BMW opens its biggest showroom in UAE

German luxury car maker BMW has opened its largest showroom in the world in Abu Dhabi, a measure of its commitment to the Middle East, a senior official has said.

The facility, built by Abu Dhabi Motors, the exclusive BMW Group importer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, covers an area of over 35,000 sq m and is the culmination of an AED300m investment.

Located in Umm Al Nar, it offers 172 parking spaces for customers and 120 work bays for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles.

The state-of-the-art facility can accommodate the display of 80 new and pre-owned cars, 10 motorcycles, and features a private cinema-style theatre, Gloria Jean's Cafe, F1 simulator, children's play area, and waiting rooms for men and women.

Ian Robertson, board member for sales and marketing of BMW and chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: "The Middle East is an important region for the BMW Group, not only because it's a market where our top-of-the-range models are best sellers, but also because of future growth potential in many of the countries such as the UAE.

"The investment in this impressive and unique facility that makes it the world's biggest BMW Group showroom, is testament to the continued opportunities that lie ahead in Abu Dhabi."

Abu Dhabi Motors began its operations in May 1986 with a small showroom and workshop in Umm Al-Nar employing just 24 people, and has grown over the years to become the leading BMW Group importer in the Middle East.

It currently employs over 450 staff members in six facilities across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

2011 saw the importer maintain its status as the biggest-selling importer of BMW Group vehicles in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi Motors sold 4,436 cars in 2011, a growth of 23 percent over 2010 sales.

It also maintained its status as one of the top ten Rolls-Royce dealers in the world, with a 16 percent sales growth in 2011, boasting the highest bespoke revenue per car in the Middle East.

Arno Husselmann, general manager of Abu Dhabi Motors, said: "This new facility will not only allow us to match our sales growth with our physical growth, but also underline our ambition to achieve greater results in the coming years."