Car spotting in Dubai: where to see supercars

Dubai has a reputation as the supercar capital of the world, and it lives up to it. Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Mercedes G-Classes are part of the everyday traffic, and hypercars that are rare anywhere else turn up outside the malls and hotels. Here's where to go, when to visit and the rules to know before you start taking photos.

The Dubai Mall and Downtown

The valet areas at the Dubai Mall, in Downtown Dubai beside the Burj Khalifa, are among the best spots in the city. Cars arrive and leave all day, and it's busiest in the evenings and at weekends. Dubai Police also station some of their famous patrol supercars at tourist spots such as the Burj Khalifa, where you can usually get a close look. Over the years the fleet has included a Lamborghini Aventador and a Bugatti Veyron.

Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)

The Walk at JBR is a 1.7 km stretch of shops and restaurants beside the beach in Dubai Marina. On cool evenings and at weekends it turns into a slow parade of supercars, so find a table at a café and watch the traffic go by.

City Walk, Mall of the Emirates and the big hotels

City Walk, an open-air shopping and dining district not far from Downtown, is popular with owners who like to be seen, and the valet areas at the Mall of the Emirates are always worth a look. The forecourts of Dubai's luxury hotels, from Palm Jumeirah to the Jumeirah beachfront, are reliable spots too.

What you're likely to see

Super-SUVs rule the roads in Dubai: the Mercedes G-Class, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus are everywhere. Modern Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens are common, and Dubai is one of the few places where you have a real chance of seeing hypercars in everyday traffic. Look out for unusual colours, custom wraps and special editions too.

When to go

• October to April is the best time. The weather is cooler, and the city is at its busiest.
• Summer is extremely hot, and many owners travel abroad, some taking their cars with them. That's one reason so many Gulf-registered supercars appear in London each summer: see our guide to spotting supercars in London.
• Evenings and weekends are best. The streets come alive after sunset, when it's cooler. The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday.
• The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina, usually the last race of the Formula 1 season in late November or December, is about an hour's drive from Dubai.

The photo rules

The UAE has strict privacy laws. Taking or sharing photos of people without their consent can lead to fines of up to Dh500,000 (about $136,000, or roughly £100,000) and even a prison sentence. Photographing cars in public places is a normal part of life in Dubai, but keep people out of the frame, don't photograph anyone without asking, and avoid photographing government or military buildings.

More places to spot supercars

Planning another trip? See our guide to car spotting in Monaco, or browse the top lists to find the fastest and rarest cars to hunt for.