Al Ghandi Auto will sell the Fiat 500 (above at last month's Dubai Motor Show) in the UAE fitted with the 1.4-litre FIRE engine, automatic transmission and climate control which CEO Graham Turner (middle) believes is "highly suitable for this market place."

The Fiat 500 is set to be rolled out into yet another new global market this month as the Fiat brand is fresh from announcing its relaunch in the United Arab Emirates during a high-profile appearance at the Dubai Motor Show just prior Christmas.

The 10th Dubai International Motor Show is the single largest international automotive event to take place in the Middle East and is held once every two years. For this edition of its motor show financially-troubled Dubai put aside its global headline-making problems and was still expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors while the halls featured no less than 13 world premières, 40 regional debuts and more than 200 models from hybrids to super cars.

With a high profile stand, the diminutive Fiat 500, on show in both 500 and 500C versions, was one of the stars of the show as Fiat Automobiles officially relaunched in the UAE. "We are just about to launch it [the 500] in the UAE and the show was its unveiling, it will be available...from now," said Graham Turner, the CEO of Fiat's importer for the UAE, Al Ghandi Auto, which also is responsible for the Italian group's Iveco and Lancia divisions, as well as representing several of General Motors brand's, during a press conference held at the show. "It's very much the relaunch of Fiat in the UAE," he added.

Al Ghandi Auto will bring in the 1.4-litre version of the 500 fitted with automatic transmission and climate control which Turner believes is "highly suitable for this market place." He sees the car appealing in particular to younger buyers who want to make a conscious fashion statement, both Emiratis and Westerners. The importer will also offer this model in the new convertible 500C version while the Abarth option will arrive in "about three months"; the C-segment Bravo is also set to be added to the local range later this year.

The UAE will be just the latest of a huge number of global markets that the tiny winner of the most prestigious award of all, that of Car of the Year, has gone on sale in. The 500 has set all manner of records since its birth and its universal appeal is demonstrated by the fact that it is the first Fiat model to sell in greater numbers outside of, rather than inside, Italy in more than a decade. It's worldwide roll out now includes countries as far flung from the Tychy, Poland, factory where it is exclusively built, as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Japan, Mexico, China and India. From the end of next year the 500 will built at a second global location besides Poland, this time in Mexico, assembled at the Tolluca factory belonging to Fiat's new North American alliance partner Chrysler Group, in which the Italian carmaker now owns an initial 20 percent stake.

ItaliaspeedTV: 10th Dubai International Motor Show, Fiat 500 & 500C