Dubai is a city in a desert on the edge of the future. Obscenely wealthy and home to the world's tallest building, the emirate combines modern technology with an aristocrat's glee in flaunting wealth. Dubai already has jetpack stuntmen in the sky, camera-strapped eagle videographers on the buildings, and police in Lamborghinis on the ground. How does a city improve upon that? With a drone grand prix, offering a $1 million in prizes, of course.

Teenage British pilot Luke Bannister, together with his 43-person team, the Tornado X-Blades Banni UK, took home the top prize of $250,000. Drones raced four at a time over the track, and were required to make at least one pit stop during their 12 laps. Pilots, using first-person-view goggles, steered their craft through hoops along the way.