Essa Obaid

Essa Obaid, born in Dubai in 1979, is an IFBB professional bodybuilder and the first person from the Persian Gulf region to compete in the Mr. Olympia contest. He won heavyweight and super heavyweight classes at Gulf events in the early 2000s, took second at the World Arab Championships in 2001 and 2004, and earned his IFBB pro card by winning the overall title at the 2010 Arnold Amateur in the United States. As a professional he won the Wings of Strength Chicago Pro in 2012 and placed 14th at the 2012 Mr. Olympia, 16th in 2013 and 10th in 2015. He is listed at five feet nine inches and about 250 pounds and is sponsored by Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.