The $2.5 million Pagani Utopia drives through the flooded streets of Dubai

Dubai was in the world news this week, and this time not because of a megalomaniac construction project or record heat. On the contrary. Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman, were hit by unprecedented storms this week. Although unfortunately there were few casualties, the heavy rain produced a special picture. For example, the driver drove his exclusive Pagani Utopia worth 2.5 million dollars (of which only 99 were made) through the flooded streets of Dubai.

Extreme weather is wreaking havoc on the Gulf states

The Gulf States have turned into ‘Gulf’ states this week. The United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain were hit by unusually bad weather this week, with liters of rain. The amount of rain that usually falls in a whole year fell within 24 hours. Within 12 hours, more than 100 millimeters of rain fell in Dubai and even 254 millimeters in one day. It would be the heaviest rain in 75 years. It produced a special picture. We already saw a Rolls-Royce Cullinan floating down the road.

The rain may have been artificially produced. At least seven cloud planes took off from Dubai airport between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon to release chemicals into the air to promote rain. They were able to take advantage of the cumulus clouds that were passing by at that time. The United Arab Emirates started cloud seeding in 2002 to combat heat and drought, but the lack of drainage in many areas can lead to flooding. So rain comes from technology.

The driver drives his exclusive Pagani Utopia through the flooded streets

Dubai, of course known as a haven for the rich, is certainly not used to this kind of incident at all, and so the rich do their best to protect their valuable assets. The owner of the new Pagani Utopia, worth at least $2.5 million and of which only 99 were made worldwide, is dealing with a flooded road. A video published on Instagram shows that the driver logically hesitates for a moment, but still chooses to brave the standing water. He rushes to the front lip of the hypercar, following the SUV on the dry side.

To put these actions into context, the Pagani Utopia is almost an entirely new model. The Utopia is only the third model the Italian sports car maker has produced since the first model in 1999. So we’re definitely dealing with a driver who has balls.