DUBAI: Defying traditional norms, Fouzia Zahour has become the youngest woman in the UAE to obtain a license to drive a heavy vehicle.
The 32-year-old Indian native not only makes a living driving massive 22-wheeler trucks, but wears the traditional Emirati garment, the abaya.
Fouzia is from India and is the sole breadwinner of her family as her father died before she was born.
She took care of her mother until the end of the last Ramadan, considered herself the “man of the house” and took on heavy responsibilities.
After obtaining her driving license in 2013, Fouzia set her sights on obtaining a heavy vehicle driving license, a feat achieved by few women in the country. She passed the rigorous eye, physical and driving tests with flying colors, which surprised even the licensing officials, who rarely met the applicant.
Now employed by a private company in Fujairah, Fouzia transports heavy loads of sand and stone across the UAE, expertly operating two-axle and three-axle trucks. Her longest journey to date was from Dubai’s Jebel Ali to Al Qudra.
Fouzia’s success is a testament to her determination and significant progress towards the empowerment of women in the region.
By proudly wearing the abaya while operating heavy machinery, she is breaking stereotypes and paving the way for more women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields.
“I want to show that even in difficult situations we can do hard work,” says Fouzia, who inspires others with her pioneering journey.
