Zahra Lari

Lari competed at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia and is the first Emirati to compete in the Winter Universiade.

Zahra Lari is from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Her mother is from North Carolina and had converted to Islam prior to meeting her Emirati father at a university in Atlanta, Georgia. She was inspired to try figure skating at the age of 11, after watching the Disney film Ice Princess, and was able to begin skating lessons at the age of 13. She is currently a student at Abu Dhabi University, where she studies environmental health and safety, though she hopes to pursue a career as a skating coach. In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.

Lari began competing at the senior level and placed 4th at the FBMA Trophy – her best international placement to date. She also competed at the 2015 International Challenge Cup and placed 11th.

Lari competed at three international junior competitions. She placed 7th at the Dubai Golden Cup, 12th at the New Year's Cup, and 26th at the Sportland Trophy.

Her junior international debut was in the 2011-12 season at the European Cup in Canazei, Italy. She received a deduction due to her headscarf, as it was not an approved part of the costume. However, after taking up the issue with the ISU, they changed the rule, allowing for headscarves to be worn in competition.

Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995) is an Emirati figure skater and the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates to compete internationally. She is a two-time Emirati national champion (2016, 2018).