Cars at Dubai International Motor Show sure to leave a mark

Dubai - Five-day exhibition witnessed the rollout of automotive industry's newest aces, including those from UAE

As Dubai International Motor Show 2017 drew to a close on Saturday, visitors were left with a feeling of awe and delight at seeing some of the best that the automotive world had to offer.
The 14th edition of the Middle East's premier automotive event brought together more than 150 of the world's leading automotive brands, and pulled the covers off more than 100 new-to-market vehicles. The five-day exhibition witnessed the rollout of the automotive industry's newest aces, from UAE-made hypercars, to the latest SUVs and 4x4s, industry-changing electric cars, and everything in between.
Mustafa Subhani, a car enthusiast from Sharjah who never misses the event, said that he had come specifically for the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, and was glad for the opportunity to get a closer look at the car. "I was really impressed with the extended wheel base model. I was also really happy to see Devel, the UAE manufacturer, at the show. It's amazing to see the UAE mark its place in the world of super concept cars."
"The Teslas at the show were a really good addition this year," he added. "Many of us were really excited when the company announced that it would be entering the market, and we have been waiting a long time to see their vehicles come into the UAE. It's great to see a focus on more eco-friendly cars in the country, and hopefully we will see prices for electric cars drop in the near future as the technology develops."
Hassan Arif, a Dubai resident who was accompanying Subhani at the show, said that the event was a great place to meet up with friends who were passionate about motor cars.
"The Teslas were definitely cool; as are all the other new models on display. I'm mainly interested in the SUV segment, so this is a great place to check out all the latest models. One car that really caught our attention was the Volkswagen BUDD-e; it will be great seeing more of those types of cars on the road in the future."
Rizwan Khan, another Dubai resident, said that he was looking forward to the outdoor drifting section of the show, but that the Dh100 ticket was a bit pricey for the experience. "I mainly came to see the latest models that were being showcased for the first time. The event itself happens every two years so it's exciting to see what's new in the auto industry."
Sharjah resident Nabil Fahim said that it was nice to come and see the updates that the different manufacturers had made to their models over the years. "Technology-wise, a lot of brands have really stepped up their game in so many different ways, and that's exciting because it gives us an idea of what we can expect in the future."
Fahim, who regularly follows news about international motor events and exhibitions, said that he had a good idea about most of the new models on display. "However, this is a great opportunity for you to get really close and see first-hand all the new tech and designs. The fact that all the major brands are close together is great, because you can easily go around and compare the different offerings."
Salwah Shaikh, said that it was her first time at the show and that she was enjoying herself. "I'm not an expert on cars like my friend is, so he has been explaining everything to me from the history of the cars to all the new models."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com