Times generally come down over the weekend in Dubai, as the grip increases and the track gets steadily cleaner. The best time in the first free practice session was a lap of 1:58.104 from Andrea Piccini in the nr 5 Phoenix Racing Aston Martin DBR9, set right at the end of the session. He was sixth tenths ahead of the nr 33 Race Alliance car, shared by Philipp Peter, Karl Wendlinger and Jarek Janis. The nr 9 Zakspeed Saleen was third-fastest, ahead of the nr 2 Vitaphone Maserati.

In GT2, Tim Mullen set the best time, of 2:03.091, in the nr 63 Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari, ahead ofthe nr 59 AF Corse Ferrari and the nr 80 Spyker Squadron Spyder of Kox and Dumbreck.

The nr 3 Larbre Competition Ferrari 550 Maranello, running in G2 with the new Care Racing Development customer engine, was sixth overall. The nr 115 BMS Aston Martin DBRS9 was the leading G3 car, in 19th position overall, for Zlobin, Zani and Benucci.

_{(credit: FIA GT)}