Aston Martin set to unveil new Dubai dealership

Long associated with James Bond and other venerable British institutions, carmaker Aston Martin will unveil a new dealership and showroom in Dubai. As for Abu Dhabi, it is yet to be decided whether it will have a dealership of its own or whether to have a single one responsible for the entire UAE. Aston Martin's top official for the Middle East and North Africa territory, Adham Charanoglu, remained tight-lipped about the identity of the new dealer, but did add that it will be announced within the coming weeks. Al Habtoor Motors had been representing the UK marquee's local interests until now. "Aston Martin models will continue to be available here and so will the after-market support until the new arrangement is formalised soon," said Charanoglu. "In the region, the brand is moving towards offering buyers a new experience that's just not confined to the engine; it's a boutique offering bespoke luxury that we and our partners are seeking to create and not just an automobile showroom." Article continues below It's only been two years since the carmaker set up direct operations in the region, which, interestingly, also coincided with notching up record sales during this period. Last year, more than 200 units were sold in these markets, and followed up with a strong double-digit turn in the first six months of the current year. Impact "Obviously, the recession has not had any sort of impact on our numbers in 2009 or 2010," said Charanoglu. "From that perspective, it makes our ongoing partner development programme all the more vital to our longer term interests in the region." Indeed, luxury car sales across all competing brands have been on the rise, including Rolls-Royce which last week announced that unit volumes were up 40 per cent during the first half of the year.