According to an industry expert declared that the UAE automobile sector is set for a new all-time high sales record of 380,000 vehicles in 2013 on the back of the country’s healthy economy.
Sales in the UAE recorded around 24 per cent year-on-year growth in the first two months of 2013 and the trend is expected to continue until the end of the year, Arabian Automobiles Company chief executive officer Michel Ayat told Khaleej Times.
He said the country witnessed the highest sales of 347,904 vehicles during the peak period, but the global financial crisis of 2009 resulted in a sharp decline. After that, sales in the auto sector continued to improve; last year, sales crossed the 310,000 vehicles sales, he added.
In the next five years, the 600,000-vehicle sales target looks achievable as all economic sectors in the UAE are doing very well, he told reporters on Sunday after the opening of Arabian Automobiles’ largest facility in Sharjah.
Earlier, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the facility. He said: “This new showroom underlines the potential our emirate offers to large businesses while expanding the choices in the marketplace for residents. We will continue in our efforts to attract partners of the same calibre as Arabian Automobiles to Sharjah.”
Located on Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Sharjah, the Dh150 million development is a significant contributor to Arabian Automobiles’ growth strategy for the Nissan, Infiniti and Renault brands in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
The facility is Arabian Automobiles’ fifth in Sharjah after those in Al Khan, Al Wadha, Dhaid and Khorfakkan. The new showroom has an area of over 35,000sqm and the capacity to display more than 225 cars.
Talking about Arabian Automobiles’ sales growth, Ayat said: “During the first three months of the year we have achieved a 25 per cent growth and based on that we hope to touch the 45,000-vehicle sales [mark] by the end of this year.”
“Definitely, we will continue with the same speed of growth. There is no reason not to maintain the growth level and what we have achieved in the first quarter as there are new models are coming up.”
“The launch of Arabian Automobiles’ latest facility in Sharjah is an important milestone. The new showrooms and service center offer our customers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah a new level of service standard and convenience,” said Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani, chairman of the AWR Group.
