Emirates Motor Company sponsors 2022 Abaya Rally to celebrate Emirati Women’s Day

Emirates Motor Company, the authorised general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi sponsored the 2022 edition of the Abaya Rally celebrating Emirati Women’s Day, with the theme for this year being “Inspiring Reality..Sustainable Future”.

The 2022 Abaya Rally, hosted at the Yas Marina Circuit and Al Raha Beach Hotel, brought together exceptional women from across the UAE and different walks of life to celebrate their unique journeys and achievements.

Emirates Motor Company provided vehicles from across the Mercedes-Benz AMG range to take part in the 100-car drive around the Yas Marina Circuit, most notably Dr. Eng. Suaad Al Shamsi leading the pack in a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 Coupe, followed by Eng. Amani Alsammani in an EQS 580, and Emirati Actress Noora Saif in an AMG A35.

The next part of the special day took place at Al Raha Beach Hotel, where H.H. Shaikh Obaid Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, Member of the Dubai Royal Family, gave the evening’s opening remarks. This was followed by a panel discussion around the topic, “women empowerment and breaking stereotypes”, featuring Emirati electrical engineer and life coach, Walaa Ahmed Al Shehhi, and Emirati aircraft engineer, Dr. Eng. Suaad Sultan Al Shamsi. During the panel, they provided insights into their different paths to success.

Guests then enjoyed an “Abaya fashion show”, which was followed by a glamorous gala dinner and the prestigious “Women Achievers awards” that celebrated and honoured the inspiring women who are the pride of the UAE. Some of those well-known women included the First Professional Female Drifter, Noor Daoud, and CEO of The Futurist Company, Al Anoud Al Hashmi.

Ahmed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Group, commented on Emirati Women’s Day: “The contribution of Emirati women to our society cannot be understated over the past 51 years. This has been driven by the constant support of the UAE’s leadership to promote women’s empowerment, setting the standard for us all.  I am very proud to celebrate this Emirati Women’s Day and give my sincerest thanks to all the wives, daughters and sisters across the UAE.”

“Our sponsorship of the Abaya Rally was an easy decision, as it brought together inspiring women from across the UAE, to share their experiences and continue to act as beacons for Emirati women of all generations. I’d like to take this chance to recognize all of the Emirati women in the nation, and we will continue our work in supporting them. We are proud to be the first choice for many in the community and are encouraged by the increase of female involvement in the automotive industries, across both sales and after-service,” said Mohammad Ghazi Al Momani, General Manager at Emirates Motor Company.

Commenting on Emirates Motor Company’s participation, Kasia Szelag, Mercedes-Benz Brand Manager at Emirates Motor Company said: “I am proud to participate in the Abaya Rally, and enjoyed the opportunity to be surrounded by such inspiring women on Emirati Women’s Day. Their inimitable journeys and boundless drive perfectly align with the brand, and especially the work we are doing with the ‘She’s Mercedes’ campaign. As a woman working in the automotive industry, the continuous support shown by the UAE’s leadership in empowering women at every level has been incredible. The countries’ openness has allowed us to go above and beyond in contributing to society.”

She’s Mercedes is a global initiative by Mercedes-Benz dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women, and to help them to unleash their best. The tenacity and accomplishments of the participants at the Abaya Rally 2022 embodied the values and characteristics that are fundamental to Mercedes-Benz, providing a forum for them to showcase their achievements.

Pragna Vaya, the managing director of Orbit Events, which organised the event in partnership with Emirates Motor Sports Organisation, said: “The opportunity to host such a diverse group of talented women on a day dedicated to celebrating Emirati Women speaks to the UAE as the land of opportunity, and the forethought its steadfast leaders. Emirates Motor Company has proven to be the ideal partner, as they share our ethos behind the Abaya Rally 2022, to create a forum where women can connect, exchange ideas and share experiences.”