The GCC has an enduring obsession with supercars and some of the world’s fastest and most expensive models will turn regional admirers’ heads on the Boulevard of Dreams, a dedicated supercars zone, at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show, to be held in Dubai, UAE, next month.

The event will run from November 14 to 18, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

With tens of thousands of car enthusiasts set to descend on the five-day mega event, which is firmly established as the Middle East’s premiere automotive industry event, the Boulevard of Dreams – one of five specialised sectors at the 14th edition of the biennial show – is guaranteed to draw huge crowds, from serious car buyers to aspiring owners, petrolheads and car-mad kids, said a statement from the organisers.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, exhibitions and events management, DWTC, said: “The region has long been synonymous with luxury and supercars, and the show is the only destination for serious car buyers and general car enthusiasts to see all the latest models and concepts that will be making noise and turning heads on roads around the world in the future.”

“In keeping with the prestige, glamour and mystique associated with the supercar segment, visitors will be in for a real treat with some big reveals scheduled for the show,” she said.

“The Boulevard of Dreams allows brands to engage more easily with both loyal clients and potential new customers; it also represents a great opportunity for young car enthusiasts who usually only witness these magnificent supercars driving past them at speed,” she added.

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region is home to an ever-increasing number of high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high net-worth individuals (UHNWIs).

A recent Knight Frank report says the number of UHNWIs in the region grew by 48 per cent from 2006 to 2016, with some 7,370 UHNWIs sharing a combined wealth of $810 billion now calling the region home.

The same report says that Dubai attracted 2,000 new-to-the-city HNWIs in 2015 and so it is little surprise that the emirate’s supercar segment continues to move at a rapid pace, as evidenced by industry luminaries such as McLaren opening new showrooms in Dubai and across the region.

At present, the Middle East makes up 12 per cent of McLaren’s global sales.   

Andreas Bareis, managing director - Middle East, Africa and Latin America, McLaren Automotive, said: “McLaren has been going from strength-to-strength in the Middle East. We opened a new showroom in Dubai earlier this year; we opened in Beirut recently.”

“Therefore, it makes sense for us to be present at the biggest motor show in the region. Our clients still enjoy visiting the motor show to see what’s new and the general public also enjoy getting a closer look at our supercars,” he said.

“New at motor show this year will be our 570S Spider, which has all the performance of the Coupé plus the extra exhilaration of open-air driving. We also have another two surprises, but more will be revealed at the show,” Bareis concluded.

McLaren will be joined at the Dubai event by other legendary manufacturers such as Ferrari and Maserati.

Eager to muscle in and court maximum attention at the motor show is Italian automaker Icona, which will unveil the world’s first handmade titanium supercar – the Vulcano Titanium, which is inspired by and made with the same materials as the world’s fastest aeroplane – the Blackbird SR-71. The Vulcano Titanium is valued at a whopping $2.9 million.

Teresio G Gaudio, chairman and CEO, Icona, said: “The motor show is an excellent opportunity to showcase our unique Vulcano Titanium supercar, the first car in the world handmade in titanium with more than 10,000 hours of manual hammer forming.”

Other exhibitors in the sector eager to show that the Middle East is on track to producing its own eye-catching supercars include Rimac, which will be showcasing its Rimac Concept One – an electric supercar -  Prato and Shaali Motorsport, which will bring its UAE-made Shaali N360.

Khalid Alzarooni, founder Gotham Motors, Middle East Distributor for Rimac Automobili, said: “The show offers us the perfect platform to officially launch the Rimac brand in the Middle East.”

Tickets for the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show are now available online starting from Dh50 ($13), a 25 per cent saving.

On-site tickets start from Dh65 ($17.70) for single-day entry or Dh100 ($27.23) for a two-day ticket, with children under 12 entering free. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service