Review Central speaks to Michel Ayat, the CEO of Arabian Automobiles, about his insider knowledge of the automotive market against the backdrop of the Dubai International Motor Show 2017
Michel Ayat, the CEO of Arabian Automobiles.
What is your opinion on the current automotive market and its outlook for 2018?
The automotive market across the GCC and especially in the UAE continues to be in a healthy position, and we believe that 2018 will be another successful year. We expect to see unprecedented development in transportation, telecommunications, public services and infrastructure systems, particularly in the run-up to Expo 2020. At the same time, automotive dealers are investing more and more in infrastructure to enhance the overall customer experience, which is a healthy trend.
Arabian Automobiles is excited to be establishing state-of-the-art new infrastructure projects that will be fully operational by 2018. These will all be aimed at providing an elevated experience for both existing and future customers.
On top of these developments, the automotive market is forecast to be one of the leading beneficiary sectors of Expo 2020, when healthy sales records are expected to expand the market to over 400,000 cars, which is an all-time high.
With the uptake in development of electric cars and car manufacturers taking a firm stand on sustainability, how has Arabian Automobiles prepared for the green movement?
Arabian Automobiles was the first company to sell electric vehicles in the UAE and has now been supplying the market with EVs for over two years. This makes us the leader in the sector as well as the automotive industry’s chief contributor to the UAE Vision 2021. We fully support the government’s sustainability initiatives and are committed to promoting EVs to cut carbon footprints and ultimately shape a greener and cleaner future for the UAE.
Arabian Automobiles has a strong presence at the Dubai International Motor Show, with the display of a concept car and new car reveals across their brand portfolio. Can you talk to us about the brand presence here?
Dubai International Motor Show is a major occasion for Arabian Automobiles and this year we are excited to be reintroducing the Nissan Patrol Super Safari.
The Nissan Patrol Super Safari is also back by popular demand and features a range of enhancements while still maintaining its Patrol heritage. Its tough all-terrain ability is highlighted by superior engineering, letting drivers escape the ordinary and explore new possibilities. We are showcasing three and five-door models, which offer unrivalled off-road capability and on-road handling.
