When Shima Mehri was a young girl growing up in Austria, she would watch people riding motorcycles and dream of one day being able to ride one of her own.
Her mother always lectured Mehri’s two younger brothers, telling them that motorcycles were unsafe and they were never to ride one. Mehri and her family moved back to Iran, where women are banned from riding motorcycles, and her dreams of owning a bike were dashed.
Eight years ago, however, the maths teacher relocated to Dubai and eventually seized the opportunity to turn her dream into reality. “I got my licence and the very next day I started riding. My mum was shocked. Poor her, she was so worried about my brothers that she never thought that one day I would become a biker,” Mehri recalls with a cheeky laugh. That was five years ago.
Irish mum-of-three Barbara McGeever had a very different introduction to motorcycles. The pint-sized blonde met her husband Jimmy when she was 19. “He was always on [Japanese] bikes and I was always the passenger. We had bikes in Ireland, London and Bahrain, and then we moved to Dubai,” she says. “Jimmy had a [Japanese] bike here, too, but one day he met a friend called Sean, who was a really hardy guy. Sean said to Jimmy: ‘Why don’t you give up that [Japanese] bike nonsense and get on the Harley?’”
Initially Jimmy wasn’t convinced the Harley-Davidson could match the speed of the Japanese motorcycles, but one fateful day the couple drove past the Harley showroom and decided to stop in. “There were some really nice bikes and so then Jimmy got his Harley. I was always the passenger – I was called the Sissy Bar on the back.”
After a few years, Jimmy suggested to his wife that she might like to have her own motorcycle. “Jimmy said to me: ‘Babs, would you ever think about riding the bike?’ I said: ‘No honey, I’d never find a bike my size. I’m tiny.’” But the seed had been planted.
When McGeever started having lessons at the Emirates Riding School, the motorcycle was so big that they ordered a smaller one – it’s still there to this day and has been nicknamed “Barbie’s Bike” – and when it came to buying her own Harley, it had to be customised. “The Harley Nightster is a small bike, but I still had to have the [shock absorbers] lowered, the handlebars lowered and the seat cut. It’s a 1,200 [cc].” The bike has a black and red matte finish, and she says she wouldn’t change it for the world. “It’s me. It’s just perfect.”
McGeever and Mehri are among a small number of female motorcyclists in the UAE. McGeever rides with a group called the Finn Hogs, while Mehri is a member of the Dubai Hogs. Hog stands for Harley Owners Group. Of the 50 to 60 members, Abu Dhabi riders included, there are only two women in the Finn Hogs. The percentage is even smaller for the Dubai Hogs. “In our group,” says Mehri, “there’s near to 10 women. In total, it’s a big group; officially there are around 350 members.”
Being such a rare sight on the roads, the women attract their fair share of attention. “When you’re riding along, on your way to Ras Al Khaimah, often you’ll see people in their cars clicking away on their cameras, especially the females. They love it,” McGeever says. “But sometimes you’ll be at the traffic lights on your own and when the guy in the car beside sees you’re a woman, he’ll start revving the engine. I think: Go ahead, I’m not in a hurry. But because you’re on a Harley, you can’t help it, you’re already gone way before them anyway,” McGeever laughs.
“I get a lot of phone numbers given to me … my poor husband,” Mehri adds.
In some countries, Harley-Davidson riders are associated with gangs and crime, but McGeever and Mehri believe attitudes are different in the UAE.
“There are two types of reactions when people find out I ride a Harley,” Mehri says. “Some of the people think we’re in a gang or we’re looking for trouble, but the other people – and it’s a lot – they encourage us and they think it’s great. They are motivated to start riding, especially when they see a lady on the bike.”
Mehri’s choice of transport has also earned her street cred with the students she tutors. “Sometimes I ride my bike to the classes. Most of my students are boys and they are so excited about my Harley. This is the first thing I can communicate with them. Maths can be so boring for them, but suddenly they have a biker teacher coming to their house when they are expecting someone older, wearing glasses and forcing them to study. When they see their neighbours, they’re so proud. They say: ‘She’s my teacher.’”
As the event organiser for the Finn Hogs, McGeever has found that many businesses are keen to roll out the red carpet for the group. “When I’m organising an event, I’ll ring a lot of the hotels to find a good location and price, and when I speak to the manager, they cannot do enough for you. It’s an attraction for the hotel to have a lot of people coming in with their bikes. Just recently, there was a charity ride for a little girl who drowned – her father was a biker. There must have been a thousand bikes at the event, so it just shows the level of support.
“There will be the odd few people who say: ‘Here comes the riff-raff.’ But I think bikers have a good name here.”
Perhaps part of the reason for this good reputation is the sense of camaraderie and friendship the Harley riders have, not just within their groups, but with all bikers. “The Finn Hogs are a real family; we watch out for one another,” McGeever says. “They’re a brilliant group to be with and although I know a lot of people in other groups – and they’re all very nice people – one thing I find is that when you’re riding, you’re meeting people, so it’s a great way to socialise. When you’re on the road and you see other bikers coming towards you, everyone will have their hands up [saluting as they go past].”
Mehri agrees. “At the end of it all, we are all friends. It doesn’t matter who you ride with. We are all brothers and sisters with the same passion.”
The women may wear the leather vests, trousers and knee-high boots typical of a biker, but they add personal touches. McGeever tames her long blond hair with a pink bandana, while Mehri adds a bit of bling with heavy-duty chains. While some of their fellow female bikers are hooked on biker fashion, Mehri is busy adding badges to her vest. Some represent the mileage she has clocked up on her Sportster 883, while others indicate the groups she has ridden with. “Behind these badges, there are a lot of stories. For example, this one – Route 66,” she says, pointing to a sewn-on badge, “was my dream. That’s the biggest dream for every biker. I put the badge here as my dream and last year I finally did it, so I added another badge to show that.”
Mehri is also contemplating a challenge to ride around the world on her Harley in 200 days.
McGeever, on the other hand, is planning a 24-hour ride, called the Hard Butt Ride, for the Finn Hogs later this year. The ride involves completing a set distance, such as 800 kilometres, in 24 hours, rather than riding for 24 hours straight. “We’ve also got the Seven Emirates Ride [today], which is a long ride. I’ve done it many times. You set off at 8am and if you’re lucky, you’ll be back for 5 or 6pm. It usually depends on how you’re moving or how many stops you’ve had. There is no time limit,” she says.
Both women usually participate in organised rides every Friday morning. For the Finn Hogs, there is an average of eight to 10 bikers, while for the Dubai Hogs, it can reach up to 80. Anyone who has driven the Emirates’ roads, especially the mountain regions, on a Friday morning will be familiar with the sight and sound of Harley groups. And in this weather, McGeever can’t get enough. “It’s lovely on Friday morning because you have the road to yourself. In our weekly rides, sometimes it’s just Jimmy, myself and the road captain – sometimes people are lazy on a Friday morning – but usually it’s eight to 10 bikes. In this weather, we go every weekend. I can’t handle the heat in summer.” The groups will usually ride to Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, but for McGeever, the best ride in the UAE is around the mountains in Hatta.
Mehri prefers Jebel Jais. “The Harley is so comfortable for long rides, so you can really enjoy it, not just the speed,” she says. “The other thing I like is that it is the only bike you can ride in a group and enjoy the ride. Other groups of bikes, you never see them riding in a disciplined way – one goes to the right, one stays there.”
But if you really want Mehri to explain – in a woman’s way – why she prefers the Harley brand, she puts it like this: “It’s like asking me why don’t I go to Zara instead of Hermès.” As a woman whose childhood was spent dreaming of one day being able to ride a motorcycle, it’s little wonder she has aimed straight for the top.
atomlinson@thenational.ae
More on animal trafficking
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Easter%20Sunday
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
FINAL SCORES
Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs
(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)
Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs
(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions