Sixth edition of the popular classic car show is the biggest yet

By Shahzad Sheikh

I’ve been to every one of the six editions of the Emirates Classic Car Festival that takes place each year on Emaar Boulevard in Downtown Dubai. It’s been getting steadily bigger and more spectacular, but when I turned up for the opening ceremony yesterday, I was in for a shock.

It’s the biggest yet, and extends all the way around the semi-circular boulevard from The Address hotel next to Dubai Mall to nearly the entrance to the Burj Khalifa which is, yes, next to Dubai Mall on the other side!

300 cars have been registered in total this year, although they were still arriving yesterday when the count was already way past 260. And there’s a massive variety, from the Mercedes Patent Motorwagen replica (the first ‘car’ dating back to 1886) that opened the show to tons of classic 60s American and European cars, a Morgan AeroMax from 2008 and an electric-powered kit car built in Dubai.

As per tradition the show was opened by Dr Mohammad Ben Sulayem, FIA vice-president, president of the UAE Automobile Touring Club, former 14-time Middle East Rally Champion and avid car enthusiast and collector.

And as usual visitors and spectators can help choose one of the winning cars by voting for the Public’s Award – one of 17 category trophies up for grabs to the owners and collectors of the classics on show.

The show is open now and runs every day till Monday 3rd March – although last year it was extended by another couple of days due to popular demand. Don’t forget to catch the prize-giving ceremony at 3pm on Monday at the Emaar Pavillion – that’s where we’ll be.

More info at www.emiratesclassiccarfestival.com

Read about last year’s edition here

Let us know what you thought of the 2014 Emirates Classic Car Festival below