That’s how Richa Touthang feels, as do many bikers in the UAE. “That sound, just resonates deeply,” she shared, momentarily losing herself in the moment as she sat in her Dubai living room, clad in overalls, with four cats lounging on the carpet. In her imagination, she was already out on the open road, dressed in her biking gear, sharing the adventure through her words and stories.
It’s the closest she experiences to flying, a feeling that many other women bikers in the UAE share. When you ride, the scenery transforms; highways, roads, and fields blur into a rush. You become acutely aware of even the slightest temperature shift, whether it’s a warm breeze or a cold gust. You can feel the chill of the air against your face and the occasional grit of sand in your eyes.
Image Credit: Supplied
It’s pure freedom on wheels.
Looking back on her most treasured experiences filled with emotions, she recalls, “In 2022, while traveling to Oman, we encountered fierce winds. It was particularly windy as we crossed Hatta, with the gusts threatening to push our bikes into other lanes. We were swerving left and right…”
Even amidst the chaos, the bikers exchanged smiles, their bond strengthening as they faced the challenging winds together. “It was an unforgettable experience,” Touthang recalls.
‘A bike isn’t just a purchase: It’s a passion’
Image Credit: Supplied
Touthang has been riding since 2018. This passion has been a lifelong dream, one that has only intensified over the years. “I’ve dreamed of riding a Harley for as long as I can remember,” she shares, recounting how the sight of bikers cruising with their hair whipping in the wind always inspired her. Eventually, she decided to stop waiting and make a move. “My husband was apprehensive, but he recognized I wasn’t asking for his permission. So, I got my license and bought the bike,” she explains. “When people question my husband about allowing me to get the bike, he tells them it’s about passion, not just a purchase. I took my bike and haven’t looked back since.”
For her, every day is a realization of the dream she pursues. Touthang proudly shows her dedicated cupboard filled with biking memorabilia, from helmets to gloves and outfits. Finally, we admire her sleek black Harley Davidson parked outside her home. “You should give biking a try,” she encourages, grinning as she notices me nervously grazing the bike, as if it might spring to life. I hesitantly admitted that while I admired it and had thoughts of trying, I didn’t feel biking was for me. She laughed and confidently replied, “Look at me! I’m a 46-year-old housewife and I do it. If I can, anyone can!”
Image Credit: Salamatt Husain/ Gulf News
Much like Touthang, a diverse group comprising teachers, lawyers, doctors, and marketing professionals connect with this powerful sentiment and fervor for biking in the UAE. Their shared passion propels them forward—it’s about freedom, liberation, and an exhilarating challenge. This calling extends beyond biking; it’s about the community they discover along the journey. There are countless untold stories intertwined within these narratives.
Transforming from moms to biker moms
Image Credit: Supplied
Shalini Sankar, a professional based in Abu Dhabi, experienced love at first sight in 2017. While riding in a taxi and mulling dinner plans, she spotted a Harley Davidson at a traffic light, inspired by the motorcycle’s cinematic allure. She promised herself that one day, she would ride it. “But life was busy—a new job, two kids, navigating single motherhood. I had a lot on my plate.”
Fast forward to 2019, she began to question what was truly holding her back, realizing it was the opinions of others. “Friends and family had comments aplenty—wondering why I wanted a motorcycle instead of saving for my children. They thought it was a mid-life crisis.” But Sankar pressed on; she enrolled in classes and, after setbacks due to Covid-19, finally earned her license.
“As anyone on a mission would, I turned to Facebook to find friendly bikers willing to lend me a bike for practice,” she recounts. After borrowing a KTM 1000cc and riding daily, she was fortunate to find a 78-year-old biker selling his bike, which she purchased without hesitation. “The highway felt nothing like practice at school, sending my heart racing, but I conquered it. I felt invincible,” she adds, noting how she began seeking out other bikers to foster a community, which she successfully found. “As a bonus, my 11-year-old son now rides alongside me, creating the best bonding experience—just the two of us and the open road.”
Sankar reflects, “Maybe those who labeled it a mid-life crisis were onto something. But it has been the best ‘crisis’ of my life. It’s shown me that if you want something badly enough, you can absolutely make it happen—even if it means being the only mom at the driving school or taking the scenic route down Sheikh Zayed Road with your heart in your throat.”
Image Credit: Supplies
In a parallel story, Katrina Evelyn, a Dubai-based entrepreneur and single mother, decided to embark on biking too. “Juggling work, home responsibilities, parent-teacher meetings, and shuttling kids to music and sports activities left me feeling like this was it—was there nothing more for me?” Inspired by this realization, she sought out two-wheeler courses. “People thought I was losing it—acting impulsively—but I had given it serious thought. I wanted to do something for myself, to take on a real challenge, and this was it.”
Evelyn considers it a personal victory. Facing self-doubt and fears can be daunting, especially as a mother, yet she was resolute about succeeding. “I achieved that! I did something just for me, and now it has turned into the best bonding time with my children as we join fellow bikers for road trips to Fujairah.”
With a bright smile, Evelyn states that biking has revitalized her sense of purpose, rescuing her from the monotony of daily life.
Seeking a challenge
Image Credit: Salamatt Husain/ Gulf News
Similarly, Gabrielle Bou Rached, a Lebanese expatriate and director of the Harley-Davidson Owners Group Abu Dhabi, found herself eager for a thrill. “When I hit 30 in 2015, I realized life couldn’t continue as it was. I had a loving family, a fulfilling job, but I asked myself, ‘What’s next?’”
She turned her thoughts to motorcycling, something that had long unsettled her. “In my past life as a paramedic, I often treated injured bikers, which built up a psychological wall preventing me from trying it myself. I had always known of bikers but never imagined being one myself.”
Yet, the allure became too strong to resist, and she ultimately decided to embrace it. Now, her passion drives her life, reflected in her home adorned with her motorcycle and lined with helmets. Her children exhibit the same enthusiasm; they eagerly cycle and desire to be bikers one day themselves, as she jests with her husband.
But it’s not solely the thrill of riding that keeps Bou Rached motivated—it’s also the close-knit circle of friends she has cultivated.
The sense of camaraderie on the road and beyond
Owning a motorcycle and riding it is easy; however, being part of a community adds a different dimension. “You become part of a family,” Rached explains. Touthang reciprocates this sentiment, expressing that some of her most cherished friendships were born from the women’s biking community. Long rides across remote highways strengthen these bonds, ensuring unwavering support. The connection extends beyond riding: the women gather for their children’s birthdays, cooking adventures, and potlucks. “Our shared love for biking brings us closer together,” Touthang remarks. “Initially, it was just my friend and me, the only two women riders. We would stay in touch before each ride, and now, we come together for Diwali, Christmas, and other celebrations. The community expanded and some become like family, guiding newcomers with practice rides.”
Sometimes, you find a friend in the most dire situations—someone who stands with you for a lifetime. Cora Harnell, an Abu Dhabi-based biker and PR professional, recalls her accident during a solo ride with no one around for help. “I was feeling hopeless, lying injured with a damaged bike, praying for assistance. When I saw a group of ten women on their morning ride, I felt immense relief—they immediately helped and rushed me to the hospital. Today, they’re my family; perhaps even closer than my biological family.”
Harnell reveals that she was unable to ride for months post-accident, plagued by overwhelming fear. “It was my biking community that supported me in overcoming that fear step by step. I would freeze every time cars approached me. Slowly, with their help and from therapy, I overcame that emotional paralysis. After a long two years, it’s thanks to them that I was able to return to long rides.”
The bikers affirm: cruising on highways transcends mere enjoyment; the essence lies in mutual support.
Providing unwavering support on the roads
Image Credit: Supplied
The bikers ensure they stand by one another through thick and thin. Describing their road dynamics, Rached emphasizes that safety is a top priority during rides. “We enforce strict rules, but it’s for everyone’s benefit. Our weekly rides include two social events and longer excursions on Saturdays.”
Touthang adds from her experience, “Our focus is on training: safe riding habits, proper gear, maintaining safe distances between riders, and riding in formation. Each ride is organized with someone monitoring traffic, and another halting close vehicles. We also have an activities team planning additional fun events,” she explains.
The motto that resonates through all these biking communities is: Leave no woman behind, states Harnell. “This belief binds us together. It’s a blend of sisterhood, passion, and freedom on two wheels shared among the women who ride them.”
