Flood Gates Open On Middle East High-End Auto Sales
With America’s soaring gasoline prices helping equate to record oil company profits, it’s hardly a surprise that the Middle East is fast becoming the world’s supercar capitol. After all, not only is a good percentage of the world’s oil money funneling back into the area, but fuel is cheap there, too.
In any case, demand for European exotics has jumped to impressive levels, with local showrooms reporting major sales hikes. For example, Ferrari sales in the United Arab Emirates ballooned by 120-percent last year, and others are reporting massive sales growth in the region as well.
The increase has been met with aggressive plans by automakers to build larger dealer networks, but it isn’t just end-point sales facilities that are being attracted. German Porsche specialist manufacturer Ruf has built an ambitious new plant in Bahrain to establish a bigger foothold in the market.
Comments
mo
of course these guys don't care. I have been there for 18 yrs and first thing I wanna say about these guys is that they don't give a damn about money. why? because they read newspapers in order to get paid. In Dubai where i used to be, the citizen doesn't take any position except the manager (and these managers do nothing except signing papers at most), the remaining positions are taken by those like my dad (foreigners) and are less paid. imagine yourself getting money while doing nothing then you're gonna realize why these guys don't give a damn about their money. among the things they care about the most is the car one would ride. as well, they all think they are racers, that is why the death rates in the Emirates due to car accedents are considered among the highest in the world.
if anyone have seen the movie syriana (not sure about the spelling of the movie name), recall the part when matt damon say to the arab prince that since every year the country looses some billions and this would result in having one day where ppl there would live in tents eating each others in order to live, that is so true. now, these guys ride BMW and Merc's because they have oil. but the oil will not last forever, and when it finishes they are gonna get back to ride camels. because these guys have no other resource except their oil.
p.s: it's been 4 yrs since last time I have been there, I heard Dubai is having marvelous projects for tourism which might save the city as it has become the arabian las vegas.
ryan
yeah, uhm, this surprises anyone?
Steve K.
Not even a little bit. They get rich from Oil companies getting rich from soaking someone that drives. Bastards, I hope they all hit a brick wall.
Johnny Rocket
Damn. Maybe we should have invaded them...nah, Dubya would've screwed up on that, too.
Don
Enjoy it while the oil lasts.
John
Wow you guys reak of jealousy and ignorance.
Dubai has always been the supercar capital of the world.
This recent increase only boosted that status a notch up.
Not like any other city was even close.
john
boosted that status a notch up? 120% is a bit more then a notch, and keep in mind that's only in one year.
Ath.
They are rediculous
Winding Road » Archive » B1G MN3Y: Vanity Plates Auction Fav
[...] are few things more pretentious than vanity plates. But, in the United Arab Emirates, they are the ultimate sign of [...]
Post new comment