Naela El Attar: Driving Egypt's golf legacy forward from the heart of Cairo

Naela El Attar, Head of Golf at The Allegria Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt, is one of the most influential women in the Arab golf world.

- Nick Tarratt, Guest Golf Writer, Khaleej Times

Egyptian-born and golf-obsessed since the age of four, Naela’s life story is tightly woven into the fairways of her homeland.

“My story in golf is my life story,” she said. “It started when I was just four years old. My father took me to Alexandria Sporting Club—the only 18-hole course in the country at the time. There were only two other shorter courses back then, at Mena House and Gezira Club.”

At just seven years old, Naela made a bold declaration to her parents: she wanted to become a golf professional. “They were surprised—but it was all about being outdoors.,” she said. “That dream still holds true today. I’m learning every single day.”

Her journey has taken her from the top of Egypt’s amateur game to studying and playing professionally in the United States, and finally back home—where she now leads operations at one of the country’s most prestigious clubs.