Omani Women Referees Gain Global Recognition Across Multiple Sports

Omani Female Referees Rise in International Sports with Strong Presence

Muscat: Omani women have strengthened their presence in sports refereeing, establishing themselves across various individual and team sports at local, regional and international levels.

In recent years, women’s participation in refereeing has evolved into a well-defined professional path supported by academic qualification, practical experience and institutional backing. Several Omani female referees have obtained international and continental certifications and officiated in major competitions.

Yusra bint Khamis Al-Shukri, the first Omani woman to obtain an international taekwondo refereeing badge, said that women’s presence in the field has developed into an active and professional role in championships. She attributed this progress to institutional support and training programmes implemented by relevant sports bodies.

In Paralympic sports, Zamzam bint Khamis Al-Hadhrami, an international swimming referee, highlighted the growing number of Omani referees with international accreditation, noting that such participation enhances Oman’s standing in global sports forums.

In handball, Lamia bint Khamis Al-Saadi and Zahra bint Najib Al-Maashari have achieved international and continental recognition, reflecting the progress of Omani women in officiating high-level matches. They emphasized that experience, discipline and continuous training are key to success in this field.

In chess, international referee Ruqaya bint Abdullah Al-Balushi said that women’s participation has shifted from limited involvement to an effective presence, supported by technical expertise and strong performance in managing tournaments.

In basketball, international referee Wafaa bint Saif Al-Samri underlined the role of international participation in enhancing refereeing skills and building confidence through exposure to diverse competitive environments.

In shooting sports, international referee Manal Al-Wahibiya noted that women’s participation is steadily developing, supported by training programmes and institutional initiatives aimed at increasing female representation in refereeing and technical roles.

Female referees emphasized that family support and institutional backing have played a key role in overcoming initial challenges and strengthening their presence in the sports sector.

They affirmed that continued training, international exposure and early talent development programmes will further enhance women’s participation in refereeing and support the growth of the sports sector in the Sultanate of Oman.