The new facility is located in the Al Barsha area of Dubai, where temperatures during the summer months typically reach 120 degrees F (49 degrees C). Thus, it will primarily be used to conduct extreme hot weather testing, though off-roading systems will also be fine tuned on the nearby sand dunes and rocky outcrops.
Importantly, all Jaguar Land Rover vehicles destined for production will have to pass the tests conducted in Dubai. This means owners anywhere on the globe can be assured their vehicles will perform in virtually any hot weather environment.
The new facility brings the number of test centers outside the UK for Jaguar Land Rover to five. The other four can be found at the Nürburgring, Germany; Arjeplog, in northern Sweden; and Phoenix and International Falls in the U.S.
Jaguar Land Rover has major ambitions for its expansion in the Middle East. The automaker is currently conducting a feasibility study looking at possible production of its cars in Saudi Arabia and already plans to source some of its aluminum components from the oil-rich nation.
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