In other countries it may be considered unusual to see any kind of luxury car, but in the UAE we know it is not unusual to see a variety of supercars burning up the roads. Dubai is well known throughout the world as a place of great wealth and opulence, and one of the ways in which that is manifested is in the scores of high-class cars purchased here every year.

Nevertheless, every year in Dubai some two to three thousand cars are abandoned by their owners, and Dubai’s airports and car parks are full of abandoned supercars. Many of the cars were owned by foreign expats who owned them on a lease-to-buy basis, and who have to leave them behind after they fall on hard times. Sometimes these owners even choose to flee Dubai if they lose their jobs and default on their repayments.

Once abandoned, cars are often sold by the local authorities. In 2018 the Dubai Police announced that they would be auctioning off more than 300 luxury cars. Dubai police give owners of their vehicles a month to claim them and pay any necessary fines, and if not, the cars go to auction. As well as abandoned cars, these auctions include cars impounded after being involved in crimes such as street racing, or non-payment of traffic violation fines.

There is one bright side, however. At auction, the confiscated vehicles are often sold for a fraction of their original price. This system makes it possible for car lovers to pick up a bargain if they don’t mind buying second-hand. Indeed, the original owner’s loss can be the savvy buyer’s gain, as all the luxury brands are likely to be represented in these auctions, from Jaguars to BMWs and even the occasional Ferrari or Maserati.

Just be aware – these auctions are by invitation only. When an auction is announced, potential buyers need to register with the police, and prove that they have enough money to meet the deposit price before receiving an invitation.

Though this may be a slightly unorthodox way to acquire a car, it is worth considering Dubai’s police auction as a way of getting the car you’ve always dreamed of at the sort of price you can afford.

The world’s most beautiful and brilliant cars need tyres to match. The car only makes contact with the road via the tyres, so it pays to invest in the best quality.

Those who value reliability, performance, and versatility often find themselves drawn to Pirelli tyres. Now Dubai car lovers have somewhere to test the whole range for their cars – the P Zero World Store, located on Hessa Street in Dubai.

The store is only the fourth in the entire world opened by the tyre giant, following stores in Monte Carlo, Munich, and Los Angeles.

A brand new “tyre boutique”

Pirelli has described the concept of the P Zero World store as a “tyre boutique”. It will be somewhere those with the most exotic cars in the world can access the brand’s premium services and products.

The P Zero World store is the only place customers will be able to browse the whole range of Pirelli’s world-class tyres, including the serious performance-enabling P Zero Trofeo R. Classic car lovers will also find specialist tyres, such as the Pirelli Collezione – melding modern tyre functionality with classic looks.

P Zero World is not just for car lovers, though – motorbike tyres, Velo tyres, and a range of Pirelli branded merchandise are also available. Dubai was chosen by Pirelli for the site of its exclusive store because of the passionate car culture.

The store itself

Comprising the store itself and an attached workshop, P Zero World is spread over six hundred square meters. It’s staffed by two salespeople, a receptionist, and five workshop technicians.

In the workshop, four ramps are present which are dedicated to quickly and efficiently fitting, repairing, and replacing customer tyres. It’s complete with laser wheel alignment technology, automatic tyre-mounting and balancing machines.

If you’re a lover of performance or classic cars, you need to have the tyres to match the vehicle. Pirelli are providing rubber for some of the world’s most incredible vehicles, and now you can try them for yourself to see why they’re so highly regarded.

Browse the entire range of Pirelli tyres today at P Zero World, Dubai.

Recent transport news from the UAE includes a firm focus on Dubai police, who have announced that a whole new generation of drones are taking to the air above the city. The futuristic aerial flyers have been designed to help with emergency and rescue operations and cover events attracting major crowds. Crucially, for motorists interested in the latest car news, the drones will also monitor traffic.

The future of traffic is flying

The small flying drones recently unveiled by Dubai police may look delicate as they hover in the sky, but they are packed with powerful state-of-the-art technology including high definition and thermal imaging equipment. Once operational, the drones transmit information to operation rooms on the ground, including real-time footage of road traffic incidents and traffic jams. The drones have also been designed to link to a network of pre-existing cameras and early warning systems. Useful data can then be sent on directly to officers on the streets via 4G technology.

The eye in the sky

Dubai police say that their patrol drones will be deployed at traffic hot spots and will be capable of constant monitoring using a x20 camera zoom. Although they don’t say so explicitly, the drones may well have the capacity to follow the lead of French traffic police who have been trialling similar remote-operated flyers to help them catch up with unsafe or reckless drivers. The French drones are already tracking offending motorists, allowing patrol cars to locate and fine them on the road.

A real-time satnav with added benefits

As well as enabling police to carry out efficient traffic monitoring and data analyses, the drones will be deployed to provide individual motorists with up-to-date information about pile-ups, road blockages and peak traffic congestion. The advanced communications and camera system will provide a live feed, meaning the authorities can take immediate action to re-route drivers.

Although some car users may have reservations about the ability of drones to watch their every move, it is hard to deny that the drones also bring many advantages. They can be quickly deployed to fly at a height which is non-distracting for drivers on the ground, and they can easily cover wide areas of the city. Used well, drones can only add convenience and security to the driving experience in Dubai.

The Cadillac ATS Coupe will be coming to the Middle East in 2019, Cadillac Arabia has confirmed. This luxurious two-door aims to blend effortlessly comfortable GT travel with an engaging rear-wheel-drive driving experience. Are you looking for a luxury coupe with some agility and driving dynamics? The 2019 Cadillac ATS Coupe might just be the car for you!

There will be two specifications coming to the Middle East – the Premium Luxury and Premium Performance. Each with certain appointments tailored towards achieving a seamless blend of comfort and sport.

Premium Luxury or Premium Performance

High-quality leather seats will be as standard on the Premium Luxury package, with both driver and passenger benefiting from a range of features such as electronically adjustable lumbar support and programmable memory.

Other creature comforts include a handy rear-view camera, the Cadillac Driver Awareness Package, and a thundering upgraded BOSE premium sound system to ensure you can enjoy crystal-clear audio quality.

With Premium Performance, you’ll get the aforementioned specifications, along with a host of race-inspired extras. These will transform the otherwise large coupe into something altogether more sporty.

The list includes a limited slip differential, a performance cooling system, upgraded tyres, and Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension to keep the car as composed as possible through the corners.

More features to look forward to

Both Premium Luxury and Premium Performance specification cars will come with the latest CUE (Cadillac User Experience) system. This is controlled through the standard 8-inch colour touch screen.

It allows seamless interaction with the climate control, the current audio and media settings, as well as controlling the phone connectivity. CUE will also allow intuitive setting of the satellite navigation.

As a premium coupe, drivers can expect a host of safety aids to help them navigate the UAE streets. One of which is an advanced collision monitoring system which triggers active safety features, protecting occupants throughout a crash.

Both specifications will feature the award-winning 3.6-liter v6 petrol engine, providing a more than sufficient 335 horsepower. For those looking for something different in the German-dominated luxury coupe segment, the 2019 Cadillac ATS Coupe might just be an appealing prospect.

The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai has announced that they will be selling 3-digit number plates at a discount price until stocks last. The distinctive license plates will be on offer for Dh179,999 including VAT and will remain so while stocks last. In a country where status and prestige is attached to having as few numbers on your licence plate as possible, this move could allow more car buyers to buy into the dream than ever before.

The Roads and Transport Authority made the announcement on 31st December 2018 and claimed that the discount was part of ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of motorists throughout the country. Many drivers in Dubai class themselves as licence plates enthusiasts and the RTA recognise this and want to celebrate it whilst also increasing the satisfaction of motorists by giving more people the chance to purchase their own special plate.

The RTA also announced earlier on in the month that all vehicles would need a newly designed licence plate by 1st January 2020. These new plates are designed to standardise vehicle plates throughout the country, with each one featuring three pieces of information, the Dubai brand, number and code. New cars will be sold with the new plates from January next year but those who won’t be purchasing a new car will need to apply to the RTA for a new plate. It could be argued that by offering a discount on more coveted licence plates that the RTA is actively trying to sweeten up car drivers in Dubai in order to make this announcement more palatable.

Anyone interested in purchasing one of the discounted plates can have a browse through the RTA website to see what is available. They won’t have to purchase their desired plate through an auction, as is the usual practice, making purchasing one much easier. Plates available to purchase at the time of writing include; T 738, P 682 and J 945 but there are plenty more to choose from on the RTA website. Plates can also be purchased through customer’s happiness centres or through service providers.