Updated August 2020
The image of a portly king sitting on his throne with a meaty turkey leg and goblet wine of is a thing of the past. Today’s royalty is cut from a different cloth, namely gore-tex and polyester cotton blend. They still spend a lot of time at the family stables, but are also making sure to set aside enough time for spin class. The team at Health Fitness Revolution, along with its founder Samir Becic, four-time No. 1 Fitness Trainer in the world, investigated the fitness habits of the Arab nobility. What we found was a group of people who love sport and nutrition.
Sadly, we can’t have the nobility duke it out in some grand tournament to crown who is the healthiest and most physically fit. Until that’s a thing, we’ve come up with our own methodology to determine the fittest Arab royals. Those fitness level, nutritional habits, age, their own medical issues and how they coped with them, and especially involvement and promotion of healthy lifestyle within their country.
“These fit royals are great trend setters for the new generation in terms of healthy lifestyle.” – Samir Becic
King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein– Jordan Birth year: 1962
- Attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
- Huge fan of sports
- Hobbies include skydiving, scuba diving, and football
- Was named to the Top 13 Fittest Heads of State
Queen Rania Abdullah– Jordan Birth year: 1970
- Eats a healthy diet
- Likes brown rice, steamed fish, steamed chicken, and green vegetables
- Prefers foods with low GI
- Begins her day with yoga
- Performs Pilates, kickboxing, karate, and taekwondo
- Enjoys running in her spare time
- Hobbies also include skiing and cycling
- Doesn’t smoke or drink
Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa– Bahrain Birth year: 1989
- First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport
- President of the Bahrain Association of Athletics Federations
- President of the Federation of West Asian Athletics
- Force Commander of the Special Royal Guard
- Graduated from British Military Academy
- Royal Guard Commander Khalidiya Stables
- Member of the Royal Group of Endurance horses
- Founder of the Stables (Khalidiya) Race Horse in 2004
- Has loved riding since childhood and became a coach because of his gifted ability
- Won the youngest coach in the world title.
- Participates in most major sports
- Hobbies: Equestrian, hawk, archery, football and huju mosol.
- Loves to engage in endurance sports, well recognized for horse racing and show jumping
- Awarded Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Creative Sports in its sixth category (athlete has achieved outstanding successes)
- Graduate of British Military Academy
- Achieved second place in diving and special forces, and has taken many special military training courses
- Holds the current military rank of Major
- Participant of Cut off swimming challenge from Sunset Beach, distance of 42 km a time of 20 hours March 14, 2014 for the benefit of cancer patients
- Won many awards in swimming and in field sports.
- Established events in the Humanitarian field
- Well recognized and an outstanding athlete, with many achievements and awards
Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa– Bahrain Birth year: 1987
- Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport
- President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee
- Officially opened the supplements and healthy products exhibition in Bahrain (with a ceremonial ribbon cutting), which showcases over 50 exhibitors giving their expertise in health and fitness for other sport enthusiasts
- Holds numerous sporting events such as Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Ramadhan Football Championship, International Triathlon Challenge Championship, and the annual Olympic Triathlon Race.
- He has also participated in numerous regional and international races and won medals
- Attended Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK
- Currently serving in the Bahrain Defence Force and leads the Bahrain National Endurance Team.
Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani– Qatar Birth year: 1982
- On 22 May 2013, Al Thani became the first Qatari to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest at an altitude of 8,848 m in Nepal.
- Al Thani climbed as a brand ambassador for Reach Out To Asia, a private non-profit organization, based in Doha, Qatar that raises funds to uplift Asia and parts of the Middle East. Al Thani’s goal was to raise one million dollars for education projects in Nepal.
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani also successfully led from 2 to 12 October 2014, the “Elevate to Educate” fundraising trip for a group of 12 young Qataris to the Summit of Kilimanjaro.
- He climbed the Seven highest Summits of the seven continents by successfully scaling Mount Denali in Alaska on 2 June 2016, at an altitude of 6,190 m.
- On 5 January 2013, he climbed Mt. Aconcagua in South America at an altitude of 6,962 m.
- On 28 August 2012, he climbed Mt. Elbrus the tallest peak in Europe at an altitude of 5,642m in Russia.
- Al Thani has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at an altitude of 5,963m twice, on 25 February 2010 and 12 November 2011, respectively.
- On 25 December 2012, he climbed Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica at an altitude of 4,897 m.
- On 11 October 2012, he summited Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia at an altitude of 2,228 m.
- Al Thani has also climbed Mont Blanc on 10 September 2011 at an altitude of 4810 m.
During the Everest climb, Al Thani was part of a four-member group called Arabs with Altitude, which included the first Palestinian man, Raed Zidan, the first Saudi woman Raha Moharrak[12] and Iranian, Masoud Mohammed, to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Arabs with Altitude received global media coverage upon their return from Mount Everest.[21]
Al Thani also became the first Qatari to “Ski the last degree” to the South Pole, “the bottom of the world”[22] in commemoration of Qatar’s National Day.[23]
His other pursuits include trekking in Nepal, participating in high-speed boating events and taking part in the Gumball 3000 rally.[24]
Princess Haya bint Al Hussein Jordan Birth year: 1974
- Loves riding horses
- Champion show jumper
- Follows a healthy diet
- She was on Jordan’s Equestrian team in Sydney in 2000 for show jumping and didn’t win a medal. She was also the flag bearer for Jordan
Prince Faisal Al Shalan– Saudi Arabia Birth year: 1987
- Completed in the mixed jumping events for Saudi Arabia in both individual and team events in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games
- He won several medals in show jumping events, including gold for national equestrian team, at the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Doha, Qatar
- He also obtained a silver medal in team jumping at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea
Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani– Qatar Birth year: 1980
- Former member of the Qatar Armed Forces
- Participates in competitive sport
- Has been filmed playing badminton and bowling
- Promoted sport as part of Qatar’s effort to raise its international profile
- Voted the “Best sport personality in the Arab world” by an Egyptian newspaper in 2006
Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum– Dubai Birth year: 1963
- He is a member of the ruling family of Dubai, and competed at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games for UAE in trap shooting
- His best performance was a gold medal in Double Trap in 2004
Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum– Dubai Birth year: 1985
- Competed in Equestrian Individual Mixed Jumping for UAE in 2008, finishing 54th
Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum– Dubai Birth year: 1980
- Competed in Taekwondo Women’s Welterweight and finished 7th in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
- In 2008, she was included as 17th on the list of the “20 Hottest Young Royals” as compiled by Forbes Magazine
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum– Dubai Birth year: 1976
- A member of the Dubai royal family, the son of the former ruler of Dubai Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Saeed competed in Men’s Skeet Shooting for UAE in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012, his best performance 9th place in Sydney 2000
- He was the flag bearer for the UAE at the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympics
- In 2011, he won gold in the ISSF World Cup Finals in Al Ain, UAE. He also won gold in the 2011 Pan-Arab Games in Doha, Qatar
- In 2010, he won 9th Arab Shooting Championship at the Fahad Al Ahmed Complex in Kuwait
- In 2006, he won Asian Shooting Championships in skeet. He is owner of famous racehorses including Lammtara of the Godolphin Stables
- He is chairman of Al-Shabab football club
- He sponsored 1000 Dunes Rally in 2008
Prince Abdullah bin Miteb Abdullah Al-Saud– Saudi Arabia Birth year: 1952
- Has been at the forefront of show jumping in Saudi Arabia for over a decade and has represented his country on numerous occasions
- As well as being an integral part of the bronze medal winning team at the London Olympic Games in 2012, Prince Abdullah won individual and team gold at the Pan Arab Games in 2007 and was also part of the gold medal winning Saudi Equestrian team at the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa– Bahrain Birth year: 1950
- Learned swimming, horse riding, and target shooting from expert trainers at an early age.
- Underwent military training, first with the British Army; in 1972, he joined the US Army Command and General Staff College in Kansas
- He was awarded a Military honor certificate from the US for his achievements in military school and was also enlisted in the college’s lieutenant list.
- In 1975, he was appointed President of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports.
- Enjoys golf, tennis and football
King Sidi Mohammed VI– Morocco Birth year: 1963
- Amir al Mu’minin, or Commander of the Faithful, has all religious and political authority
- Practices many sports
