- Key Highlights
- Quick Facts Table: Abaya Rally
- What Makes Abaya Rally Unique
- “A Lap of Her Own”
- Abaya Rally vs. Other GCC Automotive Events
- Experience Highlights & Advice for Visitors
- Why the Abaya Rally Matters
Setting a new benchmark for automotive culture and social progress in the Gulf, the Abaya Rally is not just a car event—it’s a celebratory movement that merges heritage, empowerment, and adrenaline. Launching in 2020 as a tribute to Emirati Women’s Day, the Abaya Rally now stands as the region’s first and largest all-women drive, shining a global spotlight on women’s roles in motorsport, fashion, and beyond. Here’s why the Abaya Rally is rewriting rules, breaking stereotypes, and becoming a cultural fixture from Dubai to Doha.
Key Highlights
The Abaya Rally is the Middle East’s first all-women automotive event and community, founded by Orbit Events, with annual editions in the UAE and new expansions to Qatar.
Over 200 women, ranging from supercar owners and pro racers to influencers and engineers, participate in each edition—representing the GCC’s diversity.
Combines competitive driving, fashion parades (with abaya-themed style), music festivals, leadership panels, and exclusive test drives for a world-class motorsport spectacle.
Honors Emirati Women’s Day and marks key milestones for GCC women as trailblazers in motorsport, engineering, and culture.
Recognized by the Guinness World Records for digital empowerment campaigns highlighting Arab women’s achievements.
Free to attend or with online registration; features public parades, sponsor village, family activities, and food zones for a festival setting.
Symbolizes strength by uniting traditional abaya fashion with modern speed, ambition, and inclusivity in a safe, celebratory environment.
Quick Facts Table: Abaya Rally
What Makes Abaya Rally Unique
First event to blend Gulf tradition (the abaya) with modern motorsport—participants hit the track in glamorous abayas, breaking stereotypes about women drivers.
Open to all skill levels, from first-time drivers to pro racers; fosters networking, support, and friendships.
Goes beyond cars: includes panels with female thought leaders from media, business, and STEM, plus fashion and heritage showcases.
Inspires regional spinoffs in Qatar and new women-led automotive initiatives across the GCC.
Sets itself apart from commercial car shows and rallies by focusing on identity, empowerment, and community service (charity drives, awareness campaigns).
“A Lap of Her Own”
Picture a scene at Dubai Autodrome: A young Emirati engineer, nervous in her first ever rally, lines up alongside a seasoned racer and a university student. As engines roar, the abayas flutter in the wind—more than fabric, they represent dreams and change. Crossing the finish, she isn’t just a driver; she’s part of a movement, celebrated on the podium not only for speed, but for courage and inspiration.
Abaya Rally vs. Other GCC Automotive Events
Experience Highlights & Advice for Visitors
Arrive early to see the “Abayas on Parade” opening ceremony and meet the region’s top female motoring personalities.
Don’t miss drift ride-alongs, fashion zones, and test drives—register early online!
Engage in Q&A panels for networking or inspiration, especially for women in media, engineering, or leadership.
Bring the family—food stalls, cultural workshops, and kid-friendly activities run throughout.
Download official event app for live updates, schedules, and photo ops.
Why the Abaya Rally Matters
Reframes the abaya from a symbol of tradition to one of power and visibility for women in public life.
Opens new doors for women in motorsport, STEM, and leadership—creating role models for new generations.
Bridges cultural identity and progress, linking local heritage with global motorsport trends.
