Fahima Falaknaz, 36, made history last year when she became the first Emirati female boxer to represent the UAE in the Asian Boxing Confederation Championship.
But she is not one to rest on her laurels.
Falaknaz has recently been recruited by Real Boxing Only Gym in Al Quoz to coach a ladies-only boxing and fitness class. Her aim? To break the stereotype that boxing is a "male" sport.
"Anyone can box," she says. "When it comes to sports, there's no such thing as 'male sports' and 'female sports'. Everyone has the ability, the body structure. As a human being, if you are able to freely move your body around, you can box. So, I don't see why some people think it is something a woman cannot do."
As the eldest girl, and the second among eight children in her family, she admits that it took some convincing to get into it herself.
Falaknaz had a keen interest in sports from a young age, taking part in a number of activities – from volleyball or basketball – that were available in her school curriculum. "I also enjoyed boxing and martial arts, but because of cultural restrictions, did not take it any further."
However, in 2016, a fitness company she was involved with introduced an outdoor "Boxfit" class, which she signed up for. For Falaknaz, it was love at first jab. "I enjoyed it so much," she says. "From there, I started improving so fast. Even my boxing partners told me that they couldn't keep up, and advised me to go for personal training sessions instead. I started practising with a trainer, and later discovered Real Boxing Only Gym."
Today, Falaknaz credits boxing with changing her life. Not only has the sport kept her physically fit, it has also had numerous mental benefits including helping her stay focused and improving concentration. “It has made me more dedicated and taught me discipline,” she explains. “In the past, I used to take a long time to make the simplest decisions, but boxing has actually helped me learn to make decisions faster.”
As someone who works a full-time job in customer care, her work can also get stressful at times, and there’s nothing like throwing punches after a long day to release all that tension, she says. “When I get out of the office and into the boxing class, I forget everything. The sessions take all the tension out and make me feel stronger.”
And now she wants other women to reap the same mental and physical benefits of the sport. Falaknaz is aware that some parents – hers included – are not always happy about their daughters joining mixed exercise classes, and that some women may feel uncomfortable participating in sports around men they don't know. It's why she was delighted to hear that Real Boxing Only Gym would be starting ladies-only classes. "I'm really grateful to Michelle Kuehn, the director of the gym, for providing this opportunity for women in the region," says Falaknaz.
While the sessions are open to all women, she especially wants to call upon other Emiratis to step out of their comfort zones, and take up the sport. The classes focus on teaching women the basics, and helping them stay active. “Even if you’ve not done any other sport in your life, you can still start with boxing – it exercises the whole body."
The classes now average about five to 12 women per session, with 50 per cent of the participants being Emirati women. For Falaknaz, it is a sign that times are changing. “Nothing stays the same for long. In the beginning, my family was cautious about me getting into it, but I will continue to work on my journey and do what I have to do, without upsetting them. I don’t want to stay behind as more women get into boxing and achieve their goals.”
Ladies-only boxing classes take place on Saturdays at 4pm and must be booked online per the gym’s Covid-19 precautions. More information on class timings is available at www.realboxingonly.com and 04 272 7774.
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
