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Imagine walking through a parking lot in Dubai, sweltering under the desert sun, when something red catches your eye. Beneath a thick layer of sand and neglect, the unmistakable shape of a Ferrari Enzo gleams in defiance. Ferrari only made 400 of these hypercars, each a tribute to the legendary Enzo Ferrari himself. They’re worth millions. So, what’s one doing here, abandoned like an old sedan? Dubai is a weird place…

The Ferrari Enzo in question first went viral in 2012 when photos surfaced of it sitting in a police impound lot, its once-pristine bodywork caked in dirt. Auto enthusiasts were stunned. “That makes me want to cry,” one Redditor commented, echoing the disbelief of many. Theories about the car’s fate spread like wildfire. Some said it was abandoned by a wealthy expat fleeing Dubai’s strict debt laws, where unpaid loans can lead to prison time. Others guessed it was linked to a criminal case. Either way, the mystery deepened.

The truth about the abandoned Ferrari Enzo emerges

Red Ferrari Enzo supercar.
Ferrari Enzo | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

The police were tight-lipped at first, fueling speculation. Over time, pieces of the story began to emerge. According to reports from 7Days UAE and Business Insider, the Enzo was owned by a British expat who left the car in a parking lot in 2011. It was impounded by Dubai authorities after being deemed abandoned. But there was more to the story than just unpaid parking tickets.

Interpol reportedly flagged the car, suspecting it was either stolen or purchased with illicit funds. “There is an active legal dispute over the ownership of the car in Dubai’s court system,” Business Insider reported. That’s why, even though most abandoned cars in Dubai are auctioned off after a short detention, this Enzo remained in limbo for years.

The Enzo wasn’t the only luxury car gathering dust in Dubai. The city is infamous for its impound lots filled with high-end vehicles—McLarens, Rolls-Royces, even Lamborghinis. These lots have become bizarre tourist attractions, drawing gawkers eager to glimpse automotive royalty languishing in disrepair. The sheer volume of exotics in Dubai salvage yards has been called “astounding.”

In the meantime, the Enzo was moved indoors to prevent further damage from the harsh desert conditions. Yet, its fate remains uncertain. Whether it’s sold at auction or tied up in legal battles forever, one thing is clear: This Enzo’s story is as rare and strange as the car itself.

Dubai might be a land of supercars, but even icons like the Enzo aren’t immune to the chaos of human error and legal red tape. Hopefully, one day it finds a new home—where it can do what it was meant to: drive. See the abandoned supercars for yourself in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.