Zainab Al-Eqabi

An accomplished television presenter and parathlete, Zainab has had to overcome tremendous adversity to achieve her current level of success. Zainab had to adapt to a new way of life after suffering life-changing injuries as a child when an undetonated Gulf War bomb exploded in the garden of her family home in Baghdad when she was just 6 years old. Following complications in the hospital, Zainab had to have her left leg amputated.

This devastating incident impacted her entire family—both her father and younger sister were also physically injured—but it was especially challenging for Zainab as she had to navigate finding her place in Middle Eastern society as an amputee.

In the face of these challenges, Zainab has channeled her experiences into helping others. An advocate for the rights of disabled individuals, she first gained media attention by establishing a Facebook group called "Disabled and Proud," in response to the stigma she observed against disabled people across the Middle East. Now, she continues to use her social media platforms, with a following exceeding 1.5 million, to inspire and motivate the public, sharing her adventures and demonstrating that anything is possible with determination.

Throughout her career, she has pursued a diverse range of sports from swimming to cycling and gained particular attention when she trained to become a scuba diver. As a parathlete, she has completed two triathlons in the United Arab Emirates and participated in the 2020 Dubai Fitness Challenge. Zainab is also a distinguished ambassador for the prosthetics manufacturer Ottobock, becoming the first woman in the Middle East to serve in this role.

Widely recognized, she is also a popular television host across the UAE, becoming the first amputee TV host in the Middle East when she appeared on the show Yalla Banat on MBC1.

Zainab is a sought-after speaker for inspirational and motivational events, thanks to her positive attitude and extensive experience both on stage and in front of the camera. Fluent in both English and Arabic, her talks are always rooted in personal experiences and her resilient mindset in overcoming adversity.