DUBAI // If you happen to be driving along the Sheikh Zayed Road tomorrow, keep an eye on your rear-view mirror. There might be 1,000 motorbikes thundering up behind you.
They will be taking part in the Thunder Parade, part of the three-day Gulf Bike Week that starts today at Festival City. Parade participants will set off from Festival City at 2pm tomorrow and will ride as far as Media City, via Business Bay, and back again.
"To see about 1,000 riding off together will be really cool to watch," said Chris Hudson, the managing director of Gulf Bike Week.
Among those taking part will be stunt riders including Nick "Sick Nick" de Wit, a South African motocross rider. "These guys will do amazing stunts," Mr Hudson said. "If they didn't do this for a living, they'd be in prison for dangerous driving."
The festival is not just for those already bitten by the biker bug, Mr Hudson insisted. "It has evolved a lot more."
Manufacturers will be showing off their ranges, from Harley-Davidson's 2011 models to niche makes such as the Icon Sheene, one of the fastest and most expensive bikes made. Only 52 of these bikes have been made.
There will be music, too. The Rolling Stone Middle East Battle of the Bands competition involves 12 local acts, while the headliners are Pharell Williams and NERD tonight, and Amy Winehouse tomorrow .