Driving with the Mille Miglia UAE 2023 edition

We explore the length and breath of the UAE with the most beautiful cars and coolest people with the Mille Miglia UAE edition.

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Say anything with an Italian accent, and it sounds beautiful and exotic. Try doing that with the phrase Mille Miglia; even that sounds poetic. Such is the language. But what does the Mille Miglia stand for? It is a simple phrase meaning 1000 miles or approximately 1600 km.

This simple phrase in the car world means a lot as it stands for what is considered the most beautiful race in the world. The Mille Miglia was a race that happened only in Italy until 1957. It was then stopped and restarted in 1977 as a regularity rally, and the same concept is held to date. The rally is held on public roads across Italy, and only the models and brands participating in the original races are allowed to participate.

But all of that is irrelevant to us as we are taking a journey into the length and breadth of the UAE with the 1000 Mille Miglia Experience UAE. Thanks to Octanium Events, we can participate in something truly epic. Octanium managed to do something that is a world first: acquire the rights to host the Mille Miglia outside Italy. The UAE is the only country outside Italy to host the Mille Miglia. In December 2023, they hosted the second edition of the 1000 Mille Miglia, and team TCI was a part of it.

Since this is a road trip revolving around cool cars, we had to have our cool cars. Initially, I had planned to participate with a 1995 R129 Mercedes-Benz SL500 and Porsche 911 in the 997.2 Carrera S guise. However, we could not get the SL ready in time. So we went ahead with a 2016 Porsche Cayenne as the camera and chase car and me piloting the beautiful 911.

Starting at the Meydan race course, we covered the length and breadth of the UAE. We saw them all from the mountain roads of Jebel Jais, twisty roads through farmlands, winding roads overlooking the oceans, tunnels, highways, and sleepy villages!

The sights and sounds that you witness through this trip are just epic. Every time I do a drive like this, nature, people, and culture leave me wanting more. Trips like this give you such highs and are properly addictive.

The UAE experience covers all seven emirates of the UAE, and for the first time, the convoy ventured into Oman. The short leg of exploring Musandam was one of the trip’s highlights.

With the sights and scenes, you meet epic, like-minded people. Celebrities, car enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, etc; the chemistry between everyone adds a flavour of character to the whole experience.

I can keep talking about how good an experience the 1000 Mille Miglia was. Still, I highly suggest you watch the video and see the photos to truly understand and witness what made an Impression on our Corneas.