Shereen Shabnam
In the last 25 years as a motoring journalist in Dubai, I find that our city’s car culture has always been more than a hobby – it is a lifestyle, a community, and a shared passion that cuts across generations. That spirit was unmistakable during my conversation with Abdulhakim Abdullah, Senior Associate, Retail Events & Festivals, as we met at Coca-Cola Arena before heading to City Walk across my home to experience the Collectors Hub first-hand. I love it when we have car events in my neighbourhood.
Now in its second year, the DSF Auto Season has returned as one of the most anticipated pillars of the Dubai Shopping Festival, building on the strong momentum of its debut edition.
“Auto Season was successfully launched last year, and we saw incredible participation from people who genuinely enjoy cars and bikes,” Abdulhakim shared. “Dubai has a very mature automotive community. They don’t just attend events. They engage, connect, and celebrate the culture together.”
According to Abdulhakim, the vision behind introducing a dedicated auto season within DSF was clear from the outset: to bring together the city’s diverse car clubs and enthusiast communities under one umbrella. “Auto Season connects these clubs and communities in one place,” he explained. “This year, we’ve expanded with multiple activations across the city, starting with the Collectors Hub at City Walk, followed by club meet-ups at Coca-Cola Arena, and culminating in our largest events to be held later at Dubai Studio City and City Centre Mirdif.”
The Collectors Hub at City Walk, running from 2 to 4 January, marks the opening chapter of DSF Auto Season 2026. The free-to-attend event shines a spotlight on Dubai’s collector culture, featuring rare classics, resto-mod builds, race-ready machines, and limited-edition models from some of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, alongside innovation showcases from Dubai Police and the RTA. Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite vehicles, with top entries competing for a prize pool of AED30,000.
From City Walk, the action moves to Coca-Cola Arena, which Abdulhakim describes as a hub for community-driven club gatherings. “Here, it’s all about meet-ups,” he said. “You’ll see Porsche clubs, supercar owners, Jeeps, Mini Coopers, customised bikes and come across many different communities coming together in one space. It’s a very engaging and unique experience.”
We stayed a while at the Coca Cola Arena to see some of the action live. We saw cars we have become used to seeing from other car shows but it is always great to see new ones come in regularly.
Looking ahead, Abdulhakim highlighted two major events that define the scale of DSF Auto Season this year. The Middle East Car and Bike Week will take place on 10 and 11 January at Dubai Studio City, offering a ticketed, family-friendly environment where visitors can experience supercars, bikes, custom builds, stunt zones, drifting arenas, and live entertainment.
Meanwhile, the Mirdif Motor Show x DSF Auto Season will open on 10 January at City Centre Mirdif, transforming the mall’s rooftop into a free showcase of over 1,000 vehicles, from supercars and classics to bikes and RC models, accompanied by live DJs and a relaxed festival atmosphere.
As the season builds towards its finale on 11 January, Abdulhakim encourages enthusiasts to keep an eye on the DSF calendar. “We have daily updates and events happening across the city,” he said. “This second edition of Auto Season is stronger, bigger, and more diverse. We invite everyone to come, enjoy the shows, and celebrate Dubai’s incredible automotive culture together.”
From collector showcases and club meet-ups to parades, exhibitions, and adrenaline-fuelled arenas, DSF Auto Season 2026 cements Dubai’s position as a global hub for automotive passion, bringing the city’s love for cars and bikes to life in the most dynamic way possible.
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