Nada Arkaji was confirmed as Qatar's sole female swimmer in London in February 2012. She received a wild card invitation from the IOC to compete at the Olympics after not meeting the "B" (FINA/Invitation) qualifying standard of the women's 50 metres freestyle. Arkaji prepared for the Games by training for two hours per day at the Aspire Zone. She said in an interview with Reuters four months before the Games that she sought to lower her personal best to below 30 seconds and she wanted to encourage women in Qatar to take up sport, "I always try my best in swimming. I always try to get my personal best. So I think that I have all the potential to reach the top." Arkaji took part in the third heat on 3 August, finishing fourth out of eight athletes, with a time of 30.89 seconds. This placed her 58th overall; only the top 16 progressed to the semi-finals.