Gumball 3000: The world’s most luxurious car rally races into the desert

The Gumball 3000 is one of the globe’s most exclusive, extravagant, and flamboyant car rallies – a celebrity-filled road trip for the elite, all while raising funds for youth charities.

Founded by British entrepreneur and former racecar driver Maximillion Cooper, the event takes its name from the 1976 comedy film 'The Gumball Rally,' which centers on an illicit US coast-to-coast race. Over the years, it has been held in more than 50 countries, with stops in places like New York, Ibiza, Bucharest, Mykonos, Istanbul, Shanghai, and Osaka.

The rally’s debut took place in 1999, starting in London, with celebrities such as model Kate Moss and singer Kylie Minogue in attendance. 'It was just a vision back then,' says Cooper, who used his extensive contacts in fashion and racing to attract stars like F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, actors David Hasselhoff and Matthew McConaughey, musicians Xzibit and Usher, and skateboarding icon Tony Hawk in the years that followed.

For its 23rd edition, the rally made its Middle East debut in Dubai. 'We’ve been talking about it for probably the last decade,' says Cooper. 'The region is evolving, embracing a wide range of sports, music, and cultural events, and we’re excited to be a part of it.'

A fresh route

The lineup of cars – featuring Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and a Bugatti Divo – began their journey from Burj Park, with the starting flag waved by Cooper’s wife, Grammy-winning rapper Eve. The rally will take participants through Oman, looping back into the UAE, and will conclude on November 18, just in time for the Formula One race weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Drivers raise funds for the Gumball 3000 Foundation, which supports initiatives that provide underprivileged youth with better educational and recreational opportunities. Having traveled this route several times himself, Cooper believes he is opening the eyes of many Gumball participants to the broader region.

'Taking wealthy, influential, and well-traveled individuals to explore new places is incredible,' says Cooper. Among the drivers are British YouTuber Yung Filly and Moroccan-American rapper French Montana, who performed at the launch party on November 12 and is scheduled for another performance on November 19, after the rally concludes.

Women in the driver’s seat

Hanan Mazouzi Sobati is one of the few women behind the wheel at this year’s event. As the founder of the Arabian Gazelles, the first all-female supercar owners’ club in Dubai, Sobati will be driving an Alfa Romeo Stelvio for The Purple Team, which includes nine drivers from across the UAE and Oman.

A veteran rally driver, Sobati is used to races that track driver times at set checkpoints. However, the Gumball 3000 is a different experience altogether. 'It’s more of a fun journey where you get to meet and bond over six days of driving with enthusiasts from around the world,' she shares.

For Cooper, that’s exactly what the rally is all about. 'Each year brings together an incredible group of people,' he says. 'The network continues to grow.'