Watch: Eight famous bikers from India, including 4 women, complete dream UAE tour

Dubai: Eight famous bikers from India, including four women, have wrapped up a five-day motorcycle tour in the UAE, which they called a dream trip.

It was their first overseas trip, for which they had to obtain an international license and take a flight for the first time. Their pan-UAE ride wearing badges of Indian and UAE flags, from January 31 to February 4, covered nearly 1,000km.

Speaking before heading back home, the riders shared the challenges they had faced in the past and how much they loved the UAE experience, during which they celebrated Indo-UAE friendship.

“It was my best riding experience so far,” said Mohammed Irfan, who is also a motorsport athlete and an off-road trainer.

“I had seen many videos of riders in Dubai. I never imagined I would be able to ride here one day. We had the best group riding experience. The roads are fantastic,” he said.

Saneed PP, a stunt rider from Kerala famous for cycling 5,000km across India without the front wheel, said he learned new lessons during his UAE trip.

“We first had to learn how to use the roads here and ride on the right side. I loved the warmth of the people. Many were cheering us, and some were showing the thumbs-up sign. We felt welcomed.”

Representing women power

For solo rider Priya Gogoi from Assam and pioneering motorcycle racer Ashlesha from Rajasthan, it was a chance to represent women’s power.

“We are breaking new ceilings. I was so proud to showcase Assam’s cultural symbols and explore the local culture during this trip,” said Priya.

Ashlesha, who was the only female racer and secured the 13th position among 40 racers at her first racing competition in Chennai last year, said the UAE trip gave new meaning to her motorcycle expeditions.

“In many parts of India, like in my state, women still do not have the freedom to go out and do what they want, let alone bike riding. I feel proud to inspire young girls who want to ride bikes and travel the world. It is not just about travelling — you see new people, explore new cultures, and learn a lot, including many survival skills. I enjoyed exploring the architectural marvels here in the UAE.”

‘Loved roads and safety’

Going by their social media names — the Viper Pilot and Lune Vanila — a biker couple who have travelled across India twice said it was their dream come true.

“It is truly a dream-like experience. We loved the roads and the safety here. We could leave the bikes unattended without taking the key or helmet with us,” the husband said.

“I am a village girl who faced many hurdles in riding bikes with boys. But my family was supportive, and I found my life partner in my biker friend. We both keep our personal lives private, though we share our travelling experiences on social media to inspire others. That is why we always use masks and caps or helmets and don’t publicise our real names,” the wife said.

She added that she was initially worried about international rules but found riding in the UAE to be a breeze.

Bikers’ paradise

Another riding couple, Varun and Aswathi Unnikrishnan, said they fell in love with the UAE so much that they are now considering moving there.

“This looks like a bikers’ paradise,” said Varun.

For Aswathi, the best part of the ride was not facing any issues using washrooms, unlike what she experienced during some long trips in India.

“When I raised the need for more and cleaner toilets for female travellers, I had to face a backlash on social media. I am happy that we did not have any such concern here,” she said.

The celebrity face of the tour, Sneha Mathew, a Malayalam film actress and influencer, said she was inspired to learn bike riding after travelling with the group.

Meanwhile, Aleena Jos from the tour’s organisers — Ride On, the Indian rental partner of Royal Enfield, and Dubai-based tours and travel company Destinaro — said: “This is the first time that such a motorcycle tour of bikers from India was held in the UAE. Our aim is to let travellers explore the scenic spots in the UAE from a different perspective with support from the tourism authorities here.”