Dubai: The best things in life are seldom free, but often worth waiting for. This is especially true when it comes to prestige cars.

Those in the market for a new car, and have over Dh200,000 or more to pay for the pleasure, would be well-advised to head for the showrooms now to confirm an order and put down a deposit. Even then they will require a bit of patience, it could be a few weeks or months before the car of their choice – done up to their specifications – is available. Prestige marques manufacture exclusivity. According to industry analysts, they often limit the number vehicles they produce each year and, in some instances, only a few hundred will ever roll off the assembly line. The formula is working: demand for luxury cars is up and the only limiting factor is: “subject to availability”.

Robin Colgan knows a thing or two about trying to match production runs with buyer expectations. As Managing Director at Jaguar Land Rover Middle East, Colgan is now overseeing the delivery of two much-anticipated models to market – the all-new Range Rover and Jaguar’s ‘back-to-its-roots’ F-Type.

It was late 2012 that the Range Rover – following its debut at the Paris Auto Show - was formally launched in the UAE, though actual deliveries only started in earnest this year. “Production orders are well into the latter part of 2013, and sold orders are currently being delivered to customers. We have never before experienced such strong demand for a vehicle in the region” said Colgan.

It is likely Jaguar’s F-Type will face a similar problem of success. “Sports car fans associate Jaguar with two-seater, rear-wheel drive cars engineered to perform,” said Colgan. “We have been absent from that segment for some time and we believe there is latent demand for the Jaguar brand.”

Those in the market for a sports car will be spoilt for choice in the coming months. Deliveries of the new Maserati Quattroporte GTS are due to start in earnest from April. Bookings opened in February for the sixth-generation flagship after the pre-launch marketing in December.

“We had two launch events - in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - and the first batch has been sold out,” said Hossam Hosni, General Manager, Luxury Auto, Al Tayer Motors, the local dealership.

April will also see the release of the new-generation Porsche Cayman two-seater in this market. This will be followed in September by the arrival of the 911 GT3, unveiled at Geneva Motor Show to mark the 50th-year anniversary of the 911 badge. “The new 911 GT3 [has] all the properties of a sportscar: driving dynamics, sophisticated practicality and a highly emotional fun factor,” said George Wills, regional Managing Director at Porsche M. E.

Local fans of another Italian brand with a sporting heritage, still have a while to wait for the latest models to arrive. But, come December, their patience will be rewarded.

First up is the F12 Berlinetta, the fastest Ferrari ever. Then, the LaFerrari, unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show, will follow. “The LaFerrari will be delivered to clients from 2014 onwards; no dates or time-frame is set for the delivery dates,” said Hosni. Al Tayer Motors also imports Ferrari. “Bookings for the LaFerrari have not commenced in the UAE, pending receipt of the allocation numbers and production schedules.”

Local roads - and speed radars - will also be keeping an eye on the McLaren P1 in the not too distant future. The P1 is the carmaker’s attempt to recreate what it has done so successfully on race-tracks on the highways. The Dubai importer reportedly secured the maximum number of bookings worldwide when the concept car was shown to a select group earlier in the year.

Not that all of the season’s much anticipated new cars are sports models. There is Rolls-Royce with its Wraith, which it hopes will take its place alongside the Phantom and Ghost. “We are taking orders already and the pre-order book is very healthy,” said a spokesperson at Rolls’ regional office. “However, deliveries will be somewhat limited in the fourth quarter of this year, by production allocation.

Currently, Ghost is the brand’s bestselling model in the region, with a 5:1 advantage over the Phantom. “[It’s] a ratio we are pleased with as it is in line with Phantom’s pinnacle position,” the spokesperson added.

The local dealership is taking bookings for another high-profile Geneva debut, Bentley’s new Flying Spur. The current version, launched in 2005, sold 2,117 units in the region and nearly 20,000 units worldwide. “The new Flying Spur is extremely important to the Middle East market with around 190 inquiries and 85 orders already placed,” said Chris Buxton, Bentley’s Regional Director. “The model can’t arrive in the region soon enough.”

All that remains between these cars and UAE buyers is time – and money.