High Gear Living: Pioneering all-female supercar club in the Middle East challenges conventional automotive perceptions
Screeching Rubber and Loud engines: The Arabian Gazelles Rally Rocks Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - It was a wild weekend as women from all walks of life came together, swapping tales, and sharing hearty laughs. Among them were engineers, entrepreneurs, and housewives, all united by a shared fascination: their love for high-powered supercars.
Scores of these women participated in a four-day car rally that crisscrossed the United Arab Emirates. The event was the brainchild of the region's pioneering all-female supercar owners club, the Arabian Gazelles.
Founded eight years ago by Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, the Arabian Gazelles aimed to offer women a long-overdue voice in the automotive arena.
"Frustration was the driving force... Women were being ignored in this auto scene, and someone had to do something about it," Mazouzi Sobati said as she cruised her Lamborghini towards Fujairah. Her devotion to cars extends back as far as she can remember. Instead of cartoons, she was tuning in to Formula1. Today, her supercar passion fuels a mission to shatter misconceptions about women and their place in the supercar world.
Mazouzi Sobati recalls being the sole woman at car events when Arabian Gazelles was just starting, overshadowed by her husband, who received the invites, despite having little interest in supercars. The objects of desire were solely men's turf, but Mazouzi Sobati was determined to change that.
"We're not just eye candy; we're passionate, skilled drivers!" she exclaimed. And slowly, attitudes are changing. The Arabian Gazelles' influence has even led to invitations to test drive BMWs on race tracks during the rally.
"We don't need anyone's permission to drive, to choose our cars, or pursue our passion," Mazouzi Sobati asserted. "If there's no seat at the table, we create the table and have a seat."
The Arabian Gazelles aren't just about breaks with convention; they're a supportive community that nurtures their shared love for supercars. Their nationwide rally is more than a display of driving prowess; it's a celebration of sisterhood, defying stereotypes in an industry long dominated by men.
Today, the Arabian Gazelles stand as a beacon of change, challenging notions of gender roles in the UAE's motor heritage and automotive scene. By normalizing female leadership and unearthing a growing community of women enthusiasts, this daring club paves the way for a new era in regional motorsports and luxury car culture.
- The Arabian Gazelles, a club founded by Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, invited its members to test drive BMWs on race tracks during the rally, showcasing their passion for supercars.
- Dubai's United Arab Emirates played host to the 'Screeching Rubber and Loud engines' event, where women from varied backgrounds, including engineers and housewives, showcased their love for supercars.
- When the Arabian Gazelles first began, Mazouzi Sobati was often the sole woman at car events, overshadowed by her husband who received the invites, despite having little interest in supercars.
- Today, the Arabian Gazelles are not just about breaking conventions; they are a supportive community that nurtures their shared love for luxury cars, cars and car-maintenance.
- Mazouzi Sobati's mission is to shatter misconceptions about women and their place in the supercar world, appealing to news outlets across Toronto, UAE, and beyond in lifestyle, home-and-garden, cars, and electric-vehicles magazine.
- Instead of cartoons, Mazouzi Sobati was tuning in to Formula1 from a very young age, demonstrating her lifelong devotion to high-powered cars and supercars, including sports cars like the gazelles she now drives.
