Unlike invitation-only events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Dubai 24 Hour is open to any team that submits a registration application and pays the required entry fees. This open-entry philosophy, combined with the warm winter climate of Dubai and the event's position at the start of the European racing year, has made it an attractive proving ground for teams preparing for the season ahead.
The race takes place on the Dubai Autodrome, a purpose-built motorsport facility located in the Dubailand development area of Dubai. Teams and drivers range from local UAE competitors to seasoned European outfits, with the event drawing a genuinely international field.
The Dubai 24 Hour operates a broad multi-class format designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of cars. Classes are divided by engine displacement, drivetrain configuration, fuel type, and car specification, with performance balancing (Balance of Performance) applied across many categories to ensure competitive racing within each class.
The A-classes cover petrol-powered production-derived cars. The A1 class is restricted to subcompact cars up to 1,600 cc. The A2 class is for Super 1600 and Super 2000 vehicles between 1,600 and 2,000 cc, with turbocharging prohibited. The A3T class caters specifically to turbocharged cars up to 2,500 cc. The A4 class houses mid-size petrol cars between 2,000 and 3,000 cc. The A5 class is reserved for FIA GT4-specification cars up to 3,500 cc. The A6 class is the premier petrol class, featuring FIA GT3-specification machinery with engine displacements between 3,500 and 4,000 cc; these are the quickest cars in the race.
Dedicated Porsche Cup classes exist for Porsche 997 (2007–2013 models) and Porsche 991 (2014–2017 models) cup cars. Diesel categories (D1 and D2) cater for diesel-powered touring cars, differentiated by displacement above and below 2,000 cc. Special Production classes (SP1, SP2, SP3) accommodate silhouette racing cars and higher-specification GT3 and GT4 entries that fall outside the standard displacement limits. An SP4 class for hybrid and electric racing cars was introduced from 2010.
The race's wide class structure means the grid encompasses everything from small-engined Super 1600 hatchbacks to full GT3 race cars, with the Dubai Autodrome's permanent circuit providing a controlled, safe environment suitable for the full range of competitors. The event's timing — typically in January — positions it as the opening major endurance race on the international calendar, often drawing European teams seeking winter mileage in reliable conditions before the European season begins.
The Dubai 24 Hour has established the Gulf region as a credible destination for international endurance racing, demonstrating that 24-hour racing is viable outside the traditional European heartlands. As the flagship event of the 24H Series, it has helped grow a calendar of similar multi-class endurance events across multiple continents, offering pathways for both professional teams and well-funded amateur competitors.