Dubai car scene: a visit to sheikhs and luxury fans

It is hot despite very late hour. While a Porsche 911 Turbo is a deafening race with a Ford Mustang Shelby in the design quarters on the Dubai Creek, the thermometer still shows 38 degrees Celsius. During the day it was 44 degrees in the shade – but there is no shade anywhere here.

The United Arab Emirates are another world – also when it comes to automobiles. Maybachs, Rolls-Royce Cullinans, Range Rover and Mercedes G-Classes are available there like hot desert sand, while hardly anyone is interested in electromobility. Only a few areas have developed in the past 30 years as much as the Emirates – above all the show -time states Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A supposedly small region became of economic importance worldwide.

No wonder that the luxury and premium manufacturers in relation to population and size do not sell more noble versions of their bodies anywhere. Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series are much more popular here than the corresponding middle class models. Solar cars and luxury SUV such as Cadillac Escalade, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, BMW X7 or Mercedes G-Class are even more sought-after. It is indirectly influenced from above which vehicles are currently “in” and which are not.

The principle is very simple. The influential sheikhs order the corresponding vehicle, the one or two-digit license plates of which are often much more expensive than the Nobel version itself. Family and friends buy them.

Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum is the part of the inner circle of the ruling family of Dubai under Regent Muhammad Bin Raschid al Maktoum AutoFan – like many members of his family. His fleet presents accordingly, of which only a small part is housed in his main residence near the well -known Hotel Burj al Arab. For many years, Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum did not get anything on his G-Class, but now Range Rover and Defender have expired.

“I generally drive the cars myself,” says Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum, “except when I have to go to an event in the evening. Then I’ll be driven.” It currently increases primarily to Defender or can be brought to appointments with a BMW M760 Li. But his real passion belongs to Mercedes, as he says, pointing to his red Mercedes SL 600 of the R129 series, which he recently bought. Right next to it: a thistle green 500 SL of the R 107 series and a dark red Mercedes 280 S from 1972 – freshly restored. “Back then I was traveling in Europe by car, visited Austria, Switzerland and France.”

Electric cars have no easy stand with the sheikh and his family. Earlier than others in Dubai, he had a Tesla Model S – and sold it again. “Nobody makes it so long,” the sheikh smiles and prefers to show us a jetour T2, which is just 40,000 euros, driven by a 187 hp four-cylinder petrol engine. “He has cameras and big displays everywhere,” he says, “I like that. If that also has the G-Class, I’ll take them again. But the Chinese are making better and better cars.”

Mercedes is aware of the importance of the United Arab Emirates and, in addition to his powerful Dubai sales room, has built up an extravagant brand center in which the sale of vehicles is in the background. “This is not primarily about cars,” says Brandmanager and chief curator Benoit Turibe, “we have 20 events per month and want to increase brand value with exhibitions, sports broadcasts or pilates courses. This pays off. Right next door there is a new off-road center that can convince interested parties of the climbing skills of the G model.

Mercedes’ best -selling car in the Emirates is the AMG G63. Potential customers were able to get a first picture of the Mercedes VLS, whose concept study was recently unveiled on the car China. Many were already rubbing their hands on the VAN EDEL version available for the first time.

Dubai is also a particularly important market for premium competitor BMW. If you want to test the regional bestsellers 5 Series, 7 and X7, you can rely in one of the six showrooms of the dealers to the active programs that take place on the Dubai or the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The situation is somewhat different at Audi, because of the just 3,700 models sold in 2024 – delivered by Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC – most of the more smaller models A3, Q5 and A6.

All brands have to struggle with a low demand for electric cars. The sales shares are unison in the low single -digit range. You only climb up if a taxi fleet operator allows 400 vehicles at once. The UAE volume business in the middle class make up limousines and SUV from Japan or South Korea.

However, their customers hardly find their way in scenic stores such as the “Café 6.8”, the “Cars Café” or “Flat 12”, which are between the car and the new cruise. Here the car scene meets almost daily for the automotive exchange of views, poses or a quick midday snack. The fleet in front of the door is accordingly.

Hardly any other state should be as crazy as Dubai. Limits? None!