On first impression, Hattan Al Saif does not strike you as a majorly talented mixed martial artist.
The diminutive Saudi Arabian with the huge smile, cropped hair and modish attire, speaks with a childlike enthusiasm for what has become her vocation. Her words are wonderfully expressive, the sentiment sincere.
So you’d never guess, initially at least, that Al Saif is a gold medallist from the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World Championships, where last year she was named its “Breakthrough Female Athlete”.
Aged 22, she has claimed gold, too, at both the World Combat Games and the Saudi Games. And having transitioned to MMA, last month she signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), making Al Saif the first Saudi female to be taken on by a global MMA promotion.
Not that, upon meeting her, that’s particularly obvious.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm a whole different person outside of the cage,” Al Saif tells The National. “I'm the loveliest and the cutest and the nicest person you can ever meet.
“But we come to the cage, then no, I'm not the cutest and not the loveliest at all.”
Having taken up Muay Thai in 2021, Al Saif concedes the conflicting characters even took her a while to get used to. In fact, it still surprises.
“Literally, it does,” she laughs. “In my first competition in the World Muay Thai Championships, after my fight I went out of the ring, and I started talking to my coach.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, I felt something weird. I felt there was someone else who was fighting and having a big, big, big aggressive feeling and big anger feelings’.
“I felt like there was someone inside me that doesn't just want to fight but that would literally eat her opponent. I’ve never felt like this except in the ring.
“Outside, this feeling disappears. I start thinking about ice cream and some nail polish.”
Al Saif doesn’t mind trading make-up for MMA, though. The PFL contract provides a pathway to the professional game, and the chance to showcase her skills on a much grander stage.
In April, Al Saif will make her amateur debut in PFL Mena, the promotion’s new regional league made possible in part by an agreement announced last August with SRJ Sports Investments, an entity owned by the Public Investment Fund.
“It's a dream come true,” Al Saif says of joining the PFL. “To be honest, I never expected signing with a big company like PFL. It was something that I wished to do, but I always believed it's going to be hard for me.
“I thought I will have to show myself more and more in mixed martial arts so they can find me and take me. But, thank God, PFL came here and they were searching for the best in Saudi Arabia. They just found us, and I found my dream.”
Despite the PFL’s commitment to the kingdom, Al Saif concedes Saudi MMA is still very much in its infancy. Indeed, so much so, that she struggles to find women to train with, so must continually hone her skills in the gym with men.
Based in Riyadh, Al Saif is part of Fight Club KSA, which includes Abdullah Al Qahtani, a compatriot and colleague who joined the PFL last year. Since then, Al Qahtani has gone 3-0 in the promotion, his most recent victory coming on Saturday night, at “PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions” in Riyadh.
Al Saif, who could be found cageside at Kingdom Arena, screaming loudest, describes Al Qahtani as “so awesome”; indeed, it was he who helped her really begin her journey in combat sports.
While scrolling Instagram “like any other day”, Al Saif’s interest was piqued when she came across posts of Al Qahtani in action.
Ever more curious, she messaged the fighter directly, then peppered him with questions, all of which he took the time to answer. Eventually, Al Qahtani invited Al Saif to try out the gym for free.
From then, she was hooked.
“I went there and it's like love at first sight,” Al Saif says. “From the moment I stepped through that gym door, I felt like I'm in a whole other world.
“From the air, from the smell of the place, from the energy in there, I was like, ‘Whoa, I want to stay in this place’.”
Al Saif has certainly found her calling. You can hear it in her voice. However, the passion with which she converses betrays an incredibly tough life lived to this point.
When she was only 10, Al Saif lost both her parents within a 10-month period, needing then to be raised by her grandmother. She has since struggled with depression, and even harmed herself.
It has no doubt shaped Al Saif in some way – how could it not? – but, to her credit, she will not let it define her.
“I don't really count on my past for my attitude or my behaviour,” she says. “I always count on my future. I always tell myself that now I'm fighting not because of my past; no, now I'm fighting because of my future, because I want to have that greatest future.
“I want to be the greatest. Everyone is going to speak about me, everyone is going to know me. I always accept what God gave me, so I'm not mad or sad about what's happened to me in the past.
“No, I'm so, so happy for what happened to me, even if it hurts, even if it wasn't fair, because this is what God gave me because God knows that I was strong enough to go through all these things so I can reach the greatest place.”
Remarkably candid, Al Saif doesn’t shy from discussing her troubles. Rather, she wants to use the experience to inspire.
“Even before I started martial arts or combat sport, I always wished that one day I'm going to be a person who can show and help and guide other people who are in a very bad situation, or going through depression or whatever,” she says.
“I always wished to be a known person so I can share my journey and share my thoughts, so I can help others.”
Al Saif attributes her ability to deal with depression first and foremost to her faith. Yet combat sports has offered significant solace, too. By extension, MMA does now.
“I see MMA as the place where I can feel free,” she says. “Where I can show whatever I have.”
And that, it appears, is a lot. For sure, Al Saif is enlivened by what lies ahead with the PFL. She could barely contain her excitement last week, when despite not competing at Saudi’s inaugural PFL event, Al Saif laid out her clothes for the week in advance, filling her living room with outfits, shoes and accessories.
That feels more in tune with the young woman chatting now. Well, for a moment.
“Hurting people is my joy moments,” Al Saif says. “I would never be sad or scared of it. I'm in that cage to do whatever it takes just to take the victory.
“So I would never think about [my opponent] thinking about me, or that, ‘Oh my God, I might get hurt’.
“Sometimes the taste of pain feels delicious. You can go to the hospital with a big smile; you got the victory, so it's going to feel awesome."
It is an outlook, however unexpected, that could carry Al Saif far in MMA, that may make her a household name within the sport, provide her that platform to help others – all like she dreamt.
Asked what she will bring to MMA, Al Saif replies with characteristic gusto: “I am quite sure I will show the greatest style in that cage. Everyone is going to be amazed by my style, the way I move, by the way I hit, by my energy. Everyone is going to love watching me compete – I'm quite sure.
“I don't really have a specific thing that I can tell. But we can say I'm the athlete that’s always hitting and smiling in your face.”
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday September 12
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Tottenham v Everton
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Newcastle
Monday September 14
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be rescheduled
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The five pillars of Islam
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
