A country where driving a luxury car is a way of life the UAE is an automotive heaven for motor enthusiasts. The crowning jewel of the country’s love for motor vehicles is the famous Emirates National Auto Museum which houses the private collection of Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, a motor enthusiast and proud owner of over 200 unique motor vehicles.
A short ferry ride from Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort, Abu Dhabi, the sprawling 10,000 square metre Emirates National Auto Museum is open daily with its tall pyramid-shaped structure housing most of the collection’s 230 cars. Outside, the Prince’s Guinness status bearing four-storey caravan, 10-bedroom globe-shaped caravan and the world’s largest Willys WWII Jeep greets visitors. A short distance from many luxurious Villas in Abu Dhabi, the museum even offers technical guidance on its newest feature of consumer friendly cars.
Inside the pyramid-shaped hangar, the Prince’s prized automotive collection fans out in all directions. Off the popular tourist trail, visitors can leisurely wander along rows of exhibits that include an 1885 steam-powered Mercedes, 1908 Ford Model T, Queen Elizabeth II’s Rolls Phantom, Mercedes Pullman (the last hand-made Mercedes Limo) and a queer disco-inspired futuristic moon buggy. Among the Hummers and Lamborghinis is the famous ‘Rainbow collection’, seven bright coloured 1983 Mercedes 500 SELs each equipped with amenities including refrigerators and TVs, earning its owner the nickname ‘Rainbow Sheikh’. Other exhibits include police vehicles, a Red Cross vehicle, a NYPD car, yellow New York city cab, an aeroplane and military vehicles including tanks with one customized to include a golf course. One of the Sheik’s extravagant customized purchases, the five meter-tall 1950’s Dodge Power Wagon is a replica of the Dodge that was used during UAE’s early oil drilling era. Built on a scale of 64:1 featuring wheels of an oil rig transporter and wipers from an ocean liner, this Guinness title bearer is complete with an apartment and proudly towers over the ordinary-sized Dodge and the miniature radio-controlled model that stands before it.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.