Watch the new Nike ad celebrating Arab women in sports that is causing controversy

A new Nike ad depicting Arab women participating in a wide range of athletics has sparked debate. The ad attempts to break stereotypes about Arab women leading home-bound lives. It was filmed in the Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai.

As Reuters reports, not everyone supports the depiction, some are calling it a misrepresentation of Arab women. Nada Sahimi commented on Nike’s Instagram post,”I think this ad was an utter fail. This is not the true representation of Arab, Muslim women. We do not wear a hijab and go running in the streets, shame on Nike.”

Writer Celine Aswad from Reuters states, “Women exercising in public is a rare sight in much of the region and women-only gyms are few, are not fully equipped for different sports and are often more expensive than gyms for men.”

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