RIYADH: Najia Alfadl — whose first name could be interpreted in Arabic as “safe haven” — has devoted her career to being just that. Alfadl, a Saudi fitness coach currently based in Dubai, is breaking barriers by empowering women of all ages to transform their lives through sports, and emphasizing inclusivity and community support. “The Najia you see today versus 10 years ago is completely different, and that’s why I respect sport,” Alfadl tells Arab News.
“It empowered me. I see it firsthand, not only with myself, but with the women that I coach — how confident they are, how their self-worth improves. “I believe that sport teaches you valuable life skills that no one can take away from you: discipline, resilience, critical thinking.
Any obstacle that you see as a big obstacle is honestly your mind tricking itself,” she continues. “If you know your ‘why,’ your ‘how,’ ‘when’ and ‘who,’ you become a powerhouse. Once I found my passion and I knew my ‘why’, I stuck with it.
I’m here 10 years later doing exactly what I was hoping I would do.” Alfadl began her fitness journey in Saudi before moving to Dubai where she now works as a strength and conditioning coach at gym chain Wellfit. After graduating high school in 2014, Alfadl dove deeper into sport at university.
She describes that as a “test” period, in which she was exploring her options. She began with boxing classes alongside her cousin Halah Alhamrani (now known as Saudi Ar.