes her role as a jockey very seriously. She currently trains daily at gym and runs eight kilometers twice a week. She is also a f45 ambassador. Abdulwahed is thus preparing to take another step in her career and become the country’s first professional jockey.
Woman O'War 