Bazaar Belief: Dr. Dina Al Tayeb On Her Career Defining Moment, Life Lessons, And Biggest Sense Of Achievement
Bazaar Arabia speaks to the Saudi Ironman Triathlete about her biggest inspiration and key life moments…
For over two decades, Dr. Dina Al Tayeb has been pushing the limits as an endurance athlete. She has chalked up 18 full and 45 half Ironman events, and competed in over 100 races. She also holds the title of being the first Saudi female triathlete from the Kingdom to participate in the Ironman World Championship. All of this while working as a partner at Dentalia Dental Clinics in Saudi Arabia and raising her three children.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Defining Career Moment?
Dina Al Tayeb: One of my proudest moments is when I received my master’s degree from Tufts University in Boston in 2004. Being a mother of three young children at the time, it was a lot of hard work to balance family and studying. I am grateful for all the blessings that allowed me to achieve my dream.
HBA: Biggest Sense Of Achievement?
Dina Al Tayeb: Being an Ironman athlete. Completing over 100 triathlons. Also being the first Arab woman to qualify for the Ironman championship in 2018. I love the challenge. I love the finish line. I love the sport.
HBA: Who or What is Your Biggest Inspiration?
Dina Al Tayeb: My mother. She is my role model in every aspect of my life.
HBA: Describe yourself in three words…
Dina Al Tayeb: Passionate, Hardworking, Positive
HBA: What Do You Still Want To Learn and Why?
Dina Al Tayeb: I never stop learning. Life teaches us every day. We are always faced with opportunities to learn. Being an athlete, I learned how to communicate and listen to my body. I need to be aligned with my soul, mind and body to perform at my best.
HBA: What Inspires You Most About Your Job?
Dina Al Tayeb: How we can embrace technology in the dental field. Using advanced technologies from magnifying loops to see better to new restorative materials that resemble natural teeth. We have advanced so much in the last 15 years and it keeps getting better.
HBA: Proudest Achievement?
Dina Al Tayeb: When I was elected to serve as a trustee of Tufts University. It’s a big honour. I am one of only a handful of Saudi women to serve on a board of trustees of an American University. I learned a lot but at the same time gave a true example of a Muslim Saudi female citizen.
HBA: The future is…
Dina Al Tayeb: always bright. Look at the glass half full.
HBA: What Life-Defining Moment Changed The Way You Think About Everything?
Dina Al Tayeb: I worked so hard for 15 years to try and qualify for my dream race – Ironman Hawaii. The odds were stacked against me. But it taught me to never stop believing in myself. I knew deep inside that my dream would come true. I also learned to surrender to the outcome, it’s in the hands of God. But having this dream come true changed everything for me. It’s a huge blessing that I am thankful for every day of my life. My mission now is to teach others and help them pave their own way.
HBA: What Are You Most Passionate About and Why?
Dina Al Tayeb: Being the best version of myself, for myself. As long as I do my best, that’s all that matters. I focus more on the process instead of the outcome.
HBA: Biggest Regret?
Dina Al Tayeb: No regrets in life. Everything happens for a reason and we learn from our mistakes.
HBA: What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
Dina Al Tayeb: I want to still keep my inner child and younger self alive. I always make time to sing like I belong in the opera house and dance like nobody is watching. I move to the beat of my soul.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2023 issue
