The Middle East's love affair with motoring continues unabated, and this autumn offers no shortage of opportunities to find your next ride. Two of the region's most anticipated automotive events open within days of one another, each a barometer of just how rosy the business of luxury cars has become.
The Dubai International Motor Show, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14 to 18 November 2017, anchors the season. Highlights of this year's roster include AMG's brand-new Project One hypercar and the Icona Vulcano, billed as the world's first titanium car. More than 150 automotive manufacturers from every corner of the world will take part in the bi-annual event, and that is hardly surprising given the numbers behind it.
The UAE is home to the region's highest number of luxury cars per capita, and there is still room for growth: the luxury market there is expected to expand by between four and five per cent over the next few years. It is a setting that flatters the marques and rewards the spectacle.
Across the border, the Riyadh Motor Show runs from 14 to 17 November 2017 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The Saudi car industry has rarely looked healthier, with sales reaching 30 billion US dollars in 2016 and a forecast that one million cars will be sold annually by 2020.
Then there is the entirely new class of buyers to consider. A new law lifting the ban on women driving means a generation of female drivers will soon be looking for their own set of wheels. Running alongside the main show are an after-sales expo, Riyadh Auto Shop, and a dedicated showcase for motorcycles, ATVs, watercraft and accessories under the banner of Riyadh Power Sports.
