Sharjah : The 10th edition of the Sharjah International Automobile Show opened yesterday in Sharjah's Expo Centre. The show is targeting business leaders in the UAE automotive sector as well as car enthusiasts and families.
The event is the Middle East's most popular bi-annual auto exhibition. It is held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. It spans about 58,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space and is supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Emirates Motor Sports Federation.
Dealers are using the opportunity to show car premieres in the region, for example the Infiniti M put on display by Arabian Automobiles. "Our stand is the biggest one at the show," Michel Ayat, Chief Executive Officer of Arabian Automobiles, distributor of Nissan and Infiniti in the UAE, told Gulf News. "We are happy to be a strategic partner of the Sharjah Automobile Show," he said at his stand after a visit by Shaikh Sultan.
Other premieres include the new Volkswagen Touareg, launched just a couple of weeks ago, on show by Al Nabooda Automobiles. Other notable exhibits include the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and R-Class facelift 2011, the Audi R8 Spyder, RS 5, and Al Habtoor Motors showcasing the new Mitsubishi ASX crossover for the first time at any exhibition. BMW is showing the new 316iA model. One large stand is occupied by German premium car manufacturer BMW. "For us, this year was extraordinarily successful, with the 5 series being a big boost for sales," Phil Horton, BMW Middle East head, told Gulf News.
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This year the Automobile Show runs parallel to the Middle East Motor Tuning Show in the adjacent hall, where the region's major tuners and modifiers display their latest customisation gadgets and technology.
The show spans both indoor and outdoor exhibition space with the outdoor arena being a treat for the eyes and ears as tuning experts and professional drivers show off their skills in drifting. Top Car Contest judges will choose the best customised, modified and tuned cars, while car owners can visit the dyno-test area, which tests the power output from vehicle engines.
"The Sharjah International Auto Show has an enviable track record for onsite car sales and orders," said Saif Al Midfa, Director-General of the Expo Centre Sharjah.
"All major UAE car dealers are participating in this event. They are set to benefit from the UAE's car sales market that is predicted to see steady growth, with most emirates registering greater numbers of vehicles every quarter," he added.
The organisers have created an interactive exhibition which makes it easy for visitors to physically compare or even test drive different makes and models. "This is preferable and less time-consuming than visiting different dealer showrooms all over the UAE," Midfa said
The event also hosts a collection of more than 20 cars provided by Sharjah's Classic Car Museum. Five of these cars were driven by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
