The Ultimate Car Cemetery: Brand New Bentleys and Ferraris Abandoned to the Desert Sands

In a special journey, renowned automotive photographer Larry Chen from Los Angeles, USA, explored these “car graveyards” in Dubai and shared his experience through the Hagerty YouTube channel, leaving any speed enthusiast awe-struck.

In a video over 30 minutes long, Larry Chen captures a series of luxurious and high-performance vehicles such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lotus, and Maserati, all covered in dust under the harsh Gulf sun. Many of these cars show little to no signs of damage and look almost brand new. Interestingly, they are all arranged neatly, indicating that this is not a junk yard but a well-organized storage area.

Going beyond just filming, Chen also discovers dedicated areas designed for reclaiming reusable parts. Here, high-value components such as carbon-ceramic brakes, active suspension systems, and premium interiors are carefully dismantled, creating a true “gold mine” for the supercar parts market.

In addition to the European and supercar sections, Larry Chen also visits a graveyard dedicated to American muscle cars. This area houses a collection of Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros, and Dodge Challengers—symbols of speed and mechanical power—now silently resting in the desert.

This unusual phenomenon can be attributed to the unique socio-economic characteristics of Dubai. As one of the richest cities in the Middle East, Dubai attracts a large number of super-rich individuals who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on supercars but are also prone to abandoning them after accidents or technical issues.

In some cases, owners choose to discard their vehicles instead of repairing them simply because they have lost interest or because the repair process takes too long. Some individuals own so many cars that losing one does not make a significant impact.

Another less discussed but significant factor contributing to the abandonment of supercars in Dubai is personal financial issues, particularly debt and its legal consequences. With a large number of expatriates living and working in Dubai, job loss or bankruptcy are not uncommon. When individuals are unable to repay their loans, especially those linked to high-value assets like luxury cars, they face criminal penalties under local laws, which are stringent in dealing with bad debt.

As a result, the most common solution is to leave Dubai before being held criminally liable. In their haste to depart, these supercars are often left behind, unable to be sold or legally transferred. Over time, these vehicles are collected and taken to storage areas, where they remain under the desert sun and sand.

It is not surprising then that seeing a Ferrari or Lamborghini covered in dust by the roadside is not an uncommon sight in Dubai. This is not just a consequence of fickle opulence but also the dark side of a society that operates under strict financial and legal discipline.

While the sight of abandoned supercars in the desert may sadden car enthusiasts, it presents an opportunity for others. Restoration garages, classic car collectors, and companies specializing in supercar parts view this as a potential market. Old but functional components are either reused or sold at a much lower price compared to brand-new parts.

With the global increase in supercar and parts prices, these car graveyards in Dubai are gradually becoming a destination for those in the luxury car industry and speed enthusiasts, despite their somewhat somber origins.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)