Abu Dhabi Engine Week has left organisers basking in its afterglow after figures revealed the event attracted more than 40,000 visitors – enough to ensure it will now become an annual extravaganza. The UAE capital’s first umbrella celebration of cars and bikes featured a series of headline events, beginning with the Middle East Car of the Year awards. This paved the way for the Custom Show Emirates at Adnec, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge which took participants into the wilds of the Empty Quarter, and the FIA RX event at Yas Marina Circuit, which included championship racing and drifting competitions. It wasn’t all about power though, as there were BMX biking and parkour displays, too. <strong>See some of the highlights of the debut Engine Week in the gallery above.</strong> Concerts were also parcelled in with the mechanical mayhem, with UK indie band Bastille and US hip-hop outfit Migos performing over the course of the 10-day pageant. Another popular attraction which was part of the event’s line-up was the Abu Dhabi Club Social, a beach festival which attracted thousands of people keen to sample a range of sports and entertainment activities. "We have been really pleased with the popularity of Abu Dhabi Engine Week, which has surpassed our expectations,” said Saeed Al Saeed, destination marketing director of DCT Abu Dhabi. Officials now say the success of the event will make it a permanent part of the capital’s calendar, and there are plans to expand what's on offer next year.
