When I think of Dubai the word that comes to mind is “luxury.” They have some of the most amazing hotels and shopping in the world and it seems like everyone there drives a luxury car! If I were to visit Dubai I’d definitely want to get a look at some fancy cars and maybe even rent one and see what it feels like to drive around for the day.
Where can I see luxury cars in Dubai? You will see luxury cars all over Dubai at all times of day or night but sightings are more common in certain places and at certain times. Two 100% guaranteed ways to spot luxury cars is to visit luxury car hotspots around the city or to attend one of the various car and motor events held in Dubai every year.
It’s quite common to see a large number of luxury cars parked in prominent locations all over the city. After all, if you had a car like that, wouldn’t you want to show it off as much as you could? There are also many car and motor events that happen in Dubai every year. Attending an event like this would be one way to guarantee a luxury car sighting but if your trip doesn’t coincide with any of these events, read on to find out how to spot luxury cars around the city any day of the year!
Chance sightings and areas where you’re almost always guaranteed to see luxury cars
With just a bit of research I was able to find some exact locations in Dubai that are known luxury car hotspots. It’s really likely that you will see a luxury car in Dubai without even having to try, but if you want to increase your odds here is a list of the places where you’ll have a strong chance of seeing a luxury car:
- Jumeirah Beach (JBR)
- Dubai Mall Valet Parking
- Mall of the Emirates Valet Parking
- Sheikh Zayed Road
- Downtown Area
- Palm Island
- Madinet Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- City Walk (outside parking)
- Dubai Autodrome
Those definitely aren’t the only places you’ll see luxury cars in Dubai but you’ll have a great chance of spotting one in those locations. You’ll also have a better chance of seeing a greater number of luxury cars all at once if you go to some of these places (like the Dubai mall or the downtown area) in the evenings – even more so on weekend evenings. Remember that the work week in Dubai runs from Sunday to Thursday, so Thursday and Friday evening would be the weekend evenings.
Another place you’ll see luxury cars that you might not have expected is in the Dubai police force fleet. The police fleet includes multiple luxury cars such as a Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari FF, and Lamborghini Aventador. It’s hard to know exactly where to spot the luxury police cars but they are intended to be seen by the public and therefore will often be seen patrolling around or stationed in popular tourist zones. These areas include the Dubai mall, the Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Residence, and the Burj Khalifa.
One more option to get a glimpse of luxury cars is to visit a luxury car dealership – these are plentiful in Dubai! But remember, the dealership might not always be tolerant of people who are just there to look. But it doesn’t hurt to try!
Car and motor festivals in Dubai
The Dubai Motor Festival attracts car enthusiasts from all over the world. The festival includes many exciting events like the car park drift championships, car-themed light shows, F1 car displays, and a luxury car parade that weaves through the streets of Dubai! Most of the events in the Dubai Motor Festival can be attended for free.
The Emirates Classic Car Festival is THE car event for people who have a passion for vintage automobiles. This event is held right in downtown Dubai and registration is open to anyone who has a classic pre-1986 car. Sometimes there are cars at the festival that are from the 1920s! You can expect to see some amazing cars like Rolls-Royces, Corvette Stingrays, and Bentleys.
The Dubai International Motor Show is actually the largest car event in the area with upwards of 100,000 people in attendance. This event happens every second year and is usually held in the Dubai World Trade Centre. It’s a trade show so registration is not open to the public, but it’s the place to be if you learn about what’s new in the auto-industry and get a peak at the latest models from the best automobile brands in the business.
The curious case of the abandoned luxury supercars of Dubai
You might not have expected that this would be the way you’d catch a glimpse of a luxury car, but unfortunately you’ll see many of these amazing cars abandoned in parking lots or even on the side of the road. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that people have left them there because they are suffering from a surplus of riches though.
Most of the abandoned cars share the same sad story which is that their owners could no longer afford to make the car payments so they abandoned the cars and fled the country. It might seem drastic to flee the country just because you’re late on a car payment, but under the UAE law failure to pay a debt is punishable by time in prison.
When the global economic crisis happened, ex-pats who had attempted to keep up with the ultra-luxurious lifestyle in Dubai found themselves in an awful position and opted to abandon their cars and their lives in Dubai in order to avoid imprisonment. Many locals were also faced with the same problem and are likely serving time in prison for it.
What if I want to drive a luxury car in Dubai?
There are LOTS of places to rent a luxury car in Dubai. If you can name the car, chances are they have it in Dubai. This could be your opportunity to get behind the wheel of the car of your dreams! It’s really popular for tourists to rent a luxury car for the duration of their time in Dubai so you’ll find that you have nearly unlimited rental options.
Some options for renting/driving luxury cars are:
- The Dubai Autodrome: Here you can take a Ferrari, McLaren, or Porsche out for a spin around the track at the Dubai Autodrome. This option is geared more towards racing fans, but it’s the thing to do if you really want to test out the capabilities, speed, and maneuverability of a luxury car.
- An online rental agency like Renty.ae: The website allows you to browse by brand of car and includes brands such as Cadillac, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and MANY more. There are almost unlimited options of online rental agencies for luxury cars in Dubai, so it’s worth spending the time to do some research so you can end up with the car you want.
- Let someone else drive YOU around: If you want to fully enjoy the supercar experience without having to worry about accidentally damaging the car, then you can take advantage of the option to be a passenger in a luxury car. You can book a passenger ride at the Dubai Autodrome or hire a chauffeur service that has a fleet of luxury cars and options for short, medium, and long term rentals.
Related Questions
Why are there so many luxury cars in Dubai?
One reason there are so many luxury cars in Dubai is that people can afford them. The standard of living is quite high and it is possible to find a very high paying job in Dubai. Another reason you see so many luxury cars in Dubai is that the conditions are ideal! The roads are well maintained and the infrastructure makes driving in Dubai an enjoyable experience. The weather is another factor that makes Dubai a great place to have a luxury car because of the climate there it’s possible to drive a luxury car year-round. It also doesn’t cost as much to insure a car in the UAE as it does in North America or Europe.
Will people get mad at me if I take a picture of their car?
It’s important to remember that these cars are people’s property. So, it might not be the best idea to pose in front of the cars without asking permission. The UAE also has some really strict photography laws, especially concerning women, so make sure that you aren’t accidentally taking a photo of someone who doesn’t want their photo taken. Going to a car show or visiting a place like the Dubai Autodrome ensures that you’ll find yourself in a venue where photos are acceptable and even encouraged!
References:
Zaki, Y. (2019, May 12). You asked: Why are there so many luxury cars in Dubai? Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://gulfnews.com/going-out/society/you-asked-why-are-there-so-many-luxury-cars-in-dubai-1.1557385140604.
Keys, C. (2018, April 20). The story behind Dubai’s abandoned supercars. Retrieved October 19, 2019, from https://drivetribe.com/p/the-story-behind-dubais-abandoned-eBGFh7fQTni3YaiWzdir-A?iid=Sn1YU4jmT86eYs_VZ5-ung.
Discover & Celebrate Dubai’s Cars Culture. Retrieved October 20, 2019, from https://www.visitdubai.com/en/articles/car-culture.
