Icons of Porsche 2024: Highlights From The Region’s Biggest Porsche Festival

Icons of Porsche 2024 brought automotive enthusiasts from across the GCC and even certain parts of Europe to Dubai on November 23rd and 24th for a spectacular fourth edition of the Porsche Festival. With over 28,000 attendees across two days and a staggering gathering of drool-worthy Porsche cars, the event once again cemented itself as a must-attend celebration for Porsche fans.

Held at The Slab, Dubai Design District, this year’s festival was not just about cars but also a cultural and community extravaganza. Porsche owners and fans from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia joined local enthusiasts and owners to bask in the glory of the legendary marque. 

A Showcase of Porsche Legends

The event brought together hundreds of Porsche models, each with a unique story to tell. Some of the most notable exhibits included:

The Le Mans-winning Porsche 911 GT1 with motorsport legend Mark Webber in the background.

Le Mans Legends

  1. 1998 Porsche GT1
    The Porsche 911 GT1 secured a historic win at Le Mans in 1998, delivering Porsche its 16th overall victory at the legendary endurance race. Its combination of a mid-engine layout and a carbon fiber chassis set a new benchmark for performance.
  2. 1982 Porsche 956
    The Porsche 956 was the first Porsche car to incorporate ground-effect aerodynamics. In 1983, it set a record at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife that stood for an astounding 35 years, only to be surpassed by the Porsche 919 Evo in 2018!
  3. 1987 Porsche 962
    Built as an evolution of the 956, the Porsche 962 became a legend in its own right, conquering global racing circuits. Its success was fueled by exceptional reliability and a 690hp bi-turbo flat-six engine capable of withstanding grueling 24-hour races.

Dedicated Sections

The sprawling 44,000 sq.m festival site was meticulously organized into zones, each showcasing Porsche’s legacy:

  1. Electric Avenue
    A futuristic display of Porsche’s electric vehicles, featuring the Taycan and recently launched Macan EV.
  2. Turbo Yard
    In celebration of the history & heritage of Porsche’s turbocharged engines, this section showcased historic models from the Porsche Museum and the very first turbocharged flat-6 engine alongside modern turbocharged 911 models.
  3. Performance Paddock
    A paradise for enthusiasts, showcasing high-performance models like the GT3, GT3 RS, and GT2 RS. Porsche’s racing sub-division, Manthey Racing also displayed the recently launched 911 GT3 RS MR, a world premiere that stole the show.
  4. Style Plaza
    It highlighted Porsche’s extensive customization options, allowing visitors to envision their dream Porsche.
  5. Dreamer’s Playground
    A whimsical section with unique cars, including a 911 wrapped in traditional majlis cloth and another with a camel figurine emerging from it, among others.
  6. Community Village
    Porsche owners proudly displayed their cherished cars, turning the festival into a celebration of shared passion.
  7. Off-road Section
    It showcased off-road builds based on the Porsche Cayenne. It even featured a 911 Dakar equipped with a roof-top tent and a complete camping setup. Read our detailed review of the Porsche 911 Dakar — an engineering marvel, a sports car designed to go off-road.

Spotlight: The Porsche 911 GT3 RS MR World Premiere

The world premiere of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS MR was the highlight of Icons of Porsche 2024. Based on the 911 GT3 RS and developed by Manthey Racing, this model represents the pinnacle of Porsche’s track-focused engineering. 

Key Upgrades:

  • New front splitter
  • Six additional fins on the roof
  • lightweight carbon fiber rear window with a massive shark fin for enhanced high-speed stability.
  • Upgraded diffuser 
  • A New rear wing of epic proportions, delivering unparalleled downforce. 

While the 4.0-litre flat-six engine remains untouched at 518hp & 465Nm, the Manthey Racing kit shaves approximately 5 seconds off the standard GT3 RS’ Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time, which is super impressive.

Inside, weight-saving measures continue with the removal of unnecessary trim and the integration of motorsport-focused elements. The kit is priced at AED 394,000 and can be ordered through Porsche Dubai and Porsche Abu Dhabi dealerships.

Global Personalities in Attendance

Icons of Porsche 2024 was graced by notable personalities, including:

  • Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG
  • Mark Webber, Porsche Brand Ambassador and former Formula 1 & WEC driver.
  • Pascal Wehrlein, the reigning 2024 Formula E World Champion.

Community & Culture

Beyond the cars, the event was a celebration of Porsche’s vibrant community. The lineup featured dedicated model lineup areas for all Porsche cars ranging from the vintage Porsche 356 and 928 to the classic 930, 944, and even the modern 911 and 718 models. In addition, the presence of Porsche hypercar royalty like the Carrera GT & 918 only added to the grandeur of the event. 

Oliver Blume was quoted as saying, “Porsche has always been all about fascinating sports cars, and just as much about emotions and dreams – that connect people across generations and continents, said Blume to the passionate crowd in attendance. All of this comes together at Icons of Porsche in a truly unique way – in front of this spectacular backdrop here in Dubai.”

A Festival To Remember

Icons of Porsche 2024 wasn’t just about showcasing cars — it was about storytelling and community spirit. The event also saw the comeback of the world’s largest inflatable car — a surprisingly detailed Porsche 356 that first debuted at Icons Of Porsche 2023.

By bringing together historic icons, modern marvels, and passionate fans from across the GCC, the event once again proved why it’s a cornerstone of automotive culture in the region. As Porsche continues to push boundaries, we can only imagine what surprises the next edition will hold.

Where is Icons of Porsche 2024?

Icons of Porsche 2024 took place at the Dubai Design District on 23 & 24 November.

What is the most iconic Porsche car?

Porsche has produced some legendary cars over the years. However, the single most iconic model line has to be the Porsche 911. Here’s a detailed look at the history and generations of the Porsche 911.

Is Icons of Porsche the largest Porsche festival?

With over 28,000 visitors, Icons of Porsche 2024 is the largest Porsche gathering in the Middle East and one of the largest car events in the region.

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