Icons of Porsche returns to Dubai Design District this autumn for its fifth edition, turning The Slab at d3 into a two day open air museum of classic Porsche models, future concepts and regional premieres. The festival is scheduled for Saturday 22 November 2025 and Sunday 23 November 2025, with public opening hours from 16:00 to 23:00 each day. Organisers describe it as the Middle East’s largest Porsche gathering, building on a 2024 edition that attracted tens of thousands of visitors and featured landmark launches for the brand. The concept mixes heritage displays, art installations, live music, food trucks and kids’ entertainment, so it feels as much like a lifestyle festival as a car show. Because the event runs across both days and late into the evening, you can treat it as a flexible drop in experience rather than a single short time slot (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
History and spirit of Icons of Porsche
Icons of Porsche started as a brand heritage weekend and quickly evolved into a regional festival, linking motorsport history with Dubai’s creative scene. Earlier editions celebrated key milestones, lined up multiple generations of hero models and used the platform to show important new electric cars for the first time in the region. Over time, the festival has shifted from a static car display into a multi district experience where you stroll between themed zones, each telling a different story from the Porsche world. You can expect districts focusing on motorsport, classic restorations, design and future technologies, often with rare race cars that usually live in museum collections. In practice, that means enthusiasts can study details up close while casual visitors simply enjoy the spectacle and immersive staging. The fifth edition aims to feel bigger and more international without losing the relaxed, open access atmosphere that regulars now expect.
Festival layout and experiences at The Slab
The festival occupies The Slab at Dubai Design District, an open platform that is transformed into a temporary village of stages, display plinths and pop up galleries. Curated clusters of cars usually anchor each zone, surrounded by brand experiences, merchandise stands and interactive installations that explain engineering or design stories in straightforward language. Meanwhile, roaming performers and DJs help tie the space together so that movement between areas feels like part of the show, not an empty transition. Families typically find a dedicated kids area, often branded as a space for Young Icons, with activities such as mini driving games or creative workshops linked to car design. Evening sessions tend to lean more into music and lighting design, which gives returning visitors a reason to see the site both by daylight and after dark. Wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk quite a bit if you want to cover all the zones properly.
Timings, tickets and entry rules
Icons of Porsche runs on Saturday 22 November 2025 and Sunday 23 November 2025, open to the public from 16:00 until 23:00 on both days. General tickets are currently expected to sit at around 75 AED per person per day, with earlier early bird batches likely priced a little lower and already taken. Children under 12 are usually allowed in on complimentary child tickets when accompanied by an adult holding a valid general ticket, although ID may be required at the gate. For larger parties, registration details often mention a cap on ticket quantity per person, which matters if you are organising a big group or corporate outing. The event is positioned as a colourful, family friendly festival rather than a late night motorsport party, but some hospitality or bar areas may still apply over 21 rules. Buy your tickets in advance if possible, because popular time slots on Saturday evening are likely to be the first to fill.
Highlights for families and young fans
Because Porsche wants Icons of Porsche to appeal beyond core petrolheads, programming for children and teenagers plays a central role. The family focused zones give kids a mix of playful activities and light learning, from basic car design sketches to simple driving themed games. At the same time, curated displays often highlight pop culture crossovers, such as Porsche appearances in films or gaming franchises, which helps younger visitors connect to the brand more easily. For parents, this balance means you can linger over rare air cooled models while still offering something engaging to children within sight. Even if your family does not usually attend car meets, the mix of street food, music and open space creates a relaxed weekend outing that feels similar to a waterfront street festival. For families, the possibility of complimentary entry for some age groups makes the cost of testing out the festival atmosphere much easier to justify (children/family friendly).
Photography, displays and enthusiast zones
For photographers, Icons of Porsche functions like an open air studio filled with reflective metal surfaces and strong lines. Classic 911s, endurance racers and one off concept cars are typically arranged with enough space to walk around them, which helps both serious camera users and casual phone photographers find clean angles. Many enthusiasts also enjoy the owner car displays, where selected regional cars appear alongside factory exhibits, creating a gentle competition between perfectly restored originals and tastefully modified machines. In previous editions, Porsche used the festival to host Middle East premieres, so it would not be surprising if 2025 includes at least one major new reveal or special edition. Because the site is open and quite bright before sunset, the late afternoon golden hour usually delivers the most flattering light, especially when city towers behind d3 start to glow. Arriving from around 16:00 gives you time to scout locations, then capture both daylight and night shots without feeling rushed (suitable for couples, solo).
Food, music and evening atmosphere
Beyond the cars themselves, much of the festival’s personality comes from how food, music and art are woven into the programme. Food trucks and pop up counters normally cover familiar Dubai favourites such as burgers, sliders, coffee and desserts, alongside a few more adventurous menus that reflect current culinary trends. Meanwhile, live sets from bands and DJs help transition the mood from daytime browsing to evening hangout, often supported by subtle light projections on surrounding buildings. You may also find small art installations or live painting sessions that draw on Porsche culture, which softens the barrier for visitors who care more about design and lifestyle than engine codes. As the evening progresses, the crowd often shifts toward groups of friends and design fans, with people lingering in central plazas even after they have seen their favourite cars. Because the festival closes at 23:00, you can enjoy a full evening yet still head home at a reasonable time before the new week starts.
Getting to Dubai Design District smoothly
Dubai Design District sits beside Dubai Creek, close to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, so it is relatively central for city residents. Most drivers will approach via Al Khail Road or the Ras Al Khor corridor, then follow d3 signage into the district and up toward The Slab and nearby parking areas. The district is known for having extensive parking, including multi level and surface options, but large festivals can still push capacity at peak hours. As a result, late arrivals around 19:00 to 20:00 on Saturday may face slow moving queues at entry points and longer walks from distant bays. For visitors staying in Downtown or Business Bay, taxis and ride hailing apps provide a straightforward alternative, usually taking less than 15 minutes outside the very busiest peaks. Public transport users can ride the Metro to Business Bay station and continue by short taxi or ride hailing car to the site, which avoids long walks in the evening heat. If you plan to drive, aim to arrive near opening time or after the first wave of peak arrivals so you avoid circling for parking.
Arrivals from other emirates and late night departures
Fans driving from Abu Dhabi will usually take Sheikh Zayed Road toward Dubai, then follow signs toward Business Bay and d3, with a realistic travel time of around 80 to 100 minutes depending on weekend traffic. Visitors from Sharjah, Ajman or the Northern Emirates may find it easier to use Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, turning off toward the city centre and following local directions to Dubai Design District. It often helps to plan one fuel stop and a short rest before reaching Dubai, so that you arrive refreshed and ready to walk the site rather than heading straight into a crowd. For the return journey, leaving exactly at closing can mean heavy outbound traffic from d3 toward the main roads, so building in a short buffer to grab a drink or a late snack before driving home often feels calmer. Those who prefer not to drive long distances at night might consider staying with friends in Dubai or booking a hotel in Business Bay or Downtown, then heading back after a relaxed breakfast on Sunday. Whichever emirate you start from, decide early who will drive, where you will park and roughly when you expect to leave, so the logistics do not overshadow the festival itself.
Weather, clothing and practical safety tips
Forecasts for Saturday 22 November 2025 and Sunday 23 November 2025 suggest hazy sunshine in Dubai, with daytime highs around 32 degrees and evening lows dropping to roughly 22 to 23 degrees. Rain is not currently indicated, and November is historically a dry month for the city, so mud or standing water at The Slab is unlikely. Light, breathable clothing works best for the late afternoon heat, while a thin extra layer is useful after 21:00 when a breeze can make things feel cooler along the creek. Comfortable trainers or closed shoes are important because you will stand and walk on concrete for long stretches, and a small crossbody bag keeps hands free for photos and snacks. For transport, traffic should remain manageable early in the afternoon but will almost certainly build between 18:00 and 20:30 as more visitors arrive, then again near closing time as people leave together. According to guidance shared by editors who regularly cover such events for platforms like www.few.ae, the safest approach is to buy tickets early, arrive with plenty of time, carry water and sunscreen, and agree a clear meeting point with your group in case anyone gets separated in the crowds. Ticket prices and timings are still subject to change, so treat the figures of approximately 75 AED per day and the published 16:00 to 23:00 schedule as guidance, not a fixed contract.
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