Arabian Gazelles rev up the UAE with all-female supercar rally
Founded eight years ago by Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, the club aims to change perceptions about women in the auto world.
Initially, brands were reluctant to support an all-women's car club. Sobati, who has loved cars since childhood, noticed that car events were mainly for men. She was often the only woman at these gatherings and felt it was time for women to be recognised.
The rally included a four-day tour of the UAE, and participants were invited by BMW to test drive cars on the racetrack.
Hanan emphasised that women don't need permission to pursue their passion for driving or to choose the cars they love. They are creating their own opportunities and spaces in the automotive world.
Answer: after she noticed that car events were normally male-oriented
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
28-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: BMW iX xDrive45 hits Hong Kong with its greener, more sophisticated ride
For anyone looking for a greener, more intelligent, more thoughtfully made vehicle, with zero compromise on performance, interior comfort or exterior dash: your prayers have been answered. A luxury electric SUV that ups the bar and breaks new ground on numerous fronts, the BMW iX xDrive45, newly introduced in Hong Kong, offers a more powerful engine, a more refined profile, a dramatically longer range and a more sophisticated line-up of technology than any other vehicle in its class. The business end of the BMW iX xDrive45. Photo: Handout It certainly packs a punch, generating 408hp, 82hp more than previous generations of the iX, alongside 700Nm of torque, which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. The power comes from drive units on both the front and rear axles, part of the brand's first chassis created specifically for electric vehicles. Advertisement The BMW xDrive45's distinctive hexagonal steering wheel. Photo: Handout That power is allied to exceptional range – between 490 and 602km, about 160km more than previous iXs, with the Max Range function adding up to another 25 per cent to that. That incredible stamina comes from a 94.8kWh battery that offers 30 per cent more energy. The new BMW iX xDrive45 also brings the looks. Showing off minimalist lines, it features a redesigned BMW kidney grille at the front, frameless glass doors and body-coloured lower trim at the sides, and a seamless rear. High-spec speakers in the doors are sited next to controls for the locks and seat belt. Photo: Handout A similarly restrained aesthetic extends to the interior. An innovative layout, with the battery deep in the floor and the drive units on the axles, makes for a generous cabin, which also features seats with heat and massage functions. Seated behind the hexagonal steering wheel, drivers have dual information and control displays in reach, both with easy-to-use touch and voice control. Navigation is a cinch thanks to the BMW Head-Up Display with its Augmented View function, along with the BMW Maps system. When it comes to avoiding collisions, Driving Assistant technology enhances the car's safety. The seats include heating and massage functions. Photo: Handout The BMW iX xDrive45's sophistication also allows it to be kinder to the environment. For the first time, BMW has used silicon carbide semiconductor components to make it more efficient and it is also highly aerodynamic, with a svelte drag coefficient of just 0.25.
The Standard
19-07-2025
- The Standard
Syria believed it had green light from US, Israel to deploy troops to Sweida
Bedouin fighters ride a car, following renewed fighting between Bedouin fighters and Druze gunmen, despite an announced truce, in Sweida, Syria July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Baidu joins Uber to deploy robotaxis in Asia, Middle East as Tesla expands service in US
Chinese search engine and AI giant Baidu and global taxi-hailing firm Uber Technologies have agreed to work together to deploy thousands of Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis in markets outside the US and mainland China, a move that comes as Tesla seeks to expand its robotaxis in the US. The multi-year deal will see robotaxis deployed in Asia and the Middle East later this year, according to a joint statement. It was unclear whether the partnership would include Hong Kong, where Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis were introduced under a trial phase in early May. Uber is not licensed to operate non-taxi vehicles in the city. The move comes as competition for the future of driverless technology is heating up. Tesla's full self-driving system, which relies on on-board cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms, is challenging other self-driving technologies that use ultra-sensitive lasers. This week, Tesla expanded the 'geofence' for its robotaxi pilot service in Austin, Texas, less than a month after its launch. However, Baidu is far ahead in terms of robotaxi fleet size. In addition to its operations in mainland Chinese cities including Shenzhen and Wuhan, the company has deployed over 1,000 driverless vehicles globally, spanning 15 cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Apollo Go vehicles are the world's first to support L4 autonomous driving, which allows a vehicle to operate without human input under specific conditions in cities and on highways. A driverless Apollo Go robotaxi drives on a road in Wuhan, Hubei province, on July 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters Apollo Go uses sensors, cameras and software to navigate and follow traffic rules, but may require a driver to intervene when outside its operational limits.
