Between juggling university, race sessions halfway across the world, training that never seems to end, and the super casual hangouts with breakout F1 movie star Damson Idris, it’s not a stretch to say the Al-Qubaisi sisters are booked and busy.
Just two years apart, the sisters seem to move in sync, flowing in and out of each other’s thoughts. Amna, the older sister at 25, is analytical and composed; Hamda, 23, is effortlessly warm. Together, they feel like two halves of the same, finely tuned engine, different functions yet same drive.
It’s easy to label them: trailblazers, icons, the first Emirati women to make waves in international racing. The sisters are sketching a portrait of modern Emirati womanhood, one that is not defined by reckless rebellion, but by steady determination. Yet beyond the grand headlines and Netflix spotlights, they’re still just two young women figuring out their rhythm, navigating a sport designed to test your limits both on and off the track.
And as the conversation begins, it’s clear this isn’t just a story about fast cars and paddock shots — it’s one about inherited passion, ambition, and the audacity to carve out space where few believed you could.
CosmoMe: What’s your first real memory of racing?
Amna: At first, I just wanted to bond with my dad (the first Emirati to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race). He was always racing and away a lot, so I wanted to step into his world. I started pestering him at nine, and by thirteen, we began racing seriously. He’d take me to karting tracks, coach me, and from there I fell in love with the sport.
Hamda: I actually never thought I’d race; I didn’t think it suited my personality. I only started because I saw my sister doing it and having fun. Kind of typical, like a little sister following the older sister’s footsteps. I was 12, and I saw how much fun she was having, how determined she was, and I wanted to feel the same way. So I started racing, and from there I started to improve and realised I really loved the sport and by 13 I began racing professionally.
CosmoMe: Have you raced against each other? How do you balance being sisters and competitors?
Amna: When we were younger, we were very competitive. Our father made a strict rule and even a contract for us to sign — if one of us took the other out in a race, both of us would have to forget about racing, no matter who started it. From that moment, we learned to work together instead of sabotaging each other.
Hamda: Yeah, growing up in karting, people compared us a lot. That pushed me, but we learned from our mistakes. Amna’s the reason I got into the sport, so I have full respect for her. Now, in single-seaters, we help each other instead of competing directly.
CosmoMe: Motorsport is still overwhelmingly male, and often Western. Did you ever have to fight harder to prove you belonged?
Amna: Since I was the first female Arab to compete in single-seaters, it was very taboo for people to see a Middle Eastern girl competing. I was underestimated a lot. If I was ahead of someone, they wouldn’t like it, so they’d push me off track. I had many race weekends I couldn’t finish because of damages. I had to gain that respect by pushing back, by being faster, by working extra hard. It took about a year for them to respect me.
CosmoMe: You’ve mentioned politics in racing, especially in F1 Academy. How did you handle that?
Amna: There’s not much you can do. Even if you alert officials, sometimes you’re gaslighted. Mid-season I realised I just needed to enjoy it. I focused on having fun, spending time with my sister and the team, and making the most of it.
Hamda: Every championship has politics. It’s tough, but you just focus on doing your best. As Arab women, we’re underestimated; no male driver wants to finish behind a girl, it’s embarrassing for them. We get bullied on track, but by performing and getting results, you earn respect.
CosmoMe: Motorsport is also seen as a privileged sport. Do people diminish your achievements because of your background?
Amna: Definitely. People assume our success is because of funding, which isn’t true. Our father made it clear he wouldn’t fund us; we had to find sponsors ourselves. We’ve worked hard for over eleven years. Just because of where we’re from, our achievements are often scrutinised more, and our achievements aren’t seen as real achievements.
Hamda: I agree. People assume we don’t need support, which makes it harder to find opportunities. Even the Netflix series portrayed us that way — as people who already have enough. The sport is expensive for everyone. Opportunity matters, and without it, it’s difficult to climb up the ladder.
CosmoMe: Have you ever faced racism directly?
Amna: Yes. When I started karting, a driver took me out, and the next race I took him out — he wasn’t happy and used racial slurs. The championship just let him off with a warning. I’m sure if it were someone from a European background, they’d handle it differently. Even in open-wheel racing, we were given the worst-performing engines so we wouldn’t do better than others. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. That’s why we moved into endurance racing; it’s fairer and more diverse.
CosmoMe: You started racing for fun. Now you’re representing Emirati women. How has that shift felt?
Hamda: It’s shocking, but I’m glad it happened. When we started karting, there weren’t many females. Now, I go back to the karting tracks and see more female representation, especially Emiratis, and I love it. I get messages from girls saying, ‘You’re the reason my father let me race.’
CosmoMe: Has there ever been a moment where you’ve looked at the track and thought, this might not be worth it?
Amna: A few times, I let the pressure and people’s comments get to me—comments that I don’t belong, that I don’t deserve to be competing. I would think about it a lot and talk to my dad about it. He told me, ‘If you don’t want to continue anymore, I’ll still support you.’ But thankfully, he also said, ‘Just keep trying, finish off the season, and then decide.’
I’m so happy I continued. It really paid off in the end because I used that as motivation to prove people wrong. It’s all about persisting and taking their comments as fuel to work harder.
Hamda: Same for me. I had a bad season once and hit rock bottom. I didn’t feel good enough, I had to remind myself that I love this sport, and I should just enjoy it. After that, I reflected, worked harder on myself, and that’s when my results started improving. Those hard moments define you. If you push through, it shows you have the determination and strength for the sport.
CosmoMe: How do you step up for each other during those times?
Amna: We both want the best for one another. During F1 Academy, Hamda was always reminding me how good I am and to push through. That support is so important.
Hamda: Amna has kind of the opposite personality to me, so we complement each other a lot. When things aren’t going my way, she kind of ‘slaps me in the face,’ in a good way, and tells me to wake up and stop thinking negatively. It pushes me to do better and snaps me back into reality.
CosmoMe: Is it ever tiring being seen as a duo?
Hamda: Honestly? I love it. Amna is the reason I got into the sport to begin with. For me, my achievements are her achievements. Even when people confuse us or mix up what we’ve done, it makes me happy because she’s the reason I’m here. I love being “The Al Qubaisi sisters.”
Amna: I feel like we’re one, and it makes us stronger. It’s very rare to see siblings in motorsports who are considered a single unit. I’m more than happy when people mistake my achievements for my sister’s or vice versa; it’s like we’re the same person.
CosmoMe: There’s a generation of Arab girls watching you and wanting to be where you are. What’s the hard truth about the industry that you don’t want people to romanticize?
Amna: Racing is a tough sport. It challenges you physically and mentally. It’s not just showing up to a race weekend and winning easily. There’s so much preparation, training, travel, and logistics. It’s not glamorous. You’ll stay in horrible two-star hotels and have to be on the move constantly.
Hamda: Only 20 drivers out of millions make it to F1. You have to take every opportunity, every chance, and always do your best. You don’t see these sacrifices online.
CosmoMe: Wrapping up, if you could say one thing to your younger self, the one standing on the sidelines of your first race, what would it be?
Hamda: I’d say, don’t doubt yourself. I did that a lot. So, stop doubting and keep going. You’ll get places. Stay hardworking.
Amna: For me, I’d say don’t compare yourself to others, not to your competitors or anyone else. Learn from others instead. It never hurts to ask questions. Have fun and remember why you’re doing it in the first place. You’re not here to prove anything to anyone. Just enjoy it.
Read our sneak peak into Hamda Al Qubaisi’s skincare routine here.