Think about an automotive-themed vacation and also you invariably consider highway journeys within the Swiss Alps, high velocity runs on the German Autobahn, cruising across the Italian lake district or maybe a observe day at Silverstone. But there’s one other vacation spot that’s nearer to residence, has a number of the most insane and unique cars on the planet, and quite a lot of sights to maintain the auto fanatic in you entertained – Dubai.

The Flat12 cafe is the place to go to for some nice cars and occasional.

Dubai in February is a superb place to be. The climate is ideal, there’s a great deal of occasions and gatherings taking place, and naturally, there’s the vehicles. If you’re a eager car spotter, there isn’t a greater place on the planet than Dubai. From the massive showrooms flanking Sheikh Zayed highway promoting ultra-exclusive, multi-million greenback supercars and hypercars, to the exotics parked carefree on the streets and in mall parkings, it’s actually a sight to behold. My private road car recognizing highlights had been a Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34), a Mercedes-McLaren SLR and a Bugatti Chiron, and this was simply the tip of the iceberg.

Agile and punchy BMW M240i was good enjoyable to drive on the Dubai Autodrome.

A choose few Indian media personnel had been invited by Dubai tourism to expertise what the town has to supply, and aside from some attention-grabbing and insightful ‘touristy’ actions deliberate, our occasion itinerary concerned a couple of auto-centric actions. The one I used to be most enthusiastic about, by far, was the observe driving expertise. I had a variety of pent-up pleasure earlier than we even bought to the Dubai Autodrome; in any case this may be my first ever observe drive expertise. And that pleasure solely grew tenfold as soon as we entered the observe. The car park was littered along with your ‘usual’ Dubai cars – Audi R8s, Lamborghini Huracans, Rolls-Royces, Dodge Challenger Hellcats and the likes. But by means of the half-drawn storage doorways, I might see some actually particular observe equipment. A Ferrari 488 Challenge Cup Car, loads of Formula 4 open wheel race cars and even some superbikes.

Dubai Autodrome observe expertise

Post a fast briefing session, the place we had been informed what to and what to not do out on the observe, I bought to satisfy the car I might be driving. It was a BMW M240i coupe, which with its candy B58 straight six motor, rear wheel-drive configuration and brief wheelbase was certain to be a hoot to drive. And it was! It was nightfall by the point I bought to the observe however that didn’t cease me from having fun with myself. The focus was not on flat-out lap occasions however on correct observe driving methods and following the racing line. And to maintain me in examine, I used to be accompanied by Charles who was one of many instructors on the Dubai Autodrome; it was a great factor contemplating a close to million greenback Ferrari Cup car was additionally on the observe on the identical time.

You can actually arrive and drive on the observe.

And it wasn’t like this was open to only racing license holders or media folks, anybody with a sound driving license can actually arrive and drive on the Dubai Autodrome. The alternative of observe weapons are additionally plentiful – the M240i, the M4 Competition, the Ferrari Challenge Cup cars and even an older Jaguar Formula 1 car!

Dubai car tradition

It’s not simply the cars or the observe driving expertise that you simply’ve bought to look ahead to. There’s a bustling and rising car tradition as effectively, with common cars and occasional meets happening, and the most effective locations to expertise that is the Flat 12 cafe. We visited this cafe that’s located in an enormous warehouse by Port Rashid, on a comparatively off day. Still, there was some severe eye sweet in retailer, from a mint situation Audi Quattro, to a Lancia Delta Integrale, two Jaguar E-Types (one was a restomod), a BMW M3 (E46), a Honda Integra Type R and a Porsche 911 (991.2), all on show contained in the cafe. The scrumptious meals and occasional was an added bonus. We additionally dropped by a particular, personal assortment of some eclectic traditional and classic cars within the coronary heart of Dubai, which additionally had a small aeroplane parked inside!

Seeing the Dubai skyline from behind the wheel of a car, within the sea, was an uncommon expertise.

The Marina is one other place the place Dubai actually flexes its muscular tissues, with enormous shiny yachts parked within the harbour on one aspect and tall shiny skyscrapers on the opposite. This can also be the place I bought to drive the Jet Car, which was primarily a jet ski with a car’s physique. It was an unnerving expertise, because of the uneven waters, however thrilling and distinctive nonetheless.

Michelin-starred 11 Woodfire’s meals was as scrumptious to eat because it was to have a look at. 

While in Dubai, I additionally bought to expertise some wonderful meals from all over the world, with the spotlight being 11 Woodfire, a Michelin star restaurant. Then there was the exhilarating Edge Walk, which is a 55-storey excessive platform that gives beautiful, uninterrupted views of the whole metropolis and the mammoth Burj Khalifa proper in entrance. We additionally drove right down to the city of Hatta, which is close to the Oman border and skilled kayaking within the picturesque Hatta Dam reservoir. We additionally had an informative tour on honeybees and the way they make the valuable honey, which was concluded by a really candy tasting session.

There was additionally an insightful tour on the lifetime of honeybees. 

Mind you, these are simply the experiences we had however Dubai has a lot extra to supply. From unique car leases, to dune bashing within the desert in Toyota Land Cruisers and Nissan Patrols, auto fans and vacationers are effectively catered to on this metropolis. This jewel in the midst of the desert ought to be in your bucket record of locations to go to.