FOLLOWING THE NORTHERN STAR WITH RICHARD MILLE’S RALLY A’SHIRA IN MOROCCO
Written By: Hala Abdallah
Hala Abdallah takes Sorbet on an adventure with Richard Mille's Rally A'Shira, a journey across Morocco fueled by timing, teamwork, and the occasional wrong turn
Some trips announce themselves loudly. Others arrive more quietly, with a feeling you can’t quite name but instinctively trust. This one did the latter. I felt it the moment we landed in Marrakech, tired, curious, and already holding a small gift bag that hinted this wouldn’t be an ordinary journey.
Courtesy of Richard Mille
Richard Mille is very good at details. At the Mamounia Hotel, one of those places that immediately makes you slow down, a welcome awaited each of us. It was thoughtful, beautifully done, and just the beginning. Over the next few days, little surprises appeared at every stop. Gifts made by local artisans, small gestures that felt personal rather than performative. It became a kind of ritual, one I started looking forward to more than I expected.
That first night at La Mamounia set the mood. Music in the background, long tables, conversations that moved easily from polite introductions to genuine curiosity. Strangers became familiar quickly. Rally A’Shira has a way of doing that. It brings together women who might never otherwise cross paths and asks them to share a road, quite literally.
Named after A’Shira, the South Star once used by explorers to navigate the night, Rally A’Shira Richard Mille is the first all-female regularity rally in the Middle East, founded and led by Amanda Mille and Tilly Harrison. This year, it expanded to Morocco, carrying 40 women from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East across more than 1,400 kilometers. The route ran from Marrakech to Tamuda Bay, with stops that revealed the country slowly and beautifully.
Courtesy of Richard Mille
Courtesy of Richard Mille
Courtesy of Richard Mille
The next morning, the rally truly began. Seeing the lineup of cars was thrilling. All 40 stood ready, engines waiting, each marked with the names of its crew. When I spotted my name alongside Zoya’s, excitement quickly mixed with nerves. This was my first regularity rally, and it’s very different from what most people imagine when they hear the word ‘race’. It isn’t about speed at all; it’s about consistency, timing, and paying attention to the road, the instructions, and each other.
Marrakech did not make it easy for us.
We got lost. More than once. Instructions felt tricky, turns came fast, and confidence wavered early on. But that’s the thing about regularity racing. It humbles you quickly. You can’t rush it, and you can’t fake it. Somewhere between missed turns and laughing at ourselves, Zoya and I found our rhythm. Spending hours in a car together has a way of fast-tracking connection, and by the end of the day, we felt completely in sync.
Courtesy of Richard Mille
Casablanca arrived like a soft landing. The Royal Mansour was exactly what we needed after a long day on the road. I promptly slept for 12 hours straight, an achievement that became a running joke for the rest of the trip. “Hala-style,” they called it. Fair.
If Casablanca restored us, Rabat surprised me. Overlooking the sea, calm and quietly beautiful, it felt refined without trying too hard. Underrated in the best way. The Four Seasons there was exceptional, and leaving it felt almost rude.
And then there were the gifts. A locally made embroidered cape. Handcrafted slippers from a Moroccan brand, waiting for us one evening like a secret. Each piece felt intentional, rooted in place. Richard Mille has a talent for showcasing culture in a way that feels genuine, never forced, always considered.
One day, the rally slowed down entirely. We headed into the forest for breathing exercises and yoga. A moment of stillness that was quickly disrupted by monkeys with very strong opinions about our snacks. They were relentless. It was chaotic, funny, and somehow perfectly on brand for the trip.
Courtesy of Richard Mille
The final leg took us to the coast and to a place that instantly felt close to my heart. A beautiful polo club by the sea, owned by an Hermès member and designed with warmth and authenticity. As a polo player myself, it felt like stepping into a familiar dream. Horses on the beach, lunch overlooking the water, photos that felt almost too cinematic to be real.
Crossing the finish line at Tamuda Bay was emotional in a way I didn’t fully expect. Musicians lined the route, cheering as we arrived and turning the moment into a celebration rather than a conclusion. Awards followed. Friends won the rally. I received the ‘almost there’ award, which I accepted happily and with a smile. There was competition, yes, but it never overshadowed the spirit of the experience.
I recently rewatched the rally film and laughed out loud. The women in it, once strangers, are now friends. We’ve met since. Gathered again. I even played polo with one of them. The rally ended, but the connections didn’t.
This wasn’t my first experience with Richard Mille. I joined its polo activation in AlUla before, and once again, it delivered something exceptional. The company’s organization is seamless, but more than that, its experiences stay with you.
Courtesy of Richard Mille
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