Upcoming Car Events In Dubai And The UAE For 2026-27: Dates, Venues & Tickets

Here are the upcoming car events in Dubai and across the UAE for the 2026-27 season. For now, November is the busiest month. Icons of Porsche, the Dubai 4×4 Off-Road Expo, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE all land within the same three weeks. Then the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the Formula 1 season at Yas Marina from 3 to 6 December, with the race on Sunday 6 December.

International circuit racing has a few updates too. The Dubai 24 Hours, the Asian Le Mans Series rounds and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East have all moved, been paused or been suspended for 2026-27, so we’ve listed those separately below. The shows, festivals and desert rallies are still going ahead, and getting to the Abu Dhabi events is easier now that Etihad Rail runs passenger trains between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

UAE Car Events Calendar 2026-27 At A Glance

Car Events In November 2026

The Motor Show Sharjah (14 November, 12 December and 16 January)

The Motor Show Sharjah, which is also called the Sharjah Motor Fest, is a free evening car show in Sharjah that tours the emirate’s waterfronts this season. For anyone searching for the Sharjah motor show 2026 dates, there are two shows left this year and one in January. Run by Shurooq with UAE Cars Club, each show displays more than 100 performance, modified, muscle, Japanese tuner, classic, and off-road cars from across the GCC, with live music, kids’ entertainment, and food on the side.

• Dates and venues: Saturday 14 November at Al Heera Beach, Saturday 12 December at Al Majaz Waterfront and Saturday 16 January 2027 at Khorfakkan Beach
• Tickets: Free entry
• Showing your car: You can’t register on the day. Display cars are arranged through UAE Cars Club, and motorcycles aren’t part of the show
• Who it’s for: Car fans and families looking for an easy evening out. Classic car fans will find old-timers alongside the tuned cars, so it doubles as a classic car show in Sharjah

Carholics is Back! (14 November)

Abu Dhabi gets its own car show on the same day as Sharjah. “Carholics is Back!” brings rare vintage, classic, and modern super sports cars to Hudayriyat Island. It’s organised by Carholics.ae.

• Date: Saturday 14 November
• Venue: Marsana Car Parking A, Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi
• Tickets: TBC
• Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to see supercars parked next to a few genuine classics

Dubai 4×4 Off-Road Expo (20-22 November)

The Dubai 4×4 Off-Road Expo is a free car festival for the off-road crowd, and it returns to Safa Park with 4x4s, RVs, ATVs, parts, camping gear, and talks on modifications and safety. Here’s a detailed take on last year’s 4×4 Expo.

• Dates: 20 to 22 November
• Venue: Safa Park, Dubai
• Tickets: Free, though you’ll need to pay park entry fee of AED 3 per person
• Camping: A vehicle camping pass costs AED 250 for 21 and 22 November. If a night at the expo gets you in the mood for camping, our guide to the best camping spots in the UAE has plenty more ideas.
• Who it’s for: off-roaders, campers, overlanders and families

Icons of Porsche Dubai 2026 (21-22 November)

Icons of Porsche returns for its sixth edition on 21 and 22 November, and it’s moving to a new venue. For the first time it will take place at The Square Nad Al Sheba. Tickets cost AED 85 per day. More than 1,000 Porsche cars are expected, along with art, live DJs and bands, food trucks and a family zone. This year it also celebrates 75 years of Porsche in motorsport.

The festival keeps growing. Icons of Porsche 2025 drew more than 30,000 visitors and sold out for the second year running.

That was also where the Cayenne Electric made its public debut, and this year’s headline car is even more exciting. The Porsche Mission S concept makes its public debut at the event, following its world premiere in New York on 15 October. It’s a mid-engined super sports car concept that Porsche positions above the 911. There’s no word yet on price, engine, or whether it will go into production.

The Porsche Museum is sending some historic cars to go with it:

• 911 GT1-98R, chassis 001
• 917 KH Coupé
• 550 A Spyder
• Typ 804 Formula 1 car

Local owners are bringing a 959, a 911 G model, a 928 and a 356, and Porsche says several of these cars inspired details on the Mission S.

• Dates: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November
• Venue: The Square Nad Al Sheba, Al Ain Road, Dubai
• Tickets: AED 85 per day including VAT, sold online only through the official Icons of Porsche site. Each ticket is valid for one day, so buy Saturday and Sunday separately. Children under 12 go free with a ticketed adult, but you need to register their free ticket in advance. Porsche owners can get an owners’ ticket, which includes lounge access.
• Parking: On-site parking is very limited, and the organisers strongly recommend getting there another way

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (22-27 November)

The 35th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge closes the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, the first time it has hosted the finale. It moves from its usual February or March slot because Ramadan falls in February. For the first time, it starts and finishes in Al Ain.

• Dates: Prologue and ceremonial start on Sunday 22 November, final stage and ceremonial finish on Friday 27 November
• Venue: Al Ain for the start and finish, with the main bivouac at Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra
• Tickets: No public ticketing has been announced. The ceremonial start and finish in Al Ain are your best chance to see the cars.
• Getting there: Al Ain isn’t on the passenger rail network yet, so you’ll need to drive

1000 Miglia Experience UAE (29 November-3 December)

The fifth 1000 Miglia Experience UAE sends 120 classic car crews through all seven emirates, driving through Jebel Jais, Jebel Hafeet, Khorfakkan and the Al Ain oasis before finishing in Dubai on Thursday 3 December. The rally itself starts on 30 November, and this year it includes a time trial on a desert track at Tilal Swaihan.

Cars run in three classes: the 1000 Miglia Class for cars built between 1927 and 1957, Classic Icons for cars up to 1985, and Contemporary Icons for cars from after 1985. Entrants include a 1927 OM 665 Superba Sport Zagato, a 1952 Bentley R-Type, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings and a Ferrari 275 GTB Shortnose.

• Opening day: 29 November at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, with a public showcase of the cars. The organisers say it draws more than 20,000 spectators every year. Alongside the entrants, the lawn will show cars from the UAE ruling family’s collections, Dubai Police supercars, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR on its first visit to the Gulf, eight generations of Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Koenigsegg CC Prototype, plus panel talks.
• Tickets: No public ticket price has been announced. Entry registration for cars has closed.
• Parking: There’s no parking at the golf club, so park near American University or at the adjacent parking yard, and cross the pedestrian bridge
• Who it’s for: Classic car fans. If it gets you thinking about owning one, here are the top classic cars to buy in Dubai.

Gulf ProCar Series (from 27-28 November)

Gulf ProCar is the UAE’s local saloon car championship and one of the few circuit series racing here this winter. Round 2 is at Dubai Autodrome on 27 and 28 November, followed by 29 and 30 January, 12 and 13 February at Yas Marina Circuit, then 26 and 27 February and 26 and 27 March 2027 back at Dubai Autodrome. The full schedule is on the official Gulf ProCar site.

If you’d rather watch the next generation, the UAE Rotax Max Challenge runs karting rounds 2 to 7 from 27 November to 28 March at Al Forsan, Al Ain Raceway, Dubai Kartdrome and Yas Marina North, and the IAME Series UAE holds rounds 9 and 10 at Yas Marina Circuit on 2 and 3 January.

Car Events In December 2026

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 (3-6 December)

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the Formula 1 season finale, running from 3 to 6 December at Yas Marina Circuit. General admission starts at AED 745 and grandstands at AED 2,395. Thursday 3 December is the fan day with concerts, practice is on Friday, and qualifying is on Saturday. The race is on Sunday 6 December.

Yas Marina has hosted more than F1 lately, including the Zeekr 7X world record run.

• Tickets: General admission from AED 745, grandstands from AED 2,395 and premium hospitality from AED 7,995. Both Abu Dhabi Hill tickets, the three-day and four-day passes, have sold out. Tickets include the after-race concerts, and the official after-party is at Yas Gateway Park on 4 December. Buy them on the official Abu Dhabi GP site.
• Who it’s for: Everyone from first-timers to hospitality guests

Liwa International Festival (11 December 2026-2 January 2027)

The Liwa International Festival, officially Liwa 2027 is set to take place over 23 days and includes a whole range of activities for a festive atmosphere. The highlight though, is the Liwa climb, which takes over Tal Moreeb, the giant Liwa dune that rises more than 300m. The last edition drew more than 700,000 visitors over 23 days.

• Motorsport highlights: Freestyle displays across several weekends, a motorbike drag race on 13 December, the Liwa UTV Track on 20 December, the Liwa Burnout Challenge on 24 December, Liwa Drift on 25 and 26 December, and the Tal Moreeb Car Championship finale from 30 December to 2 January. Nitro Circus also makes its Liwa debut at Tal Moreeb on 19 and 20 December, which is a freestyle motocross event.
• Tickets: Entry to Liwa Village is from AED 25, but each big event has its own separate entry ticket. 
• Getting there: You can obviously drive there. But in case you want an easier way out, Etihad Rail opens Zayed City and Liwa stations on 30 November, just in time

Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge (12-13 December, 23 January and 10 April)

The Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge is a desert rally for professionals and amateurs alike, with cars, buggies, bikes and quads covering more than 100km per round. Round 2 is in Liwa on 12 and 13 December, round 3 is in Liwa on 23 January 2027, and round 4 is in the Al Ain desert on 10 April 2027. Viewing the rally is possible from particular spots if you manage to find the rally route, but this is off-road. So, if you’re tempted to enter the desert to watch, brush up on our desert driving tips first.

Car Events In 2027

Middle East Car & Bike Week 2027 (9-10 January 2027)

Middle East Car and Bike Week returns to the Sound Stage at Dubai Studio City for its second edition on 9 and 10 January 2027. The first edition drew nearly 12,000 visitors and bike clubs from across the region, as we saw at last year’s Car & Bike Week. The organisers say tickets will go on sale soon.

MOC27 Motor, Outdoor and Camping Festival (14-17 January 2027)

MOC27, the Motor, Outdoor and Camping Festival, is a new festival for 4x4s, motorcycles and the camping crowd, running from 14 to 17 January 2027 at The Sevens Stadium Grounds in Dubai as part of the DSF Auto Season. Expect off-road vehicles, outdoor gear, and test drives. Early bird tickets are on the official MOC festival site, starting at AED 100 for a day pass.

Sharjah Old Cars Festival (21-24 January 2027)

The fourth Sharjah Classic Cars Festival, organised by the Sharjah Old Cars Club, runs from 21 to 24 January 2027 under the theme “Every Car Tells a Story”. It takes place in Sharjah, with the venue and ticket details still to be announced.

Supercar Madness (13 February 2027)

Supercar Madness returns to Dubai Autodrome on 13 February 2027. It’s a one-day show with hundreds of supercars and hypercars, plus drift shows, roll racing and parade laps.

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2027 (21-26 March 2027)

The 36th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is set to return to its usual spring slot as round 2 of the 2027 World Rally-Raid Championship. It’s currently scheduled for 21 to 26 March 2027, though organisers have yet to reconfirm the date following the Dakar’s move to Portugal.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2027 (10-12 December 2027)

Yas Marina hosts the season finale again in 2027, and this time it’s Abu Dhabi’s first Sprint weekend.

Which UAE Races Aren’t Happening This Season?

The shows and festivals are going ahead, but there are fewer motorsport events in the UAE this season, as several international races have left the calendar for 2026-27. The Dubai 24 Hours has moved to Kyalami in South Africa for January 2027. The Asian Le Mans Series is running its whole season in Europe, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East has been suspended, with a return planned for 2027. 

The Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina is taking a one-year break and will return in winter 2027-28. The January rounds of the Formula Regional Middle East and F4 UAE championships have reportedly been postponed too.

If you still want some track time, you can try karting at the Dubai Autodrome. Our Dubai Autodrome karting guide covers prices, and here are the best karting tracks in the UAE if you’d like to try somewhere else.

How To Get To UAE Car Events By Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail passenger services started on 30 September 2026. Trains link Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah, with fares from AED 39. Dubai Station connects to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station by a pedestrian bridge. 

In Abu Dhabi, passengers arriving at Mohamed bin Zayed City Station can take the free Yas Express shuttle to Yas Island. For the Grand Prix, check the official race-week transport plan for circuit shuttles. Zayed City and Liwa stations open on 30 November, which is handy for the Liwa festival.

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