Bentley brigade pile into Abu Dhabi for plush showroom opening

Enthusiasts of the classic marque assembled in Khalidiya to witness the event

This Mulsanne is yours for Dh2.2 million. Chris Whiteoak / The National

It's got some front, that Continental GT. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Checking out a Continental GT. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A young fan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bentley in lights. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The crowd assembles. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Continental GT and Bentayga V8 get some attention. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The doors open. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Yes, that man is about to start dancing in front of a Mulsanne. Chris Whiteoak / The National

President of Al Habtoor Motors Sultan Al Habtoor and AHM CEO Ahmed Khalaf Al Habtoor with Joseph Tayar and Chris Craft. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bentley board member Chris Craft addresses the crowd. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Continental GT convertible receives its first guests. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Inside a Flying Spur. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bentley's bonnet figurine. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Flying Spur awaits its adoring public. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mood lighting. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The gearbox on a Flying Spur. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Bentayga V8 sees red. Chris Whiteoak / The National

General manager Joseph Tayar addresses the crowd. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Open the door and you get a Bentley flash. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Bentayga V8 is here to greet you. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The steely styings of a Continental GT. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Flying Spur in a pleasing blue hue. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Bentayga Speed gets the purple light treatment. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A little wink from a Continental GT. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bentley's winged insignia. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bentley's Chris Craft chats to a colleague in front of a Continental GT Convertible. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Flying Spur looks keen to get out of its pen. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A customer admires a Flying Spur. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The wheel of a Flying Spur. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The crowds enter the lit-up venue. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A shadow before the Bentley brand. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Bentley brigade rolled into Abu Dhabi this week to celebrate the British marque unveiling its new showroom in the UAE capital.

Potential punters and brand fans alike piled into the Khalidiya venue, amid a maelstrom of canapes and mocktails, keen to have a look at the selection of shiny, pricey vehicles featured in the new space.

There was also plenty of merchandise on display in the guise of clothing, soft toys, purses, fragrances and the like for anyone who wasn’t quite ready to shell out for a top-level (or, indeed, lesser spec) Mulsanne, Continental, Flying Spur or Bentayga just yet.

Applause rippled out as the outside of the building, decorated in a crisscross pattern resembling tyre tracks, lit up in pink, blue and mauve, indicating that what the marketing people have dubbed the Extraordinary World of Bentley was open for business.

Actors drafted in for the occasion graced the models on display, entertaining the assembled crowds with occasional dancing and general preening, though most of the spectators seemed keener on the cars themselves.

The unveiling of the new venue follows Bentley’s year-long centennial celebration, which culminated in enthusiasts from around the world descending on Port Rashid in Dubai to take part in a spectacular 100-car gathering.

The cavalcade, which was the biggest gathering of its kind in Middle East history, amused onlookers by taking a trip through the city, ending up at Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.

New Bentleys range from around Dh1,080,000 for a Flying Spur, though the pick of the models on display at the Bentley Emirates showroom was a luxury Mulsanne at around Dh2.2 million.