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Inspirational Zahra Rahimi, who manages around 30 mechanics in a leading car agency body and paint workshop in Bahrain, aims to attract more women into a sector too often considered a male domain.
The 35-year-old job controller from Manama grew up in an automobile-obsessed household. She was supported by a father who taught her all about car repair and a mother who owned three garages on the island in the early 80s.
Although armed with the tools and knowledge to join the motoring field, many tried to throw a wrench in her plans because “it wasn’t deemed acceptable for women to work in a garage”.
However, that didn’t stop her from following her dreams and she now hopes to inspire more women to follow suit.
“Who says that working on cars or even drag racing is only for men?” said the young automobile addict who owns several sports cars including Audis, Chevrolet Camaros and BMWs with racing engines and nitrous oxide.
“There are so many girls in the Middle East who would like to try their hand at this field but don’t know where to go. They are also told that there isn’t room for them in the industry because they are female. And of course that it’s not in our culture.
“Are you kidding me? I have helped my dad repair cars since I was a child. While my mother didn’t work at her garages, she knew how to manage the workshops.
“My mother is my inspiration and she taught me that I can do any job I put my mind to. There are no limits! I believe women can be successful in this field.”
Indeed, the Supreme Council for Women highlighted Zahra as a trailblazer in the field from 2017 to 2019 while marking Bahraini Women’s Day.
That recognition resulted in her being dubbed the first female Bahraini expert in car body and paint in Bahrain and the GCC.
“It was such an honour to receive the title,” said Zahra who has nine years’ experience at the workshop.
She started as a service adviser and now manages the body and paint workshop herself. “This title makes me feel even more responsible and motivated to excel in my job and be a role model for many women out there. I’ve had mothers and daughters contacting me on my social media accounts asking how to get started and thanking me for showing them that an Arab woman can work in this field.
“It is a noble profession. I was even more flattered and honoured when I saw that Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa was following my achievements on my account on Bahraini Women’s Day in 2018.
“I hope to help educate other women. I believe they should know the basics of car repair in case of any incidents, including changing a tyre or a breakdown. There are even some guys who don’t know what to do.”
Zahra had proposed to launch a weekly television series aimed at spreading awareness on all things related to cars. While she says it was approved by the Information Affairs Authority Ministry, recording has been delayed due to the pandemic.
Zahra is also a writer and poet. She is working on publishing her first novel entitled Scattered Soul and has a poetry book in the works as well.
For details, follow @aaalzooz on Instagram.
