Introducing the first female Emirati captain

Sahar Al Rasti, the first female Emirati captain and tugboat master, a scuba diver, marine consultant, advocate, and CEO of SJR—a lover of the sea who conquered her fear of swimming and embraced the ocean.

A fish out of water

A traumatic event in her childhood left Sahar terrified of swimming. But she mustered up the courage to face her fear of her true love, the ocean. With the support of her family, immense discipline, and determination, she took the leap of faith and learned how to swim and dive. Initially, she felt like a fish out of water but eventually overcame her psychological barriers and challenges. Today, she is a real woman of the sea, who made history as the UAE’s first female captain!

A woman entranced by the sea

With all that she has achieved, Sahar hopes to inspire other women to join her in this male-dominated, maritime field—expanding horizons and navigating uncharted waters. She is also very passionate about protecting the ocean. She believes that reducing waste is pivotal for a safer, more sustainable future.

“My fear of swimming didn’t stop me from pursuing my career as a captain. On the contrary, my love for the sea pushed me.” #RiseEveryDay

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