Icons of Porsche 2024

“From the raw power of the 918 Spyder to the untamed beauty of the Carrera GT, this lineup is a symphony of Porsche engineering. A record-breaking 956 Coupe that redefined endurance racing, the iconic double-Le Mans-winning 962, and a Formula-E champion X car that proves Porsche’s dominance in every form of motorsport. Then, there’s the unmistakable charm of countless 718s, each a tribute to precision and performance. Oh, and let’s not forget the very inflatable 356—because who says performance can’t have a little fun? Nice indeed.”

In what’s probably the boldest Porsche gathering since someone first thought “engineering should be fun,” Icons of Porsche has once again taken over Dubai’s Design District.

This time, they’re charging 50 dirhams for entry, but honestly, with the cars on display, they could’ve charged ten times that and the crowds would still be lining up. And line up they did—more people than a Black Friday sale.

Thanks to a couple of snazzy media passes (which made us feel way more important than we actually are), we found ourselves in what can only be described as Porsche heaven. First stop: Electric Avenue. The name says it all—new Macan and Cayenne EVs parked around like they’re trying to convince us the future’s not as bad as we thought.

And you know what? They’ve got a point. These electric beauties look sharp, even if they’re as quiet as a mime at a library.

Next up, we hit the Turbo Yard, celebrating 50 years of Porsche engineers thinking, “What does this car need? More power.” Spoiler alert: it always does.

Here’s a simple, interesting version:

Every generation of the 911 Turbo was on display, from the wild “widowmaker” that had all the stability of a caffeinated cat, to the modern beasts that seem to defy physics itself.

They even had a flat-six engine on show, and let’s just say it pulled a crowd like a supermodel at a car meet. The live talk about its history? It wasn’t just fascinating—it felt like someone was explaining how they invented happiness.

And then there were the cars.

Oh, the cars.

A 944 that’d make Jeremy Clarkson’s dad proud (and probably handle better than anything he actually drove), a 962 with more racing wins than I’ve had hot dinners, and what seemed like every 911 variant ever built.

There were even a few Dakars, posed against a creek, probably plotting their next desert adventure—looking every bit the part.

But the real action? That was in the Performance Paddock, where things got next-level serious.

The 1982 Porsche 956 C Coupe sat there, its racing victories proudly displayed like a collection of military medals—Norisring, Spa, Brands Hatch, Kyalami, Fuji… this car won more races than most cars rack up miles.

Then they fired up its successor, the Le Mans-winning 962 C Coupe, and the crowd surged forward like there was free money on offer.

The sound?

Picture Zeus gargling with high-octane fuel, and that’s still only half as impressive as the roar of this beast.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we spotted it—a blue 918 Spyder next to a grey Carrera GT. It was like seeing a unicorn sipping coffee with a dragon. Every petrolhead’s dream.

The 918 Spyder’s electric blue paint next to the Carrera GT’s sleek grey was enough to make you forget about bills and start wondering what your kidney’s worth on the open market.

Next up was the Style Plaza, surrounded by what seemed like every Porsche ever made. From 911s that looked ready to break lap records, to Weissach-themed 718s that made me question whether I really need both kidneys. The whole display was laid out with the kind of precision you’d expect from people who probably measure their coffee beans before brewing.

And then there was the inflatable 356—because when you’re Porsche, even your bouncy castles have to be historically accurate.

The goodie bags were flowing like German beer at Oktoberfest—Paint to Sample booklets, Manthey Racing stickers, posters—though you’d need the patience of a saint to get your hands on them.

The live performances kept the vibe high, with DJ Patchoulie, Vonne, and others making even the most serious Porsche engineers tap their feet. Watching a guy in a GT3 RS shirt doing the robot to electronic music? Yeah, that was something.

Then R.M. Sotheby’s dropped their showstopper: a one-of-a-kind 911 Remastered by Porsche Sonderwunsch. A tribute to the original Turbo, it screamed “I cost more than your house”, from the wheels to the paint. Inside, it made even regular 911s look ordinary—kind of like making a Rolex feel like a knockoff.

The community village was where the real magic happened—everyday people showing off their pride and joy, from daily-driven Panameras to Cayennes built for the apocalypse. One Cayenne looked like it could climb Everest, though I’m pretty sure it spends most of its time in the Mall of the Emirates’ parking lot.

It felt like a family reunion—except everyone actually liked each other, and all the relatives were seriously fast.

After four hours of pure automotive bliss, we had to tear ourselves away before Business Bay traffic turned into its usual parking lot. Leaving felt like walking out of the best party just as they’re bringing out the good stuff.

And here’s the thing: next year, we’ll be there before the gates open, probably camping out like it’s a Rolling Stones concert. Because that’s what Icons of Porsche does to you—it makes grown adults act like kids on Christmas morning.