Colin Simpson
DUBAI // Big vehicles are a common sight on the UAE's roads - but a new breed of mammoths is dwarfing even the stretched Hummers.
The country's first showroom specialising in American recreational vehicles, or RVs - giant motorhomes and trailers packed with creature comforts - opened on Sheikh Zayed Road last year.
Business at Gulf Coast RVs was slow at first but sales have started to pick up as more and more people are lured by the American approach to enjoying the great outdoors in comfort.
"It took some time to pick up because the product didn't exist here, we were the first to have this idea in the GCC," said Mazen Kalach, the general manager. "We have delivered nine units so far, there are three in the pipeline and we are closing deals with some potential prospects.
"It's an addictive product - when people see one, they want it. We started in Dubai and now we are opening a showroom in Abu Dhabi."
RVs are much-loved in the US, where some owners live in them permanently as they shuttle from state to state. Others use them for trips to national parks or other beauty spots. They have featured in many TV shows and movies, including the 2006 comedy RV, starring Robin Williams.
In the UAE they are proving to be the perfect choice for either a weekend away or a road trip.
"People use them to go to the desert, they go hunting and they go to the beach," Mr Kalach said. "Most people are using them at the weekend or to go on vacations within the GCC countries."
Gulf Coast RVs is the GCC agent for vehicles made by US company Forest River, which cost between Dh60,000 and Dh800,000. At the lower end are truck campers - simple affairs that fit over a pickup truck. Next comes the pop-up trailer, which has a tent-like structure stowed inside a trailer.
There are two types of large trailers - one designed to be taken to holiday destinations and set up for two or three weeks, the other for touring.
At the top end are two types of motorhomes. Class C models have a separate cab, while Class A types resemble buses and can be up to 11 metres long. Sharif Al Awadhi, 40, an Emirati businessman from Dubai, chose the latter.
The vast Georgetown model he picked up from the showroom is the third RV his family has owned - the previous two were brought over from the US.
"We keep it in a shed at our farm and use it for picnics when we go out," Mr Al Awadhi said. "When the weather is good we go to Hatta, we go to Fujairah and sometimes we go out of the country. It's like a movable house."
The vehicles sleep up to eight people and typically come with spacious bathrooms, TVs, air-conditioning, fridges, cookers and other home comforts. A host of extras such as marble kitchen surfaces, solid-wood units, a flame-effect fire and even a built-in observatory can be added. Some models have side sections that slide outward at the touch of a button to provide extra space inside.
Anyone who does not have a few hundred thousand dirhams to spare but still wants to sample the RV experience can hire a trailer for Dh3,700 per day, complete with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and driver.
While most buyers are nationals from the UAE and other Arabian Gulf countries, the rental service is aimed at tourists and expats.
It even has celebrity appeal - Mr Kalach said one of the Arab world's most popular female singers hired a trailer last week.
csimpson@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')
Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')
Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
Results
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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