Mini fever hits the UAE as Region's biggest ever Ini Festival Rocks

Almost 1,500 MINI fans from across the Middle East rocked the UAE as they took part in the region’s biggest ever MINI event – Drive Out Loud, last weekend. With hundreds of individualized MINIs descending to the UAE, the small car with a big personality was celebrated first in the Capital and then at the Dubai Autodrome.

MINI owners and fans from across the region embarked on a ‘MINI’ road-trip, which saw them arrive to Abu Dhabi for an exclusive evening gathering to welcome the MINI community from Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, KSA, Kuwait and Lebanon introducing them to the new MINI Coupe – the brands sportiest and first two-seater. The next morning, a jam-packed, fun-filled programme started with more than 100 MINIs driving - the largest ever MINI convoy in the Middle East - from Abu Dhabi to the Dubai Autodrome.

The general public then joined MINI owners at the Dubai Autodrome where they took part in a variety of activities including: full day of track drives in the new MINI Coupe and other MINI cars; stunt shows by Russ Swift, one of the world's greatest stunt drivers; taxi drives in the MINI Challenge racing cars; driver trainings; classic and new beauty car parades; accessory and tunung exhibits as well as urban art.

As the day’s festivities wound down the iconic brand wowed crowds with an evening of live entertainment featuring the very best homegrown Middle East music talent. At sun set, the stage came alive with performances from leading Emirati hip-hop rap duo Desert Heat, 2010 Middle East Music Award winner DJ Shadia from Jordan, Colombian singer/songwriter Fatiniza, Indie Rockers Beat Antenna and Dubai’s biggest music export Hamdan Al-Abri for a powerful blend of Soul, Jazz and R&B.

Sarah Klippert, MINI Manager in the Middle East said: “The MINI Festival was a great success with over 100 individualized MINIs converging to celebrate the brand. MINI is all about individuality, fun and a creative spirit and the DRIVE OUT LOUD MINI Festival more than fulfilled that brief.”