Appointed on merit

Amr Abdullah Baabood, founder of Muscat Yacht Club, who was excited to offer Madiha an opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming the first professional yacht captain in Oman, said, "We are so pleased to welcome Madiha to Muscat Yacht Club. I would like to thank all who have joined us in embracing such an innovative and positive initiative. This is a key moment in shaping the careers of future female captains in Oman. We are a young but ambitious organisation and Madiha will progress along with us as we grow and develop together. Her appointment is a clear indication of our commitment to making yachting increasingly inclusive and encouraging for more women at sea.”

Amr is not new to female empowerment, and despite being happy to provide more opportunities for women, he believes that it is not her or her gender that really matters, as women commonly outperform their male counterparts in many professions. “Madiha was appointed on merit and we can make this statement for all to see that women can achieve a lot in previously maledominated professions.”

About Madiha's qualities, Amr said, “We were impressed with her dedication and preparation from both, a mental and physical perspective, and also with her approach to safety and hospitality. This attitude, along with her performance, on and off the seas, as well as her open and determined personality, led us to conclude that Madiha is ready to start her adventure with us at MYC.”

MYC also has initiatives on education, youth and environment. “We see our responsibility as not only providing exciting adventures to our guests but also to provide an ocean education, engaging people with the ways of the ocean from communities and wildlife which rely on it. We want to inspire and build the next generation of ocean ambassadors.”