The Abu Dhabi International Motor Show

The UAE has in recent times achieved quite a lot as an economy and is scaling new heights everyday mainly on the global highs of crude prices, a buoyant retail sector and booming tourism industry. The government fully realised that crude would not be a stable source of revenue and hence the profits made from the industry was channelized into the real estate sector that has becoming the foremost industry of the country. Cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah are offering so0mething new and unique to the world and this is what is attracting huge foreign investments into the industry. Unbelievable infrastructure and innovative real estate projects like the Palm trilogy, the World and the Burj Tower to name only a few are attracting the rich and famous from all across the world. Real estate Dubai has seen some amazing works both in terms of design and architecture. Real Estate Dubai has left its mark and is still going strong but other regional markets are fast catching up. Some are buying luxurious villas, golf courses, condos and what not and making the Emirates their permanent home. With the infrastructure in place and a cosmopolitan audience the Emirates has become a favoured destination for major international concerts, live acts and many festivals. The Dubai shopping festival and the Dubai International Film Festival are two such events that attract tourists from all over the world and are much awaited for.

Of late Abu Dhabi which is the capital of the UAE has also become a major tourist destination and the property sector here too has received significant foreign investments. The UAE is fast becoming a major sports destination with international sporting fixtures in golf, cricket, tennis and F1 racing being hosted here. Abu Dhabi became the latest entrant on the F1 map and the UAE became the first country in the Middle East to earn this honour. Not only will this event get massive media coverage every year but will also attract a large number sports tourists from all over the world. Some are even buying luxurious properties near the F1 track and the prices are bound to go up. This major event is now being well complimented by the Abu Dhabi International Motor Show 2008 which is the biggest and most comprehensive show of its kind in the entire Middle East. It was held from December 17 – December 21, 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) with exhibitors from all over the world.

Occupying over 38000 sq. m. space at the centre the show had over 80 exhibitors with a display of nearly 400 latest models from 30 international vehicle manufacturers. The show attracted over 50000 visitors in the five day period mainly comprising of rich vehicle aficionados from all across the region. The event was organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and displays ranged from high performance vehicles, luxury cars, concept and hybrid cars, custom-built cars, sports cars, executive salons, family cars, off road vehicles, SUVs, quad bikes, motorcycles and much more. A wide range of commercial vehicles like vans, mini buses, limousines, campers, trailers, trucks, pickups and luxury coaches were also on display. Besides automotive accessories and auto services were also featured in the show.

The UAE Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurated the show on the 17th of December and featured some of the big names in the auto industry such as Jaguar, Toyota, Renault and General Motors among many others.

The highlight of the show was over 15 new launches and many more regional premieres. General Motors unveiled the 2010 edition of the Chevrolet Camaro, the Cadillac CTS – V and the Chevrolet Malibu. Jaguar set fire to the stage with its stylish XKR limited edition and Renault enchanted crowds with four brand new models which comprised of the latest 4X4, the Koleos. Kia unveiled the Soul, Hyundai the Genesis and Toyota and Lexus too showcased new models. Another show stopper was the Lamborghini which was present in the stall of its regional dealers Al Jaziri Motors. Another major brand that showcased itself in style was Mazda who had the biggest arena spread over 987 square metres. Apart from the typical Mazda show stoppers the crowds were enthralled to see the powerful and brand new Mazda6 Ultra. The ‘Oman Salsa Group’ which is a renowned dance troupe wowed the visitors. Besides the cars were decked with pretty young hostesses and sometimes it was quite difficult to differentiate which was more stylish and beautiful.

Exhibitors commented on how the purchase patterns of the industry have changed gradually over the years. Buyers are today more concerned over the safety factors that a car holds like braking, chasis, air bags and stability management systems and factors like speed, price, design and size play a very secondary role on the purchasing decision. Volvo which has its reputation for the world class safety standards showcased the first ever laser based technology called ‘City Safety’. It helps the driver steer through heavy urban traffic by real time monitoring of the areas in front of the car and automatically braking up to avoid collision. The Barnch Sales Manager of Volvo in the UAE, Mr. Adrian Afonso said “Car purchase pattern has shifted today. Buyers, who used to ask about the price, speed and interior design of cars are now comparing cars according to latest and most active safety technologies and pick the ones that provide the best options for them and families”. Other manufacturers like Lexus, Nissan, Jeep and Renault are also highlighting the safety factors in their vehicles.

Overall the Abu Dhabi International Motor Show 2008 was a grand success and catered to a substantial number of buyers in the region who love sophisticated designs and technologies along with raw speed and power. There was something for everyone in the show and it surely promises to get better and bigger next year.

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~ by marthasamuel on December 24, 2008.