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Fri, Nov 15, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 13, 1446 | DXB
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Look: Inside UAE museum that houses abandoned plane and rare, giant cars
It showcases the personal collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and each artefact — from a horseless carriage to an age-old petrol station — tells a story
KT Photos: Neeraj Murali
From the prototype of the first vehicle ever built to hundreds of antique cars, this auto museum has it all. If you are a car enthusiast, it’s a must-visit. If not, exploring this attraction will surely make you one.
The moment you enter the premises of the Emirates National Auto Museum, a massive globe will capture your attention — but it isn't your typical structure.
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It's a recreational vehicle built in the shape of a globe and it has more than seven bedrooms across three floors.
This colossal structure instantly sets the bar high for the journey ahead and guests are rarely disappointed.
The museum houses a personal collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, and each artefact tells a story of innovation.
15ft-tall Willys Jeep
If you're into history, you'd appreciate the replicas kept here. Here's one from the World War II era: A fully functional Willys Jeep, standing nearly 15 feet tall.
This impressive vehicle bagged a Guinness World Record as the largest motorised vehicle in the world in 2010.
Early petrol station
Visitors begin their journey through the museum with one of the first petrol station pumps constructed in the UAE.
Featuring an analogue metre and dual containers — one for checking oil levels and the other for petrol — this allows one to imagine how fuel tanks are filled in the good ol' days.
A horseless carriage
Visitors also come across a horseless carriage manufactured more than a century ago—a 1915 Ford Model T Brass-Era Speedster.
This car — adorned with brass parts like a serpent horn, headlamps, and a thermometer — features four-wheel hydraulic brakes and a special two-speed rear axle for smooth driving. The sight of this classic vehicle transports you back in time.
Hundred-year-old cars
Visitors are surely in for a surprise the moment they see the oldest Ford cars, with their massive bonnets and bumpers, recollecting scenes from old movies. Some cars, used in the UAE nearly a century ago, are preserved in their original form.
In the first section of the museum, guests can marvel at the vehicles manufactured nearly 100 years ago. Engineering wonders like the 1925 American LaFrance, Dodge Special Roadster, Chrysler, Ford T, Leon Bollee, and Bugatti transport visitors to an era of untarred roads, when a car was considered the most prized possession of the rich.
The American muscle
The second section introduces mighty vehicles manufactured in America. Before entering, visitors are captivated by the massive Dodge Power Wagon, claimed to be the world's largest pickup truck, eight times its actual size, with bedrooms in the cabin. The actual vehicle and a miniature model are showcased at the centre of the museum.
Old American mighty cars are all neatly parked inside the museum — from Ford and Cadillac to Buick, Plymouth Master, Mercury, and Dodge, manufactured from the 1940s to as recently as 2000.
There are also trucks built in the 1960s and 1970s. These vehicles, with their rugged exteriors and powerful engines, symbolise the strength of the craftsmanship.
The European elegance
Those into European cars would instantly fall in love with some beauties from the 1950s.
With brands like Mercedes, BMW, Rolls Royce, and Fiat taking centre stage, the displays showcase how German cars looked at that time.
One highlight is the rainbow-coloured Mercedes Benz 500 SELs.
A movie set
The fifth part of the museum transports you to a movie set, featuring vehicles often seen in Hollywood films. An old American police car, city taxis from various parts of the world, and more create a nostalgic atmosphere.
The first vehicle in history
Towards the end of the section, you'll spot a tricycle-like vehicle: a prototype of the first vehicle made by Carl Benz in 1885 in Germany.
The first stationary gasoline engine was a one-cylinder, two-stroke unit that ran for the first time on New Year’s Eve 1879. The two-seater vehicle was completed in 1885 and features a compact high-speed single-cylinder four-stroke engine, a tubular steel frame, a differential, and three wire-spoked wheels.
Compact cars
That’s not all, the museum has a balcony section, too. This houses smaller cars, including Minis, Indian classics like the Ambassador, Premier Padmini, Maruti 800, and the cheapest car, Tata Nano. These compact vehicles offer a contrast to the grandeur of the larger exhibits.
Near the exit, visitors see the old restored mobile Adnoc petrol station—a cart with a petrol tank connected to a pump, pulled by donkeys. In an era with limited roads, these carts had been essential in fuelling cars on the road during the early days of the UAE.
Apron in the desert
Beside the museum, an abandoned three-engine Douglas plane stands quietly.
Its wings and the engines are now at rest, and though it calls out to be explored, entry to this piece of aviation history is currently restricted. The plane's worn exterior, showing signs of its past journeys, making visitors wonder about how it has circumnavigated the globe.
Location and entry fee
Located in Al Dhafra, just a 45-minute drive from Abu Dhabi city, the pyramid-shaped museum is home to more than 200 cars.
It is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week. A ticket costs Dh55 but children under 10 can enter for free.
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SM Ayaz Zakir
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.
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