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“Sports changed my life, and I strive to change the lives of many through movement and sports”

“Sports changed my life, and I strive to change the lives of many through movement and sports”

ABOUT NELLY

Nelly Attar is a Lebanese/Saudi extreme sports athlete, trainer, and sports entrepreneur.

Nelly started off her career as a psychologist (BA & MRes in psychology) and life coach (ICF certified). Over a span of four years, Nelly worked with prisoners, refugees, patients with traumatic brain injury, and Saudi women wanting to join the workforce. In 2017, Nelly shifted careers to follow her passion in fitness and physical activity. This came after years of offering fitness services and classes as a part-time job, to help Saudi women become more active.

Through her career shift in the sports, Nelly launched Saudi Arabia’s first ever dance studio – MOVE. Nelly has since, enabled thousands to participate in sports across the region and beyond.

Nelly is now recognized as a fitness ambassador, leader in sports, and healthy living advocate contributing significantly to the transformation of the sports landscape across the Middle East. She has been awarded the following: “Most Creative People in Business; Rewriting the Rules Award” in 2023 by Fast company, “Most Influential Muslim Women in Sports Award” in 2020 by The Muslim Women Network, and the “Female Fitness Influencer of the Year across the GCC Award” in 2019 by Sports 360. She is also currently nominated for the “Sporting Event of the Year Award” by Laureus World Sports Awards.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

As an Entrepreneur, Nelly runs Move and leads numerous services under her business – including fitness and dance classes, event management, talent management, brand partnerships, and adventure trips. Nelly strives to make her studio more inclusive and accessible to people across the Kingdom and beyond.

Move, is Saudi Arabia’s first dance studio, and one of the first studios of its kind across the Middle East. It has paved the way for dance in the Kingdom, and has enabled thousands of females to be more active and lead healthier lifestyles.

Nelly is pushing the boundaries of what is possible amidst the social and cultural changes that are happening in the Kingdom, making a very positive impact for many people along the way.

VISIT MOVE

THE TRAINER

Through the years, Nelly has completed over 10 sports and health programs. These programs include – personal training, holistic health coaching, Nike training, Crossfit Level 2 Trainer, amongst several others.

Nelly not only uses her expertise in mental health and sports to run her business, but to also design and deliver fitness and wellness programs for the public and private sector.

She has recently been awarded the ‘Female Fitness Influencer of the Year Award’ for the GCC at the FIT Awards hosted by Sport360 in Dubai. Her work on sports both offline and online, has helped improve the lives of many worldwide.

THE ATHLETE

As an athlete, Nelly has taken on several impressive sports challenges and expeditions across the world. She has pushed the limits of human achievement and her own comfort zone many times, from the deep blue sea to the roof of the world.

Nelly has successfully reached the top of Mount Everest in 2019. She has scaled 14 other peaks across the world (including 4 peaks out of the Seven Summit challenge), completed 2 IronMan 70.3 races, ran 6 global marathons/ultramarathons, and completed roughly 100 scuba-dives all in a span of four years.

KNOW MORE

TALKS

2020

Conquering our Personal Summits
Jeddah: Inspirational Speaker

Gyms and Businesses in Sports during COVID-19
Online: Ministry of Sports (Panel Speaker)

Sports For All, Women in Sports
Online

2019

Women Power Summit; A Journey Through MOVE and Climbing Everest
Bahrain: Main Speaker

Qudwa Forum; Motivating the Unmotivated Student
Abu Dhabi: Group Coaching Session

Elm Institute; Mountaineers’ Outward Mindset
Riyadh: Leadership Plug-in Program

Nestle; Climbing Everest
Jeddah: Motivational Speaker

Beirut Marathon Association; One Everest, Different Summits
Beirut: Speaker

Creative Mornings, The Dream of Everest
Riyadh

American University of Beirut, Lessons from the Top of the World
Executive MBA Program

URock Climbing School, The Journey of Everest
Beirut

Multinational School, Everest Q&A
Riyadh

Saudi Industrial Development Fund, The Importance of Physical Activity (Story behind Move)
Riyadh

Women Skills Bureau, Motivational Talk on Sports
Riyadh

Women Skills Bureau, Women in Leadership
Riyadh

2018

King Faisal University, How Sports Changed my Life
Riyadh

Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Creating Your Fantastic Future
Global: Podcast

King Faisal Hospital, Stress Management
Riyadh

Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Stress Management
Riyadh

INITIATIVES

PRIVATE SECTOR

MOVE – Founder
www.movetribe.org

Dubai Fitness Challenge
2016

PUBLIC SECTOR

Mental Health Work
Movement therapy with prisoners in Lebanon

Research at the United Nations Relief Works Agency
Cognitive therapy for patients with traumatic brain injury at Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz
Life and leadership coaching for Saudi females wanting to enter the workforce

Virtual Firness Program from Home #STRONGERFROMHOME
To help women get into better shape during quarantine. Due to its popularity and success, Nelly has decided to extended the program throughout summer (and potentially beyond).

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY & CHARITY

Climb 4 A Cause
Basmeh and Zeitooneh | Open Paws | SAWA | Shoe4Africa

Pro Bono / Community Based
Project management, volutneer management and outreach | 10KSA – 2015

Online iniaitive to get people in saudi active for 30 minutes across 30 days | #saudfitnesschallenge – founder
Riyadh Road Runners | Committee member

Lead in Animals Middle East (Animal Welfare Program) | Global Shapers – Riyadh Chapter Shaper
Monthly classes run purely for charities across the world. Zahra org, Masaka Kids, Saudi Humane Soceity, etc
MOVE Charity Classes – Moving 4 a cause
Fitness and Dance Trainer and Panel Speaker
Saudi Women Fitness Festival
Sports National Day for Schools, Dance Activations (1,500 children every day)
Jeddah, Riyadh, Hail

SERVICES

CONSULTANT

Sports and Wellness

SPEAKER

Wellness, health, fitness, leadership coaching & motivational

PROGRAM DESIGNER

Fitness and Dance Fitness Trainer

BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

Nelly’s work ethic was truly immaculate. She was always present, ready to answer any of our questions, and was always willing to go the extra mile to help us when needed. As her client i would easily recommend her to anyone. She would always push us to do our best and was very creative in incorporating diverse exercises throughout the program. She knows how to bring the best out of each person and was truly great to learn from!

Farah Alsager , Trainee at Capital Markets Authority - Kuwait

Nelly is an excellent trainer! She has an infectious energy, a beautiful spirit, is a great motivator and inspires me to push myself and do my best. Even on Zoom classes, she is attentive, pushes everyone in the class and is responsive to any of our questions and concerns, during or after each session. Working out with her is hard but also fun, so the hour goes by quickly! I appreciate how she varies every workout so that even though I am getting stronger every week, I’m always a little sore, so I know I’m working new muscles in different ways and getting the most out of my exercise time. I love that the workouts are challenging but I never want to miss a class because it’s also fun and the energy of the group classes is really enjoyable! Nelly is an inspirational athlete, and also a lovely person, who is always shining a light on deserving causes and holding classes for charity. I am proud to know her!

Dalia MJ Ali Dalia MJ has a account, Project Management Office (PMO), IT Services and Operations

Nelly is a ray of positive energy. Whether it be as a trainer, life coach or as a business woman she always brings her high energy and shifts any situation into a positive one!

Tamara Yaqub , Saudi Sports for All Federation

I feel confident in recommending Nelly’s varied professional services. She is not only thorough, but also easy to work with, and always willing to take the time to discuss concerns and respond to queries. She is insightful and understanding, and puts her client’s needs, portraying excellent customer services. Her drive and passion is sure to make any work place a productive and vibrant environment. Nelly would be a very important asset to any organisation she is to join, and a candidate worthy of consideration.

Aydan Barkat , Front-End Developer

MEDIA

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