{
  "id": 3704262,
  "title": "Adrenaline, axles and dunes: How Emirati women are claiming the desert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/adrenaline-axles-and-dunes-how-emirati-women-are-claiming-the-desert",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T07:43:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/adrenaline-axles-and-dunes-how-emirati-women-are-claiming-the-desert-1.500653874"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai: Three Emirati women - Amna Ahmed Alshamsi, Abeer Ali Al Khaja, and Maryam Ahmed Abdullah - are challenging stereotypes by desert driving, modifying their own cars, and being part of an outdoor community that participates in everything from dune trips to lengthy road journeys. Their story is highlighted ahead of Emirati Women's Day on 28 August, which this year focuses on women emerging stronger and better.\n\nGrowing up in the desert, the three developed a shared love for the environment and driving. They met through a desert trip and became friends the following day. Maryam explains, \"We actually know each other from the desert. We were in a desert trip where we have a common friend. We did a trip for the girls to teach them how to drive in the desert. The three of us already know how to drive, so we were there just supporting.\"\n\nThe women are drawn to the adrenaline of dune bashing and the empowerment of driving their own vehicles. They modify their cars themselves, learning the mechanics through hands-on experience. Abeer notes, \"Once you modify it, you just start to break less.\" They use walkie talkies for communication in the desert, essential for navigating challenging terrain.\n\nTheir success often catches men off guard. During a Jeep dealership event, Amna and Maryam faced a debate where another woman was doubted for participating in advanced driving. Amna intervened, asserting that Maryam was advanced, and she impressed the group. The women encourage other women to follow suit, stating, \"If the car in front of me can do it, then I also can do it.\"",
  "summary": "Dubai: When Amna Ahmed Alshamsi drives her Jeep up the face of a dune and pulls off a switch she once only watched on Instagram, she is doing more than dune bashing. She is quietly dismantling the idea that the desert belongs to men. Amna, Abeer Ali Al Khaja and Maryam Ahmed Abdullah are three Emirati women who desert drive, modify their own cars, and belong to an outdoor community that runs…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}