When a motoring manufacturer describes its new vehicle as “the car that changes everything” (a bold statement if ever there was one), many of us who regularly try to decipher marketing speak are inclined to remain unfazed.
However, when the brand in question is Rolls-Royce and the fulsome runaround in question its first ever petrol-free offering, you are likely to pull a mental handbrake turn on those initial nonchalant feelings. So, that is the situation here.
The name of the vehicle in the headlights is the Spectre, and, aside from the claims about the car altering all, the brand also asserts this is the world’s first ultra-luxury electric coupe.
It marks the UK manufacturer’s inaugural step into non-fossil-fuel powered motoring, and, Rolls-Royce says, its latest creation makes zero concessions regarding performance, comfort or ride quality.
This much is certainly true. And, even at first glance, obvious.
The Spectre looks and feels like any of Rolls-Royce’s greatest hits, metaphorically pushing all the pleasure buttons for anyone driving it, riding in the back, or, indeed, just going past one parked at the kerb while out walking the dog.
The car has a definite air of athleticism, which is not a trait you’d necessarily associate with this particular manufacturer of ultra-high-end vehicles.
The brand’s design team has done a neat job in giving the car the usual DNA so distinctive of the Crewe-based company’s vehicles, but rounding the chassis out in a way that, from certain angles, reminds you of something like a classic 1950s Jaguar XK120, say.
As soon as you get inside, it becomes apparent that the no-compromise claims are 100 per cent on the money (although, admittedly, that’s not something anyone familiar with Rolls-Royce would have been in any doubt about in the first place).
The magic-carpet ride quality which the brand cites as one of the key qualities of all its cars is amplified by the silence of the engine – if, indeed, amplify is an acceptable word to use when describing a heightened sense of calm.
The Spectre is powered by a pair of electric motors that will get the car up to 100 kph in a smidgen north of four seconds.
SPECS
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Despite this evident sports-car acceleration, the sensation inside the cabin at even the highest speeds is one of serenity, feeling, as it does, no more dramatic than a gentle jaunt across the flattest sand on the most stable, chunky-tyred beach bike.
Even in places where supercars and the like are commonplace – Dubai, being an obvious example – the Spectre stands out.
Rolls-Royce thinks of itself as the world’s most luxurious brand (bar none) and that does seem to filter through when you’re driving along in one.
So, it would indeed be fair to say the Spectre marks a significant moment in the history of the brand.
Particularly as Charles Rolls, the company’s founder alongside Henry Royce, was a champion of the concept of electric vehicles right back when the company first started.
It only took the manufacturer 120 years to get around to actually building one, of course, but, looking at the positives, you might consider the Spectre to be a sound example of good things coming to those who wait.
Even so, had he lived to a spectacular age due to some form of medical wizardry, Mr Royce himself might have been tapping his pocket watch and saying: “About time.”
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPEC SHEET
Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz
Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core
Memory: 8/12GB RAM
Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
Platform: Android 12
Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW
Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps
Front camera: 40MP f/2.2
Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
I/O: USB-C
SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano
Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red
Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Lewis Hamilton in 2018
Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
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