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One of the most pervading misconceptions about parts of the Middle East is that women are prohibited or discouraged from driving. While Saudi Arabia made international headlines after finally permitting females to get behind the wheel in 2018, women in the UAE have long enjoyed this basic right – and do so with relish.
Exhibit A: Dubai’s Arabian Gazelles, a club exclusively for women with supercars.
The group was founded in 2016 by Algerian-born Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, an avid luxury car enthusiast and a self-made entrepreneur, who has called the emirates home for two decades.
When men first heard about our group, they were completely puzzled. They questioned our motives and the genuineness of our passion
Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, founder, Arabian Gazelle




















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Helmet hair but I don't care #arabiangazelles
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Dec 24, 2017 at 6:14am PST



Sobati says she was inspired to start the group because the male racing community considered women “zero and inefficient” at driving luxury sports cars at speed. For Sobati, this was too much to bear.
“It was a build-up of frustrations with the existing motoring landscape. On top of that, the lack of women representation in the world of supercars, the cluelessness of cars manufacturers and distributors when dealing with women, ultimately motivated me to start this club and break the glass ceiling,” she says.




















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I witnessed the reveal of @bentleymotors vision for the future of grand touring, a zero emissions concept car Launched at the Centenary event at Crewe, England, #bentleyexp100gt is a vision for the future, born from #bentley DNA and inspired by the owners of tomorrow HAPPY 100th @bentleymotors
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Jul 10, 2019 at 8:06am PDT



The club’s name refers to a particular species of gazelle native to the region, known to be graceful and fast animals. “Arabian Gazelles clearly fits in with our philosophy as a car club, where women’s boldness speaks volumes,” Sobati says.
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 Right from the start, Sobati’s family has been supportive of her venture. “My parents and my husband … were the first to recognise my passion before anyone else and understood the need for me to follow and live it fully,” she says.




















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My First experience with #drifting ..ok so the 1st round was rubbish .. the second one ...was little less rubbish .. seriously, controlling the car when purposely over steering .. is not as easy as it looks .. but it sure is a lot of fun ! How do you think I did ? @mercedesbenzme @arabiangazelles #amgperformancetour #amg
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Oct 20, 2019 at 9:24am PDT



However, the road ahead wasn’t always an easy one.
“When men first heard about our group, they were completely puzzled. They didn’t understand the nature or the reason for our group. They questioned our motives and the genuineness of our passion,” Sobati says.
“They weren’t ready to let go of all misconceptions and assumptions surrounding women in this male-dominated industry. Men said things like women aren’t into cars, or they don’t know how to drive, or that they simply can’t afford them. All these prejudices need to be wiped out.”




















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#arabiangazelles #Passion @arabiangazelles
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Jun 26, 2018 at 8:52am PDT



But it wasn’t long before men came to realise that their female counterparts were a group of passionate, bona fide drivers seeking the same emotions and thrills.
“Now, most men welcome this idea and support its growth and reach,” she says. “I love meeting people who have difficulty accepting the presence of such a group. I believe it’s my responsibility to banish whatever misapprehension they harbour in their heart.”
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We are on the Cover of #DrivenWomen Magazine @arabiangazelles #australia #australianmedia #arabiangazelles #womenindrive #mydubai #dubai
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Jun 11, 2019 at 11:33am PDT



A luxury line
Before she founded the Gazelles, Sobati used to work for De Beers as head of marketing and business development, and secured her gemmology degree while working with the diamond giant. “It allowed me to have 360-degree knowledge of the industry and gave me a strong perspective on how to assess and anticipate clients’ needs,” she says.




















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Channeling my inner African roots ... #arabiangazelles #rollsroyce #mydubai #first #femalesupercarclub #uae #phantomdropheadcoupe
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Mar 26, 2018 at 11:47am PDT



Who can join?
The club currently has 120 members of 18 nationalities. All prospective members have to do is own a luxury sports car, such as a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Bentley or Bugatti. “Most members are business owners while others are high-profile executives and housewives with enormous wealth,” says Sobati.
Introducing the Lamborghini Huracán EVO RWD




















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@arabiangazelles drive to His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan’s Private Royal Cars Gallery, in the Capital #abudhabi . . #sbhroyalautogallery #arabiangazelles . @_furor
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on May 25, 2019 at 12:35am PDT



More than motors
Since its inception the club has attracted a lot of media attention which in turn has attracted many brands eager to partner with it. “It’s all because they understand our lifestyle and passion and are willing to support our activities and help us grow,” she says.




















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Thank you to all the @arabiangazelles, partners and sponsors who have accepted the challenge ️ #snippets #couplechallenge #mydubai #arabiangazelles @lamborghini.uae @theoutnet @roger_dubuis @michelinarabia @theloftatopera @taikundubai @sunreefyachts_middleeast @lutetia_dubai
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Apr 30, 2019 at 10:50am PDT



In 2018, online fashion outlet Moda Operandi collaborated with the club for a driving event, which saw more than 20 Gazelles wear its collections and kaftans. “This year, we’ve been approached by a major TV network, let’s see how it pans out,” she adds.
14 celebrities with crazy expensive supercars worth up to US$40 million




















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We don’t pray for love we just pray for....the #michelinsquad to forget me in here! At the home of an avid #southafrican car collector; one of the many highlights of the ongoing #michelinpassionexperience trip in #southafrica . . @michelinarabia @arabiangazelles #Mysuvoyage #michelin #arabiangazelles
A post shared by Arabian Gazelles_supercarsclub (@arabiangazelles) on Apr 11, 2019 at 7:59pm PDT



As the club’s popularity grows, Sobati says the next stage is to bring the brand to Saudi Arabia.
“It’s something we want to make the most of as women from there have already taken part in events organised by us in the UAE,” she says. “I’ve received requests from overseas to establish the Gazelles club in countries like South Africa and the US. So, the mission is to see it everywhere.”
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