Amal Jamal, who made history as the first Emirati woman to referee a professional men’s football match in 2021, is now poised to achieve yet another remarkable milestone in her groundbreaking career. The UAE Football Association announced this week that Jamal has been selected by FIFA to officiate at the upcoming U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in the Dominican Republic from Oct. 16 to Nov. 3, 2024.
“This step shows society that women are fully capable of officiating men’s games,” she said of her new role. “There’s no difference between referees when it comes to technical knowledge or physical demands.”
Jamal’s message is clear: the barriers between male and female referees are rooted in perception, not ability. However, Jamal is candid about the differences in officiating men’s and women’s football. “There’s no doubt that refereeing men’s games differs from refereeing women’s,” she acknowledged. “The level, intensity, and speed of play are distinct. That said, both present their own unique challenges and difficulties.”
Jamal’s contributions to football haven’t gone unnoticed. Amal Bou Shalakh, a member of the Emirati Federation’s board of directors and chair of the Women’s Football Committee, hailed her as a pioneer. “Her appointment marks a positive step,” Bou Shalakh said. “The Emirati community embraced it, and it was lauded by our federation president, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid. We plan to collaborate further with the professional league to increase women’s participation in the coming year.”
Jamal’s path to becoming one of the UAE’s elite referees wasn’t easy. After playing amateur football at university, she felt a pull towards refereeing, inspired by her colleagues in the field. “I started out playing amateur football, but I wanted to explore another side of the sport,” she said. “Seeing other referees officiate university games encouraged me to take a leap.”
The leap was transformative. “One day, my sister told me about a refereeing course run by the Emirati federation, and I decided to sign up,” she recalled. “After a lot of hard work, I earned my international accreditation in both 2020 and 2021.”
Jamal’s passion for football clearly runs in the family. Her father was a footballer, and her brother, Mohamed Jamal, currently plays for Al Ain. Their support has been a constant source of strength. “Like any conservative Emirati family, we had to have a conversation before I fully committed to refereeing,” she shared. “But they accepted my decision wholeheartedly. Today, they are my biggest supporters—they never miss a game I officiate and offer feedback, analysis, and praise.
“They’ve encouraged me to improve my physical condition, work tirelessly toward my dream, and trust my instincts as a referee,” Jamal added. Her dream? To one day officiate at the Women’s World Cup. “Nothing is impossible,” she stated. “I’ll do everything I can to achieve that goal and represent my country through refereeing.”
