Ultra-rare Dubai limos could fetch Dh55m - at a stretch


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

A collector of luxury cars is expecting to fetch at least Dh11.5 million for each of his five Bentley limousines that have been put up for sale in Dubai.

The rare and exclusive Mulsanne Grand Limousines by Mulliner have not been used since the unnamed individual bought them from a set of 12 custom made vehicles in 2016.

The cars are on display at the Bentley showroom on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, where the manager is confident they will all be sold by the end of the year.

The Bentleys’ owner bought each car for Dh8.6 million in 2016 and hopes to make a profit of just under Dh3 million on each vehicle.

The owner bought it as an investment as he had the vision they would increase in value over time
Joseph Tayar,
manager of Bentley showroom in Dubai

“The retail valuation of these cars is Dh11.5 million each and they are masterpieces,” said Joseph Tayar, general manager of the Bentley showroom in Dubai.

“The price reflects how unique and exclusive they are.

“I am expecting they will all be sold by the end of the year as we have had interest from both in the UAE and internationally.”

The Bentleys were custom made to order in 2016 by the owner, who has asked to remain anonymous.

Mr Tayar would only say “they are people with taste and are of high profile”.

He said the cars have zero miles on the clock as they have never been driven.

Most cars immediately lose value as soon as they are driven out of the showroom, but that is not the case with the five limousines — which are officially known as Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner models.

The cars were built by hand in Bentley’s Mulliner division, based in the company’s headquarters in Crewe, England, which specialises in creating in-house bespoke vehicles.

“He bought it as an investment as he had the vision they would increase in value over time,” said Mr Tayar.

If you fancy purchasing one of them you have the choice of five colours — silver frost over Moroccan blue, damson over black crystal, onyx over candy red, rubino red over light gazelle, and black sapphire.

Each car weighs 3 tonnes and is 7 metres long. The interior is designed to accommodate four passengers who sit facing each other, in what Mr Tayar describes as a cabin, while the driver’s section is called the cockpit.

If the passengers want privacy they have the option to change the colour of the glass between them and the driver, from transparent to opaque, and they can then communicate with the driver through an intercom system.

The cabin section also comes with iPad docking and charging stations, bottle coolers with crystal flutes and tumblers, and a drinks cabinet.

Three dials display local time, UK time, and the outside temperature.

The cars come equipped with 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engines.

Mr Tayar said the design of the cars was inspired by the aviation industry.

The other seven cars that are part of the set of 12 that was created in 2016 are with private owners across the world, he added.

So who exactly would be in the market for a car like this?

According to Mr Tayar, the buyers are likely to fall into one of two categories.

“We have customers who are looking for a car like this because they want to show their status and wealth and that they have succeeded,” he said.

“Then you have those who are collectors and view the car as a piece of history and want to own something that’s part of a very limited collection.

“People who are looking for this car are not only interested in travelling in style. They want to travel in privacy and comfort as well.”

The world's most Instagrammed cars — in pictures

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

India cancels school-leaving examinations
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

McLaren GT specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 630Nm

Price: Dh875,000

On sale: now

Sunday's Super Four matches

Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

Company%20profile
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THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

Honeymoonish
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The%20specs
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Updated: September 13, 2021, 3:15 AM