Born in Kuwait and fascinated by the automotive world from an early age, Yousef Fittiani quickly developed a passion for Porsche after acquiring his first sports car. His journey was shaped by a formative stay in the United States, where he immersed himself in the local car culture and the world of car clubs, while pursuing a professional career in the medical sector. His passion for the Stuttgart crest soon took on a collective dimension when he co-founded a local Porsche Club in Kuwait, serving for many years as vice-president and bringing the enthusiast community together. Today, an accomplished collector and passionate advocate of Porsche culture, he divides his time between Kuwait and Jordan with his family and cares for a collection of iconic models that reflects more than three decades of dedication.
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You were born and raised in Kuwait. What memories do you have of your childhood, and how did cars enter your life?
My childhood in Kuwait played a major role in shaping my relationship with cars. I grew up in an environment where cars were an important part of everyday life. In this region, distances, the climate and the way people live naturally give cars particular importance. From a very young age, a car was already much more than a means of transportation to me. I was fascinated by cars—their shapes, engines and performance. I could spend a long time looking at a model that had something distinctive about it. That curiosity gradually grew into a genuine passion. My father also played an important role in my upbringing. He was a shrewd businessman who taught me to be independent, to think before making decisions and, above all, to pursue my goals with determination. He did not try to make everything easy for me. On the contrary, he wanted me to understand the value of hard work and build my own path. Looking back, I think this combination of passion and the values my father passed on to me partly explains how I still approach cars today: with great enthusiasm, but also with thoughtfulness and patience.
When did this childhood passion become strong enough to lead you to Porsche?
In the late 1980s, I left Kuwait to continue my studies in the United States. This move was a major turning point in my life. I was discovering a new society, a new culture and a completely different way of experiencing cars.
In the United States, a car is not just a means of transportation. It is part of the culture and everyday life, and can even become a way of life. For a young enthusiast like me, it was an extraordinary environment. My father, however, wanted to make sure I was not simply carried away by all these possibilities. He encouraged me to take my studies seriously, immerse myself in American culture and learn how to find my feet in this new environment. Above all, he passed on a philosophy that still guides me today: follow your passions, make considered decisions, set goals and do everything you can to achieve them. It was in the United States that my automotive dream took a very specific shape. One car became a true obsession: a white Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet.
Why did this particular model leave such a strong impression on you?
One of my classmates owned a 944 Turbo S. It was a car that impressed me enormously, both on the road and on the track. I immediately fell for the iconic design of Porsche models from the late 1980s. After classes, I would often wander past dealership windows, looking at the cars, their colours, specifications and equipment. I could spend ages simply admiring them. The white 944 S2 Cabriolet became my first great automotive dream.
You were only 19 when you decided to make that dream come true. How did you manage it?
That was precisely the problem! The car cost $42,000, and at 19, I obviously did not have that kind of money. I asked my father to advance me the funds. But I knew this was not simply a matter of asking him to finance my dream. I wanted to find a way to raise the money myself. That is how I started attending car auctions on the East Coast of the United States. At first, I mainly wanted to understand how the market worked. I studied the models, prices, condition of the vehicles, repair costs and resale potential. Gradually, I began identifying cars that could be bought at a good price, properly restored and then resold at an attractive profit.
So that is how your first automotive business began?
Yes, almost naturally. I started buying cars, restoring them and selling them on. Over the months, I learned a great deal. I developed my business instincts, but above all gained a real understanding of the market. I realised that a car is about much more than its purchase price. Its condition, history, specification, maintenance and resale potential are all crucial. Buying, restoring and reselling cars became a constant rhythm in my daily life. This experience gradually enabled me to raise the money I needed to finally buy my Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet.
Did that first Porsche change your relationship with cars?
Completely. Once I was behind the wheel of my 944, the car became much more than an object to admire. I began travelling around the United States in it. It became a kind of passport, allowing me to discover the country differently, mile after mile and turn after turn. I also started spending more time at circuits and Porsche gatherings. I was discovering an extremely active community of enthusiasts.
You also discovered the Porsche Club of America. What do you remember about it?
It was one of the things that made the strongest impression on me in the United States. What I really appreciated about the atmosphere at the Porsche Club of America was how relaxed it was. Members’ social backgrounds did not matter. Everyone was on an equal footing and shared the same passion: driving Porsches.
It was a real lesson for me. Someone might arrive in a classic car or a much newer model, but once everyone came together around that shared passion, the differences disappeared. The experience left a lasting impression on me and later inspired me when I took part in setting up a Porsche Club in my region.
Your passion also took you to Germany…
Yes. I was lucky enough to visit Germany with my father, including the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. For someone developing such a strong connection with the brand, it was an extraordinary experience. Discovering its history, seeing different generations of cars gathered in one place and understanding how Porsche has evolved gives you a sense of the brand’s richness.
When did the second Porsche enter your life?
In the early 1990s, a 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 finally joined my garage. It came in a beautiful coral-red finish with a grey interior.
This car marked an important milestone. Until then, I had my 944, which I loved dearly. With this second car, I began to think like a collector. I became interested in the different generations, versions, specifications and engines, as well as the particular stories behind certain models.
The collection grew gradually, without any real plan in place.
Today, your garage looks like a true sanctuary dedicated to Porsche. What can we find there?
It brings together several generations and different personalities within the Porsche range. A silver 996-generation 911 Turbo Cabriolet sits alongside a white 911 GT3 and a yellow 911 GT3 RS, both from the 2007 model year. Nearby is a 997-generation 911 GT2 in racing yellow. A black 1989 911 Cabriolet completes the line-up. Each car has its own personality. I am drawn to some for their performance, and to others for their history, rarity, specification or simply because they represent a particular period in Porsche’s evolution.
But at the heart of your collection is a car in a league of its own: the Carrera GT…
Yes. The Carrera GT holds a very special place in my collection.
It is an exceptional automobile. When you look at it, it almost seems as though it has just rolled off the production line, even though it has now covered around 20,000 kilometres. Its condition is remarkable. Sometimes it is hard to imagine that it has actually been driven on the road. And yet its acquisition was not planned at all—not in the slightest! I had absolutely no intention of buying a Carrera GT.
What persuaded you to take the plunge?
I heard that a famous Emirati rally driver wanted to sell his Carrera GT. It had only 5,000 kilometres on the clock at the time. I had not planned to buy it, but some opportunities come along only once. I simply could not resist. There is also an almost emotional bond with this car. I know that may sound excessive, but when you have devoted so much time and energy to a car, it eventually comes to mean far more than a mere object. The Carrera GT is an extraordinary sports car and a true benchmark. When I look at its condition today, I feel that I was absolutely right to take the plunge.
The car is in impeccable condition. How far have you gone to preserve it?
I probably went a little too far! During its first service, I kept going to the Porsche Centre in Kuwait. I wanted to see what was being done and understand every procedure. I even cleaned many parts with a toothbrush before they were reinstalled! It may seem a little obsessive, but when you own a car of such historical and mechanical significance, you want it to receive the greatest possible care.
Preserving your cars must also be particularly challenging given the region’s climate, mustn’t it?
Yes, it is a real concern. Maintaining a car collection requires enormous discipline, especially in our region. Heat, dust and temperature fluctuations can be very harsh on cars, so you need to create a suitable environment. My garages have been specially equipped for the cars. Air conditioning is essential to keep the temperature as stable as possible. Humidity must also be monitored, and significant fluctuations avoided as far as possible. But air conditioning alone is not enough. The cars need to be inspected, cleaned and serviced regularly. A car left standing for several months without being checked can end up developing more problems than one that is driven regularly.
So you regard your garages as dedicated preservation spaces?
Absolutely. Every car has its own place, history, documents and maintenance schedule. I want to know what has been done to each car and when. You have to monitor the batteries, tyres, fluids, mechanical and electrical components, as well as the bodywork and the environment in which the car is stored.
A collector’s garage almost has to function like a workshop.
So you place as much importance on maintenance as on acquiring cars?
Absolutely. Buying a car is ultimately the easiest part. Keeping it in exceptional condition for ten, fifteen or twenty years is much more complicated. A classic Porsche or a rare car requires patience. Some parts can be hard to find, certain jobs require specialists, and sometimes you have to turn down an easy solution if it risks compromising the car’s character. Authenticity matters a great deal to me. Whenever possible, I prefer to keep a car in its original specification. To me, a collection should tell the story of the automobile, not simply display expensive cars.
Your passion for Porsche goes beyond owning and preserving your cars. In 2003, you helped establish a local club…
Yes. It was a natural continuation of my experience in America. In 2003, I took part in founding the local Porsche Club. I became its vice-president and held that position until 2013. Throughout those years, we organised many gatherings, drives and events to bring enthusiasts together. I wanted to recreate the spirit I had discovered in the United States: a community united by a shared passion for cars.
In a region with so many Porsche owners, what role did the club play?
It created a genuine space for people to share their passion. Owning a Porsche is one thing, but meeting other people who truly understand what that passion means is another. We could talk about models, modifications, maintenance, drives or simply our experiences.
One person might arrive in an older 911 and another in a modern Porsche. It did not matter. Once we came together around our passion, everyone was on an equal footing. That was precisely what I had appreciated about the Porsche Club of America.
Is your collection complete now?
I do not think a car collection can ever truly be complete.
There will always be a car you discover, a particular specification, a rare model or an unexpected opportunity. The Carrera GT is the best example. I had absolutely no intention of buying it, yet it eventually became one of the most important cars in my collection. A collector’s problem is therefore not just deciding what the next car will be. It is also figuring out where to park it!
Would you describe yourself more as a collector or as an enthusiast?
I would say passion is where everything begins. I am not simply trying to accumulate cars. A collection should have coherence and tell a story. Every Porsche needs a reason to be there. It might represent a generation, a technology, a particular story or simply a personal memory. So when I look at my collection, I do not just see Porsches; I see different periods of my life. The 944 S2 Cabriolet represents my years in America, when I was very young and dreamed of owning that car. The 911 Carrera 2 marks the true beginning of my collection. The Carrera GT represents an unexpected encounter with an exceptional automobile. Ultimately, every car tells part of my story.
Is your passion beginning to rub off on your children, too?
Yes, and that is probably one of the things that gives me the greatest pleasure.
My two children are already beginning to familiarise themselves with German sports cars. They regularly join me in the garage, which has become something of a family playground. My daughter Ayda even helps polish the bodywork. She is beginning to take an interest in the cars and their details.
My son Omer is still very young. For now, he watches carefully as we work, comfortably settled in his sleepsuit. A Porsche sleepsuit, of course!
After all these years, what does Porsche ultimately mean to you?
Porsche represents a part of my life. I do not simply collect cars. I collect memories, emotions and stories.
And I think that is precisely why the passion never fades. Even after all these years, all it takes is for me to open the garage door and look at a Porsche, and I am immediately 19 again, standing in front of an American dealership window, dreaming of my first 944.
Bio express :
• 1971 : Yousef Fittiani is born in Kuwait. From an early age, he develops a keen interest in cars, which will grow into a genuine passion over the years.
• 1990 : At the age of 19, he acquires his first Porsche, a 944 S2 Cabriolet. The car marks the beginning of a personal story with the German brand that will continue to grow richer over time.
• 1995 : After spending several years in the United States, he completes his studies and returns with an outlook profoundly shaped by American car culture and the world of Porsche clubs.
• 1997 : He begins his professional career in the medical sector, where he has worked ever since.
• 2003 : His passion for Porsche takes on a collective dimension when he helps establish the local Porsche Club in Kuwait.
• 2003-2013 : He serves as the club’s vice-president and plays an active role in organising gatherings, drives and events for Porsche enthusiasts in Kuwait.
• Today : Still a collector and passionate advocate of Porsche culture, Yousef Fittiani divides his time between Kuwait and Jordan with his family.
