Meet the first female air sports pilot in the Middle East

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Reem Al Kuthairi has always been fascinated by extreme sports. Her lack of trepidation comes from her father, who always encouraged her to embrace her fears. "If my father saw that I was afraid of anything, he would convince me that there was nothing to be scared or worried about. Those early lessons changed my mindset, which is why I'm doing what I'm doing now," she explains.

Reem is the first woman to obtain a microlight pilot's licence in the Middle East. She owns the first aircraft registered to a female in Qatar and was the first female in the region with multiple air sports licences.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), flying is considered the safest mode of long-distance transport. Most nations are members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which sets out aviation safety standards and practices. Reem's microlight can glide without engine power and her aircraft is regularly checked by Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority for airworthiness. Despite these safety measures and precautions, Reem's family were initially worried about her becoming a pilot.

"When I started thinking about becoming a pilot, my family were very shocked. They know I love extreme sports, but I shocked them when I told them I wanted to get the licence. My brother was like, 'Oh, please don't do this. We love you, we don't want to lose you.' However, after I got my licence, my family realised that it was safe and they were very happy and proud of me," she explains.

A microlight is a