AbuDhabi

Odd 'Sofa Boat' Makes Debut at Abu Dhabi Yacht Show

Described as a 'floating fun platform,' the above Sofa Boat made its debut at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show last week and was apparently quite the hit with guests. Powered entirely by an electric engine and touted as a more glamorous way to travel around crowded marinas and to and from private yachts, the Sofa Boat features a retractable sun canopy, joystick steering, a refrigerator for refreshments, and even laptop docking stations (although I can't imagine seriously having your laptop out on that thing). The craft charges via electric socket and boasts an eco-friendly 0% carbon emissions. This oddity can be yours for a mere AED59,000 (or about $16,000).

Via Dvice

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Tags: abu dhabi, abu dhabi yacht show, AbuDhabi, AbuDhabiYachtShow, boat, electric boats, ElectricBoats, sofa boat, SofaBoat, yacht, yachts

Royal Drive Supercar Rally in the UAE

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Wealth

As Luxist readers well know the UAE and in particular Dubai and Abu Dhabi are home to some of the most spectacularly ostentatious collections of supercars, often customized within an inch of their lives. Now a new event has been inaugurated in order for the local sheikhs and such to show them off to best advantage. The Royal Drive is a three-day exotic auto orgy featuring an armada of 60 Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Mercedes-McLaren SLRs, Gemballa Mirage GTs and more, kicking off on March 18. The event will begin at the 5-star Yas Hotel on Yas Island, home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and upcoming Ferrari World theme park. From there the cavalcade will continue to circuit the Abu Dhabi Corniche beach boulevard winding up at the 5-star Intercontinental Hotel at Dubai Creek. That night participants will enjoy VIP treatment at the Elements Music Concert in Dubai Festival City before proceeding on to the Dubai Marina and a wrap party at the Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residences. And yes, you need a gold-plated invitation.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Dubai, rally, supercar, UAE

Yas Eagle Phantom by Rolls-Royce for Abu Dhabi

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

When you're the one drilling the oil, you can have all the Rolls-Royces you want. That's why the Persian Gulf has been getting what seems like an endless procession of special Phantoms, created exclusively for the sheikhs and emirs.

The latest has just made its way online. Called the Yas Eagle, it was released to commemorate the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a few months ago. It could be ordered on either the Phantom saloon, Phantom Coupe or Drophead Coupe, and features a series of special touches: the exterior has been painted two-tone blue and white, the interior in blue with red accents and blue wood veneers. Even the hood ornament is illuminated.

If we've said it once, we've bemoaned it a thousand times: money and taste, to our eternal chagrin, don't automatically go hand in hand.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Yas Eagle

[Source: Automotive Design Corner]

Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, persian gulf, PersianGulf, phantom, rolls-royce, rolls-royce phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom, yas eagle, YasEagle

Maserati Launches Exclusive GranTurismo S Special Editions in Abu Dhabi

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A stock Maserati may be special enough for most of us, but apparently not for the highly lucrative Middle East market. So to answer the call for exclusivity, the Trident marque has announced a new limited edition of its top-of-the-line GranTurismo S coupe.

Decked out in special matte white paint scheme and items from the company's bespoke MC Sport Line, Maserati will only make twelve examples of this special edition: one for each of its dealers in the region, simultaneously commemorating the twelve drivers', constructors' and teams' titles which the Maserati MC12 has accumulated in the FIA GT Championship.

A second run of 11 coupes, with pearl white paint, is planned for the Italian market as well. Unfortunately that's about the extent of the details Maserati has provided. If you have the means and live in the right place, we're sure your local dealership will be glad to provide more, and if you don't, well it's really not applicable anyway, so the rest of us can just sit back and stare.

Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, maserati, maserati gran turismo s, maserati granturismo, maserati mc sport line, MaseratiGranturismo, MaseratiGranTurismoS, MaseratiMcSportLine, mc sport line, McSportLine, middle east, middle east limited edition, MiddleEast, MiddleEastLimitedEdition, yas island, yas island circuit, yas island marina circuit, yas marina, yas marina circuit, YasIsland, YasIslandCircuit, YasIslandMarinaCircuit, YasMarina, YasMarinaCircuit

Ferrari World Prepares for Grand Opening in Abu Dhabi Next Year

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Real Estate Developments

If you had the occasion to watch the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which capped the end of the 2009 Formula One World Championship this past weekend, you may have gotten a glimpse of a giant red structure with a huge Ferrari emblem on the roof. What you're looking at is Ferrari World, the first Ferrari theme park, being built on the man-made Yas Island resort in Abu Dhabi.

The complex stands as the largest indoor park in the world, encompassing some 2 million square feet under a giant 150-foot-high red steel roof sporting the largest Ferrari logo in the world. Out of the top protrudes a 200-foot g-force drop tower, accompanying the world's fastest roller coaster, a flume ride simulating a Ferrari engine and kart tracks among its 20+ attractions. Of course there'll be plenty of restaurants and shopping opportunities that go along with any theme park as well. This one is set to open its doors some time next year as part of an ongoing initiative to turn the United Arab Emirates into a leading tourist destination.

Gallery: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

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Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, emirates, ferrari, ferrari world, FerrariWorld, theme park, ThemePark, uae, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates, yas, yas island, YasIsland

Abu Dhabi Royals' Custom Mercedes G-Glass

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

What's the best, most luxurious SUV in the world? Well, at least until the long-awaited $300,000 Spyker Peking-to-Paris finally materializes, the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG holds the top spot. So that's what the royal family of Abu Dhabi decided to base its bespoke off-road vehicle on. They turned to German tuner A.R.T. for the one-off AS55K YAAS Edition (above). Output from the standard model's supercharged V8 engine has been amped up to an impressive 620 hp. Aerodynamic components were added to the front, side, rear, and roof, including a whole new hood, all finished in carbon fiber. Numerous highly-polished stainless steel decorative elements highlight the air vents and other details, and red brake calipers add a pop of colour. Rounding out the bespoke options are bi-xenon headlights, four fog lamps, a two-tone leather, wood and carbon fiber interior, an A.R.T steering wheel and of course a customized entertainment system.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, custom cars, CustomCars, Mercedes-Benz, SUV, UAE

Abu Dhabi Sheikh Invests In Branson's Space Tourism Project

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Last time I wrote about Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan he was flying horses to Abu Dhabi. He's in the news again with a big purchase. The Telegraph reports that he has bought a 32 percent stake in Richard Branson's space tourism project, Virgin Galactic ,for $280 million. The deal, which was done through the sheikh's company Aabar, puts the value of Virgin Galactic at $900 million even though it hasn't begun to offer flights yet. The deal represents a significant vote for the viability and inevitable profitability of space travel. This deal means that Abu Dhabi will be hosting Virgin Galactic tourism and research flights. There is also a plan to build spaceport facilities in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile Sir Richard Branson is showing off the WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve), at the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2009 AirVenture annual fly-in and convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The spacecraft that will carry the tourists, SpaceShipTwo, should begin testing later this year. No date for the start of commercial operations has been set yet but around 300 people have paid the $200,000 for an advance space ticket.

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Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, sheikh mansour, SheikhMansour, sir richard branson, SirRichardBranson, space tourism, SpaceTourism, virgin galactic, VirginGalactic

Billionaire To Fly Cavalry To Abu Dhabi

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Sports, Wealth

England's Household Cavalry Musical Ride display impressed a billionaire Arab sheik that he will be flying 30 horses and riders to Abu Dhabi. The Daily Mail reports that Sheik Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, part of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, has arranged for a specially adapted Boeing 747 jet for the horses to travel in. The riders will travel on business class flights and stay in top hotels and grooms and a vet will also be along for the ride. The trip is estimated to cost £250,000. This will be the first time the unit has traveled outside Europe.

Sheik Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan happens to be an accomplished horse rider who has won racing competitions. He owns 52 of his own racehorses. The horses and riders performed for Abu Dhabi government representatives in Hyde Park today, you can see more of the horses and the routines in the gallery below.

Gallery: The Highland Cavalry Performs

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Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, household calvary, HouseholdCalvary

First $6 Million Hermes Helicopter Goes to Abu Dhabi

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Wealth

The world's first $6 million Hermès helicopter, designed by the famed French fashion house in conjunction with Eurocopter, has been delivered to Falcon Aviation Services in Abu Dhabi. Back in 2007 my colleague Deidre Woollard reported on the announcement of the ultra-luxurious chopper, dubbed the "l'Hélicoptère par Hermès," though no price was quoted at the time. Unsurprisingly, the oil rich emirate has snapped up the first of the craft, based on Eurocopter's EC135 model and done in brown and cream livery with signature Hermès orange accents.

The cabin of the helicopter was completely redesigned by Hermès Interior and Design - who also created a custom Rolls-Royce for the Four Seasons George V in Paris we wrote about last year - to maximize the available space and make it as luxurious as possible. Hermès' classic canvas "Toile H" was used to cover the cockpit while the handcrafted seats and banquette are upholstered in natural-grained Hermès calf leather. A sliding glass partition separates the passenger compartment and cockpit, enhancing privacy while allowing light to enter.

"We are delighted to be the first customer for 'l'Hélicoptère par Hermès', which gives us the opportunity to offer a unique travelling experience to our customers" FAS's Vice Chairman Salem Al Kayoumi stated. "This helicopter illustrates a successful fusion between design and technology, where every detail has been created for VIP and business travellers. They are busy and highly demanding, yet wish to travel with utmost comfort and elegance."

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Eurocopter, helicopter, Hermes, UAE

One of Five Bugatti Veyron Pur Sangs for Sale in Abu Dhabi

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

All Veyrons are special, but some are more special than others. As if a $1.5 million supercar weren't special enough, Bugatti has come out with what has seemed like an endless array of special editions to further differentiate the rare cars one from another. It all started with the Pur Sang edition, a Veyron with its bare aluminum and carbon-fiber body exposed like an heiress on a Mediterranean beach. Only five were made, and were sold within 24 hours of its announcement. It seems like the sheikh who bought this one, however, is in need of some extra cash, and has put his up for sale for an undisclosed price at an Abu Dhabi dealership. Interested parties with an extra couple million to spare should contact the dealership directly.

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Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, bugatti, bugatti pur sang, bugatti veyron, bugatti veyron pur sang, BugattiPurSang, BugattiVeyron, BugattiVeyronPurSang, pur sang, PurSang, sang, uae, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates, veyron, veyron pur sang, VeyronPurSang

Abu Dhabi's Helix Hotel Will Feature Glass-Bottom Pool

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

The design for the Helix Hotel in Abu Dhabi's Zayed Bay have been released. The unique structure from Leeser Architects looks a bit like a stack of toliet seat lids but there is a method to the madness. Inside the building is a continuous spiral with a hollow center. One standout feature is the glass-bottom swimming pool suspended high in the air on the left. The Helix is part of the new waterfront development in Abu Dhabi near Zaha Hadid's striking Sheikh Zayed Bridge. Check out the rest of the renderings here.

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Tags: abu dhabi, AbuDhabi, helix hotel, HelixHotel, leeser architects, LeeserArchitects

$2.5 Million Mansory Vincero Bugatti Veyron for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

While Bugatti's much-anticipated Centenaire Bleu edition in celebration of it's 100th anniversary presented at the Geneva Motor Show turned out to be something of a letdown, another tweaked Veyron more than lived up to the hype. We're talking about the Mansory Vincero (above), which we first told you about back in January, of which only three examples are being built. With over $700,000 worth of upgrades added by Mansory, the total price of the Vincero (Italian for "I will win") comes out to about $2.5 million.

One of the Vincero's is now for sale in Abu Dhabi via online global luxury marketplace JamesList. The German-based exotic auto tuner boosted the car's power to 1,109 hp, and the exterior is finished in high-gloss black and grey with chrome accents on the grille, front fenders and doors, and front and rear carbon fiber panels. Inside there's two-tone black and white leather, ambient cabin lighting and custom F1-style shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron, BugattiVeyron, Geneva Motor Show, GenevaMotorShow, JamesList, supercar, UAE, Veyron

Sotheby's Opens in Doha, Bizarre Timing

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Once the undisputed land of conspicuous wealth and consumption, the United Arab Emirates is being squeezed by a large drop in oil prices. It's a shame this comes after the region's addiction to art has become fully entrenched. Sotheby's is planning its first contemporary art sale from its new Doha, Qatar branch on March 18, 2009 – also the opening day of the Art Dubai fair. Hell, it's enough to make you "scream" (see photo).

This looks like the triumph of ambition over common sense, but Sotheby's was probably too far into its Middle Eastern endeavors before the bottom fell out on the region's finances. And with Bonhams and Christie's already in town, Sotheby's had little choice but to follow.

The UAE has committed quickly to the art scene. Abu Dhabi is working on building a Louvre, and is erecting a Guggenheim. Last year, art auction revenues reached $34.9 million, up 70 percent from 2007. But, the upcoming auction should be tricky, particularly with the poor performance of the sector last fall in more established markets, like New York, London and Hong Kong.

In around two weeks, we'll see if Sotheby's will be able to make this new auction house work, or if it will fall victim to the greater recession-triggered decline in the art market. The Mei Moses All Art Index dropped 4.5 percent last year. This seems like a modest amount, but you need to remember that record-setting sales continued through the middle of the summer. Last May, Roman Abramovich was a billionaire with a new Francis Bacon piece in his collection. Today ... we know he feels pain, too. The second half of the year wiped out the first half's records and pulled prices down further.

It's a tough time to count on the market to make Sotheby's Doha a success, but the market doesn't give us choices.

[Photo: "El Grito" by Julio Aguilera]

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Tags: abramovich, abu dhabi, abu dubai, AbuDhabi, AbuDubai, art, art auction, art auctions, art market, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, ArtMarket, artwork, bonhams, bonhams auction, BonhamsAuction, christies, contemporary art, ContemporaryArt, doha, dubai, francis bacon, FrancisBacon, guggenheim, guggenheim museum, GuggenheimMuseum, qatar, roman abramovich, RomanAbramovich, sothebys, sothebys international realty, SothebysInternationalRealty, uae, united arab emirates, UnitedArabEmirates

$3 Million Supercar Stars in UAE Mega Luxury Show

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Men's Style, Wealth

Things may not be going as swimmingly as they once were in the oil rich nations of the UAE, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of people there with disposable incomes the size of some countries' GDPs. In April, Abu Dhabi will host its first Big Boys Toys Super Show, showcasing the world's top luxury products for men, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). So far the star of the show looks like the $3 million Maxximus G-Force supercar (above), a 1600 hp beast billed as the world's fastest street legal automobile capable of 0 - 60 mph in 2.1 seconds. The Big Boy Toys show will be divided into seven "hi-octane zones designed to appeal to anyone with a Y chromosome": Drive, Ride, Off Road, Marine, Aviation, Lifestyle and Wired. It's expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Dubai, Luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Maxximus, Maxximus G-Force, MaxximusG-force, Show, Supercar, UAE

The Bugatti Veyron Vincero by Mansory

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron is already the most super of supercars, but even that leaves room for improvement according to some. German-based exotic auto tuner Mansory will debut a special souped-up edition of the Veyron, dubbed the Vincero (Italian for "I will win") at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Produced in an ultra-exclusive limited edition of three for Abu Dhabi's Prestige Cars, the Mansory Vincero (above) has an incredible 1,109 hp engine. The exterior is finished in high-gloss black and grey with chrome accents on the grille, front fenders and doors, and front and rear carbon fiber panels. Inside there's two-tone black and white leather, ambient cabin lighting and custom F1-style shift paddles on the steering wheel.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron, BugattiVeyron, Geneva Auto Show, GenevaAutoShow, JamesList, Mansory