UAE's 'Gazelles' dispel male biases with first supercar rally
They socialised, shared stories and laughed together. Some are engineers, some are entrepreneurs, others are housewives. But these women all share a common passion: their love of supercars.
Dozens of women gathered over the weekend in Dubai to take part in a car rally across the United Arab Emirates.
The event was organised by the region's first ever all-female supercar owners club, the Arabian Gazelles, and saw 30 women living in the UAE and abroad take part in a four-day tour of the country.
"We do not need permission to drive:" A participant at the event.
Arabian Gazelles was created eight years ago by Hanan Mazouzi Sobati as a way to give women a seat at the table in the automotive scene.
"It's really a product of sheer frustration ... because women were overlooked in this automotive scene, and I thought someone has to do something about it and to bring in more women and to drive the change,' Mazouzi Sobati said as she drove her Lamborghini on the road to Fujairah.
Watching Formula 1, not cartoons
Her passion for cars goes back as far as she can remember. While kids her age were watching cartoons, she says she was watching Formula 1.
Flanked by craggy formations, the female petroheads navigate a highway in the countryside.
And the passion for supercars has now become the driving force for something even bigger: changing people's mentalities and perception over women and supercars.
Mazouzi Sobati saw how it was mainly men who were invited to car experiences and automotive events. When she set up Arabian Gazelles she says she was the only woman at these events, and even then, she went instead of her husband who was the one getting the invites, despite him not being a supercar enthusiast.
She said brands wouldn't support an all-woman car club at the start.
"We want people to stop thinking there's always a man because they see a woman in a supercar; either a husband, a partner, a sugar daddy,' she said.
Participants pose for a keepsake during the first all-woman supercar rally in Dubai. Photos: Associated Press
They have come a long way however, and Mazouzi Sobati is slowly seeing perceptions change.
As part of the Arabian Gazelle rally, the women were invited by BMW to test out cars on the race tracks.
"We do not need permission to drive, or to choose what kind of cars to drive. We do not need permission to have this passion,' she said. "We do not wait for a seat at the table, if the seat is not available, we create the table and we all sit.'
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
3 days ago
- The National
Oscar Piastri hails 'mega car' after beating McLaren teammate Lando Norris to Spanish GP pole
Oscar Piastri grabbed pole position in the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. The championship leader clocked a near flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two having also topped all three practice sessions. McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings – which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise – would slow them down. However, the rule tweak has done little to influence McLaren's speed, with Piastri and Norris embroiled in a tense battle for pole. Norris secured top spot in Monaco a week ago before going on to claim his first win since March's season-opener in Melbourne. 'I am very happy,' said Piastri, who is three points ahead of Norris in the title chase and 24 clear of Verstappen in third, after securing his fourth pole in nine races so far this season 'It didn't start off in the best way. I was struggling but I found pace and the car has been mega. 'I improved quite a lot in Turn 1 on my second lap and it all came together. It wasn't the perfect lap. It is going to be an interesting one tomorrow and I am pretty glad I am starting from pole. Norris was left to rue 'a couple of little mistakes' that were to prove costly. 'Turn One, where you don't want to make a mistake because it harms the tyres for the rest of the lap,' said the Briton. 'A couple of little squiggles there. And Turn Four as well. The pace was easily there but a couple of little mistakes.' He added: 'A good result for the team, a nice one-two and an interesting start for tomorrow.' Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. 'Turn 1 was never good even though I tried different approaches,' said Verstappen, who set the same lap time as Russell but will start ahead because he set it a few seconds earlier. 'The rest was fine, the car was in a decent window, unfortunately not fast enough.' Russell – who is fourth in the drivers' championship on 99 points, 62 behind Piastri, said: 'Very close with Max and Lando, definitely not in the fight for pole but other than Monaco we have been in the top five every qualifying. We know that's where the car is on a Saturday. 'Our goal is to try to improve the race pace. We have made some pretty drastic changes to the set-up this weekend, positive that it hasn't hindered qualifying pace but whether it will improve the race pace is another story.' Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. Hamilton called his car 'undriveable' in practice on Friday, but he will take comfort from out-qualifying Leclerc for the first time since the second round in China, albeit half-a-second back from Piastri. The seven-time world champion said he was 'relatively happy with it' because it had been 'definitely an improvement from where we've been'.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Khaleej Times
TAG Heuer celebrates return to Monaco with 3 new limited-edition watches
There are circuits, and then there's Monaco — a serpentine ribbon of tarmac winding through Monte Carlo's glittering heart, the Holy Grail of motorsport drama. Narrow, treacherous, and intoxicatingly glamorous — it's here, amid the engine roars and Riviera splendour, that the TAG Heuer Monaco forged its identity. Born in 1969 and named after this crown jewel of Formula 1, the Monaco was a mechanical renegade — the world's first square, water-resistant automatic chronograph, and a timekeeper of daring, destined to famously ride shotgun in racing legend. This year, as TAG Heuer takes the pole position as the first-ever title sponsor of the Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, it unveils a trio of Monaco watches. Each limited-edition piece tells its own story — of cinema, precision, and horological audacity. Monaco Chronograph x Gulf You can't mention the Monaco without invoking Steve McQueen — the epitome of racing cool — whose wrist famously sported a blue-dial Heuer Monaco in Le Mans. While the Gulf-striped Monaco wasn't the exact watch he wore, it stands as a vibrant tribute to the era, echoing the colours of McQueen's race car and suit. More than a timepiece, it's a symbol of his fearless spirit and TAG Heuer's deep-rooted connection to motorsport, capturing the raw energy of the track and the glamour of a time when style and speed collided gloriously. This 2025 edition revisits that electric moment with reverence and flair. Limited to 971 pieces, it revives the iconic left-side crown and square case configuration from 1969, powered by the Calibre 11. The dial is a symphony in silver grain, adorned with Gulf's unmistakable blue and orange racing livery — a palette that mirrors McQueen's suit and his Porsche 917K. The vintage Heuer shield above the dial seals the nostalgia. It's cinematic timekeeping in its most authentic form — a wearable reel of motor racing history. Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch TAG Heuer's second act is a tribute to timing itself — a love letter to the rugged, neck-worn stopwatches of the '60s and '70s. The Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is more instrument than ornament. Encased in lightweight black DLC-coated titanium, the square form frames a stark black circular dial — a design echoing pit lane urgency. Red accents pulse across the minute track, while high-contrast subdials, faceted hands, and blackened indices sharpen the focus. At its heart ticks the Calibre 11, still anchored by Monaco's unmistakable left-side crown. Limited to 970 pieces, this model channels the spirit of Jack Heuer's relentless pursuit of clarity and function, where form follows pure purpose. Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph The final chapter in this special trilogy is the most radical — a timepiece that defies convention and flirts with the future. The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is more a leap than an evolution. Housed in TH-Titanium, a proprietary alloy with raw, elemental texture, this watch crackles with innovation. The TH81-00 calibre — crafted almost entirely from titanium — powers a split-seconds function that allows dual event timing, its lime green rattrapante hand slicing across the dial with razor precision. The checkered-flag rotor, hand-painted accents, and racing cues throughout transform it from tool to art. Every angle, every component is a reminder that racing — and watchmaking — are both theatres of ambition. Each of these limited editions is a distillation of the Monaco's essence: technical ingenuity, bold design, and a soul stitched to the Monte Carlo tarmac. With nostalgia-drenched elegance and cutting-edge engineering, these watches make TAG Heuer's return to Monaco more than a partnership — they mark an emphatic homecoming.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Zawya
Alessio Soligo appointed as head of Lamborghini Middle East & Africa
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Automobili Lamborghini has announced the appointment of Alessio Soligo as the new Head of Middle East & Africa, following six years in a similar role in South Europe. In his new position, Soligo will oversee sales, marketing, and after-sales operations across all 13 locations of the brand's MEA dealership network. Alessio Soligo joins the Middle East & Africa team following his successful tenure as Area Manager in southern Europe, responsible for Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. With a background in electronic engineering, he joined Lamborghini as a production engineer in 2015. His decade of diverse technical and commercial expertise gained within the company will play a pivotal role in the brand's further growth across this important region. Francesco Cresci, Regional Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Automobili Lamborghini, commented, 'We are delighted to welcome Alessio Soligo as Head of Lamborghini Middle East and Africa. With a strong technical background, and proven track record of successful management in key European markets, he brings a wealth of automotive experience to the role. We are confident that his background, strategic vision and expertise will help us continue to deliver exceptional experiences to our wide range of customers in the MEA region." Lamborghini currently operates through 13 dealerships across the Middle East & Africa, catering to a well-established and engaged community of enthusiasts and customers. The brand continues to explore opportunities to expand its footprint in the region and further elevate the customer experience.
