This All-Women Motorcycle Club Finds Freedom on Riyadh’s Roads

On the roads of Riyadh, groups of motorcycles zoom past driving cars every day. One group, however, stands out—with hair flying from under helmets and a presence that breaks the mould. This odd flock out is Sisterhood MC, the biggest all-woman motorcycle club in Saudi Arabia.

But Sisterhood MC did not start out as a wide-reaching club; it started with a lone rider on Riyadh streets, yearning for a community in which she could explore the city and her own skills. “As a woman rider in Riyadh, I often found myself riding solo - not knowing where to go, who to ride with or how to grow a community that didn’t yet exist for female bikers,” tells us Dr. Roaa Talal, the dentist and motorcycle rider behind the Sisterhood.

When she realised she was the only one, and that a lot of women in her city were eager to speed across Riyadh, only lacking the access, mentorship or the safe space to learn how, Talal founded the Sisterhood. With help from Captain Saud AlBarrak, the founder of Brotherhood MC, they began creating a supportive space for female riders to ride with confidence across the Kingdom.

“It began with a few women, a few rides, and a lot of determination. Today, it has evolved into a growing, respected force in the Saudi motorcycling scene, welcoming every woman with the passion to ride and the courage to try.”

While the ‘MC’ in their name (expectedly) stands for ‘motorcycle club’, the founders of Sisterhood MC also say it stands for ‘motivation and courage’, the very message they hope to channel in their community. “Our goal is to help women gain confidence, develop skills, and take control on the road and in life. It’s a movement about freedom, identity, and redefining what women can do when they ride together.”

The group helps riders advance their skills by organising group rides, hosting safety and riding workshops, providing beginner-friendly motorcycle training with certified instructors, and offering mentorship for women pursuing their riding licenses. They also host meetups, events, and awareness campaigns to empower women and create grounds for connection.

Sisterhood MC welcomes all women riders in Riyadh regardless of skill. Hobbyists, beginners and experienced riders get to meet in a shared space, learning and helping each other. In fact, Sisterhood MC are looking into collaborations with women’s motorcycle clubs all over the region. When asked about a moment that she held particularly close to her heart, Talal tells me of an international ride they had on International Female Ride Day (more commonly known as May 3rd), where the club joined forces with women riders in the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. They all rode at the same time, united by a yearning for freedom and connected by live video calls and messages. 

“Riding alongside women from different countries, all at the same time, reminded me that we’re not just building a local club—we’re part of a global movement. That day, it felt like we were all riding on the same road, no matter where we were.”