There are plenty of times when the oft-used phrase "only in Dubai" feels a little hackneyed, but it certainly seemed appropriate on Sunday morning when residents woke up to see giant sculptures of a gorilla and a tiger flying through Dubai Marina.
Chloe Hilton, a resident in the area, filmed the large silver ape statue being flown by helicopter from a balcony in Silverene Tower A on Sunday, at about 7.30am.
The footage shows the gorilla on what looks like an adventure flight, with Marina Mall and Pier 7 in the background and plenty of yachts moored in the marina below.
In the video, Hilton says: "Pretty sure that is a gorilla". She can then be heard laughing to herself about the unexpected sighting and asking: "What is going on?".
It appears as though the sculpture is being flown towards the Address Dubai Marina hotel, however it is not clear whether it will be part of a private collection or a public installation.
A second Dubai Marina resident, Ross Byrne, spotted a similar statue, in the shape of a big cat, flying across the Marina on the same morning – probably part of the same art collection. He filmed the flight of what looks like a tiger, from Park Island in Dubai Marina.
The tiger was also spotted by Daniel Harkin, who wrote on Facebook: "Standard morning viewing in Dubai. Someone getting a solid metal giant tiger ornament delivered by helicopter."
The National has contacted the Address Dubai Marina for comment.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
