Unlike invitation-only endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Dubai 24 Hour operates on an open-registration basis. Teams from the UAE and broader Gulf region compete alongside a large contingent of international entrants, particularly from European nations, making the race a genuinely global gathering. Entry and registration fees apply to all competitors regardless of origin.
The race sits within the 24H Series framework, which Creventic also uses as the organising structure for companion events in other regions. As the series' flagship event in the Middle East, the Dubai round typically attracts one of the largest and most diverse grids in the calendar.
One of the defining characteristics of the Dubai 24 Hour is its multi-class format, which accommodates an unusually wide range of vehicles. At the lower end, small-engined hatchbacks from the A1 class — including cars such as the Honda Jazz and Toyota Echo with engine displacements up to 1,600 cc — share the same race as high-performance GT3 machinery in the A6 class.
The A-prefix classes are arranged by engine displacement and fuel type. The A1 class covers sub-1,600 cc petrol cars, while A2 houses Super 1600 and Super 2000 vehicles such as the Renault Clio Sport and Honda Civic Type R. The A3T class is reserved for turbocharged cars up to 2,500 cc, with early editions featuring diesel-powered SEAT León and Volkswagen Golf entries. A4 targets mid-size cars between 2,000 cc and 3,000 cc, and A5 runs FIA GT4-specification cars with a maximum displacement of 3,500 cc. The A6 class, the fastest petrol category, is restricted to FIA-approved GT3 cars with displacements between 3,500 cc and 4,000 cc.
Diesel machinery competes in parallel D1 and D2 classes, separated by the 2,000 cc displacement threshold. D1 fields included European hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Scirocco R and BMW 120d, while D2 accommodated larger diesel-powered mid-size saloons.
Dedicated Porsche Cup classes — the 997 and 991 classes — run GT3 Cup cars from the relevant model generations alongside the main field.
Two Special Purpose classes expand the grid further. SP1 accommodates silhouette touring cars with modified production-derived chassis, spanning a wide range of engine sizes from below 3,200 cc to 3,600 cc with corresponding weight minima. SP2 GT3-A houses FIA GT3 cars that exceed the 4,000 cc limit or run six or more cylinders, placing them outside the standard A6 category. SP3 GT4-A mirrors this for SRO GT4-specification vehicles.
An SP4 class for hybrid and electric racing cars was introduced for the 2010 edition, marking an early acknowledgement within endurance racing of alternative powertrains.
Across multiple classes, particularly A2 and A5, the organisers apply performance-balancing measures to maintain competitive equity between cars of differing specifications. These typically involve adjustments to minimum weight limits and fuel tank capacity. In A2, for instance, Super 1600 cars running alongside Super 2000 machinery carry a reduced weight allowance to compensate for their smaller displacement. Such measures are a standard feature of the Creventic-organised 24H Series events and reflect the organisation's philosophy of maintaining close racing across mixed-specification grids.
The race runs for a full 24-hour period, covering both day and night conditions at the Dubai Autodrome. The night section of the race is a notable challenge given the temperature differential between daytime heat and cooler desert nights, which affects tyre management and mechanical demands on both cars and crews.
Teams are permitted to rotate multiple drivers throughout the race, a requirement that places a premium on consistent pace across entire driving lineups rather than single-lap pace. The endurance format rewards reliability as much as outright speed, making strategic pit stop timing, fuel management, and mechanical preparation equally important to driver skill.
The Dubai 24 Hour established endurance racing as a credible and popular motorsport format in the Middle East at a time when the region's motorsport calendar was still maturing. Its success helped anchor the 24H Series as a genuinely international competition with a meaningful presence outside Europe. The event's accessible multi-class format has consistently drawn privateer teams who might not be eligible for invitation-only endurance classics, giving drivers and teams from the Gulf region and smaller European nations a high-profile 24-hour platform.