RAMLA ALI

Cover star Ramla Ali is a champion boxer, fashion model, activist, philantrophist who represented Somalia at the Tokyo Olimpics, named on the 2023 TIME Women of the Year List and ambassador of SIRO Hotels.

Words: José Berrocoso www.sirohotels.com

As a professional boxer, Ramla Ali has come a long way in a short amount of time, and has made a name for herself along the way. Ali became the first woman to represent Somalia at global championships, while helping to establish a boxing federation in Mogadishu. In addition, she is the founder of the UKbased Ramla Ali Sisters Club, author of books such as “Not without a Fight: 10 Steps to Becoming Your Own Champion,” a model, a global brand ambassador, and an activist, a woman who truly wears many hats.

SIRO’s newest ambassador, Ramla Ali, embodies the brand’s values of strength and originality. Discovering the world of boxing at an early age brought Ali confidence and discipline, and she soon went on to become the first Muslim woman to win an English title, before setting up Somalia’s boxing federation and becoming the first boxer in history to represent the country at the Olympics.

In 2018, Ali set up ‘Ramla Ali Sisters Club’ a not-forprofit initiative that provides a free and safe space for all women to take weekly boxing classes without fear of discrimination. Since its inception, the club has created a global community of like-minded fighters who are welcomed regardless of experience, race or religion.

A first for the hospitality industry, Team SIRO was established in 2021 – and is a collaboration with international sporting partners and elite athletes. More than brand ambassadors, these experts feed SIRO’s in-house team with valuable insights to shape the guest experience at SIRO; enabling guests to train, move and recover like some of the world’s top athletes.

SIRO One Za'abeel, the inaugural hotel, will launch later this 2023. This first hotel for the SIRO brand will sit in the heart of Dubai’s iconic One Za’abeel development. A fitness and recovery destination, SIRO One Za’abeel will offer holistic fitness and wellbeing programs, in a beautifully designed hotel environment with stunning views of Dubai’s skyline. Guests will have access to top-of-the-line facilities, while receiving expert guidance and coaching from a team of fitness and wellbeing experts. Programs will focus on five pillars: fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness. And Ramla seems to be the perfect ambassador for the project.

“It was a natural choice for me to partner with SIRO. I have worked hard to create an environment within the male dominated world of boxing where women feel welcomed and encouraged to participate. In the same way, SIRO mirrors my ambitions, to introduce hotels and platforms where everyone can feel welcome to work on their wellbeing and positively impact their physical and mental health. I am excited to be working with the team on developing programs and experiences that will give guests the chance to learn life habits that they can take away with them and incorporate into their everyday lives”, says Ramla.

Leading Woman

Born in 1989, Ramla Ali and her family were surrounded by violence and instability. Local authorities in Somalia would oppress and control people's every move. The country was plagued by ethnic tension, with many looking for a way out in search of a better life. Ramla was lucky to arrive as a refugee in Britain alive. Via a dangerous boat journey to Kenya, the Ali family settled in London's east end. Young Ramla grew up in a traditional Muslim household.

That was the reality for Ramla Ali after she became the first Muslim woman to win Énglish national boxing titles titles in 2016. Fighting, struggling, and never giving up on building her own destiny. That's Ramla Ali's story. The English-Somali boxer carved out a place for herself in the boxing world against all odds that were stacked against her. At 33, she is a source of inspiration on and off the boxing ring. Keeping her boxing secret was the only option for Ali, who neither wished to disappoint her parents or give up on boxing.

Ali has now become a pillar of inspiration within the community that her mother once feared would reject her boxing. Far from being judged, she receives daily affirmations of her sporting achievements through social media.

Outside the arena, Ali has also shared her boxing skills with female enthusiasts, including through activism. In 2018, she founded the Ramla Ali Sisters Club, a safe space that offers women the opportunity to master boxing without hijab. Ever since, the club has established four branches across London with the sport brand, Nike, as its sponsor.

The Humanitarian Side

In 2019, Ramla Ali travelled to Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. She spent time at the UNICEF Makani ‘My Space’ Centre and met young girls whose families had fled Syria due to the conflict. Among them, was a girl named Shahd. 12-year-old Shahd was a “ball of energy and enthusiasm” recalls Ramla.

Shahd loved the Makani Centre because she could take part in a range of activities — from karate and Brazilian capoeira to kick boxing and dance. As Ramla got to know Shahd, she also discovered the inspirational role the community workers and volunteers played at the centre.

“She adored her teacher, Faiza, the woman that has been coaching her in a variety of combat sports, dancing and other disciplines despite the challenging environment they find themselves in. Now all she wants to be is a coach like Faiza” says Ramla. “As a child refugee I was hopeful that in sharing my journey it might help others with theirs, but whatever I’ve achieved is nothing compared to the heroes I met,” she says in an interview sith Stylist Magazine. “You can only dream of what you can become with what you can see”, Ramla explains. And yet here is a woman so determined and driven to meet her goals, ‘hero’ doesn’t seem inappropriate.

Ali has now become a pillar of inspiration within the community that her mother once feared would reject her boxing. Far from being judged, she receives daily affirmations of her sporting achievements through social media.

WINNING SAUDI ARABIA’S FIRST FEMALE BOXING MATCH

Ramla Ali made history after winning the first ever female boxing match in Saudi Arabia last year. The London-based model and activist beat opponent Crystal Garcia Nova during the Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 undercard. The superbantamweight boxing fight was over in just one minute and five seconds as Ali secured a knock-out victory at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

She is named to the 2023 TIME Women of the Year list, recognising 12 extraordinary leaders fighting for a more equal world. TIME named Ramla Ali to the 2023 TIME Women of the Year list, recognizing 12 extraordinary leaders fighting for a more equal world.

The Siro Experience

A fitness and recovery destination, SIRO One Za’abeel will offer holistic fitness and wellbeing programs, in a beautifully designed hotel environment with stunning views of Dubai’s skyline. Guests will have access to top-of-the-line facilities, while receiving expert guidance and coaching from a team of fitness and wellbeing experts. Programs will focus on five pillars: fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness.

Guests will have the option to partake in a complimentary 3D body scan to evaluate their physical fitness, providing the hotel’s coaching team with data to develop personalised programs, tailored to individual needs and goals. Integrated digital technology, including a dedicated app, will support guests throughout their stay; offering everything from mobile check-in, to nutrition monitoring, gamification and vitality tracking.

A state-of-the-art fitness club will form the hotel’s core across two floors, boasting a minimum 1,000m2 gym along with dedicated space for yoga and meditation, as well as ample studios for group movement classes, and use of local sports venues. Other facilities include strength and conditioning, cardio and free weights zones, through to studios for HIIT, cycling, boxing and Pilates.

Specialist trainers, coaches, nutritionists and technicians will be on hand at One Za’abeel to help guests make and maintain healthy lifestyle choices. Rooms feature the latest technology to promote restorative sleep, including smart Aero Plush mattresses, recovery wardrobes and smart curtains that will be connected to the SIRO app alarm clock and which will open gradually a few moments before the alarm rings to allow natural light to fill the room. The alarm will be set to follow the guest’s circadian rhythm in order to mitigate jet lag and encourage bodies to wake up in a more rested state.

SIRO will also offer a dedicated Recovery Lab to provide a range of specialised wellbeing treatments. Cutting-edge technologies available include cryotherapy, infrared and oxygen therapy, as well as a range of supporting treatments including physiotherapy, acupuncture and assisted stretching. Dedicated mindfulness coaches will offer workshops and specific classes in breathing, meditation, and visualisation.

Integration within the local community is a key ambition for each SIRO hotel, starting with One Za’abeel. The brand is developing a partnership strategy to provide sporting activities and education opportunities for local communities. Moreover, at each destination, SIRO will offer guests unique excursions to test endurance and discover the local area through sports like cycling, sailing, hiking, climbing, and kite surfing. In Dubai, SIRO One Za’abeel will offer cycling in Al Qudra Lakes, hiking in the Hatta Mountains and paddle boarding in the Arabian Gulf.