First Gulf Concours event held at Burj Al Arab, Dubai

The inaugural Gulf Concours, the Emirates’ first Concours d’Elegance event, was held at the Burj Al Arab Terrace over the weekend.

Over 2,000 invitation-only guests attended the first-time event which ran over three days on the lawns of the world’s only “7-star” hotel’s new Terrace and surrounding gardens. After being officially opened on Friday by Prince Michael of Kent, the display of 50 cars included classics as well as recent exotics.

Among the highlights from the likes of Bentley, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and more was the world’s most expensive car, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO apparently valued at more than US$ 60 million and owned by Talacrest, a classic Ferrari specialist.

Cars such as the new Bentley Mulsanne EWB which made its UAE debut on the lawns as well as the new Aston Martin DB11, Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Series and the Lykan Hypersport from W Motors were parked alongside the world’s rarest and most valuable classic and sports cars.

Among the highlights was Gilles Villeneuve’s 1982 Ferrari Formula One car, a 1954 Ferrari 250 GT Competition Berlinetta Sport Speciale made to order for Hollywood star Ingrid Bergmann and an immaculate low mileage Porsche 550 Spyder by Zagato.

During Saturday’s award ceremony, the best car in the “Best Classic Design” category was the 1970 Citroen DS21 IE, followed by the “Best Classic” winner, the 1954 Ferrari 250 GT Competition Speciale.

Now that it has its place in the calender of global Concours d’ elegance events, the Gulf Concours is expected to be held annually.