The Random Nissan That Dominates Dubai

Ahlan. I’m Omar El Chmouri, and for the past few months, I’ve been working with Pursuits on a newsroom rotation in Bloomberg’s Dubai bureau. Prior to that, my day job was covering money and power in the Middle East, with a focus on AI. My stint with Pursuits has left me with a deeper understanding of Emirati and Gulf Arab culture. At its best, lifestyle journalism goes beyond the superficial and material toward the great luxury of human connection.

And one thing people the world over connect over is cars—especially in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, the flashier the better. But few people know that one of the most popular cars in the United Arab Emirates is the Nissan Patrol, a humble $65,000 SUV by comparison. In fact, many Emiratis see it as their “national car.” I decided to investigate.