The inaugural Dubai Motor Festival, which will begin tomorrow, will capitalise on the success of Dubai’s automotive market.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the festival will be launched at the opening of the Dubai International Motor Show at Dubai World Trade Centre. The new festival, which will run for five days until November 9, embraces Dubai’s position as the motoring capital of the region and will be a celebration of all things motoring that will provide Dubai tourists and residents another festival experience.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and organiser of the event is pulling out all stops to ensure the success of this major new addition to Dubai’s annual festivals calendar. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre said: “With the launch of the first edition of the Dubai Motor Festival, Dubai is setting another milestone in its track record of launching creative and innovative initiatives that raises the bar of festivals industry in the region and positions the emirate as a global events destination.
The Dubai International Motor Show has fuelled the evolution of the motor industry in the region for more than two decades, and with the 2013 edition of the show expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors, we felt that it was the right time to capitalise on its success and move the events and entertainment past the boundaries of the exhibition and out into the city.” Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO, DFRE commented: “The launch of the first edition of the Dubai Motor Festival, Dubai once again affirms its leadership in launching and organising world class festivals and events. This unique festival will surely please motor fans from across the region and will highlight Dubai and the GCC area as a hub for car sports and exhibitions”.
The streets of Dubai will resonate with the sounds of hundreds of engines on November 8 as the Dubai Grand Parade, a convoy of special cars and bikes led by the Dubai Police Fleet of supercars and spearheaded by an Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 car sets off on an exciting journey that will take it past the city’s major landmarks. The two-hour Parade, which will be fully supported by Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority as well as the Dubai Police, will culminate at 5pm in a public viewing area for the participating cars near the Dubai World Trade Centre.
That same evening, Dubai will host its first ever Redbull Middle East Car Park Drift Championship at the DWTC car park. A spellbound audience will watch contestants from across the GCC and Levant compete for the coveted ‘King of Drift’ title, showcasing high-speed drifting maneouvers, and power sliding techniques in stunning displays of driving skills. DFRE has also lined up additional activities for motor enthusiasts throughout the Dubai Motor Festival in collaboration with Union Cars Club. From November 6 to 8, residents and visitors can get a first hand glimpse into a diverse range of cars at an auto exhibition that will be held at Zabeel Park (Gate No 1).
During the duration of the Dubai Motor Festival, a special show of classic cars will be held at Mall of the Emirates from 10am to 10pm while a separate auto show will take place at Mirdif City Centre daily from 10am-10pm. The Dubai Motor Festival is the first festival to be announced by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) since the launch of the Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020 in May of this year. DFRE also organises the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, Ramadan in Dubai, Eid in Dubai and Modhesh World. -Khaleejtimes
