Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan — affectionately known as the Rainbow Sheikh — is a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family with an astonishing passion for automobiles. His ultra‑unique, ultra‑grandiose collection is housed in the Emirates National Auto Museum in Al Dahfra and constitutes one of the most bizarre and captivating automotive assemblages in the world.
Today, we explore the sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Car Collection, highlighting the top 10 standout vehicles — from record‑breaking giants to technicolor Mercedes eye‑catchers — complete with prices and standout specifications.
1. The 10‑Wheeled Dhabiyan “Beast” SUV
At the summit of extravagance is the Dhabiyan — a 10‑wheeled SUV built on an Oshkosh M1075 military chassis with a Jeep Wrangler affixed on its roof. Under the hood rumbles a monstrous 15.2‑liter Caterpillar diesel engine producing 600 hp. It measures 35 ft (10.8 m) long and 10 ft (3.2 m) tall wam.ae+10thesun.co.uk+10mph.com+10. Estimated value: well over $1 million, considering its custom build and sheer scale.
2. Guinness World Record Willys Jeep Replica
The world’s tallest motorized Jeep in this collection stands at 21 ft tall — a Guinness‑certified marvel autocarindia.com. A replica of the WWII Willys, fully drivable, likely valued around $500,000+, factoring in its novelty and Guinness status.
3. World’s Largest Dodge Power Wagon
This oversized Dodge Power Wagon replica spans 8 times the size of the original, weighing 50 tons with living quarters inside its bed vipfortunes.com+4drivespark.com+4therichest.com+4. It’s more of a rolling mansion than a truck — rough estimate: $2–5 million, given its scale and unique interior.
4. The Supersized Hummer H1
A towering Hummer H1, nearly three times standard size, configured as a two‑floor vehicle complete with a toilet and 360° observation deck thisismoney.co.uk+1mph.com+1. It dwarfs its standard counterpart, which sells for $100k+; this custom version might cost $500k+.
5. Mercedes “Rainbow” Fleet
Sheikh Hamad’s playful aura manifest as a fleet of seven Mercedes-Benz 500 SELs, each painted one color of the rainbow and equipped with matching leather interiors and even rifles in the trunk thisismoney.co.uk+3reddit.com+3thenationalnews.com+3. Estimated value per vehicle: $60k each, total ~$420k.
6. Mercedes W116 Monster Truck
This unique W116 S‑class was transformed into a monster‑truck with massive wheels. A flamboyant sight and functional drivable machine 21motoring.comautocarindia.com. Base Mercedes W116s can go for $30k–$50k; conversion likely adds $200k+.
7. 1885 Mercedes Steam Car
Spin back to automotive origins with an 1885 steam‑powered Mercedes — an actual Benz Patent Motorwagen or one of his earliest steam models — preserved in the museum mph.com+8autocarindia.com+8thesun.co.uk+8thisismoney.co.uk+3thenationalnews.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3. Auction of one sold for $100k+, but authentic originals often fetch $1–2 million.
8. 1963 Rolls‑Royce Phantom VI
This rare model, previously used by Queen Elizabeth II in 1979 while visiting Dubai, underscores the regal heritage of the collection speedhunters.com. Ask price for pristine example: $400k–$600k.
9. Custom‑Built Globe‑Shaped RV
Not just cars — this is a fully furnished globe‑shaped motorhome with 3 floors and 10 bedrooms, mimicking the world therichest.com+3thenationalnews.com+3thisismoney.co.uk+3. Guinness certified, valued at several million dollars, given its scale and complexity.
10. 1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (Styling Garage Edition)
One of the rainbow collection, this 1981 Mercedes fitted by Germany’s Styling Garage features widened arches, gullwing doors, and vibrant interior — an MVP of eccentric luxury guinnessworldrecords.comthenationalnews.com+2autocarindia.com+2reddit.com+2. Estimated: $100k+, partially due to its customization.
Additional Highlights Worth Mentioning
Though we’ve covered the top ten, many more extraordinary vehicles belong to the Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Car Collection, including:
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Replica WWII Land Rover Series 3 speedhunters.com+15autocarindia.com+15therichest.com+15
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1977 Super Kenworth 953 truck thenationalnews.com
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1972 Pontiac Trans Am & 1967 Firebird drivespark.com+6thenationalnews.com+6reddit.com+6
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Tiny 1980s Erad Junior minicar reddit.com+8thesun.co.uk+8vipfortunes.com+8
His collection also holds world records, such as the largest private 4×4 collection: 718 four-wheel-drive vehicles in 2020 scmp.com+3guinnessworldrecords.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
Price Summary Table
Below is a quick-reference table for the standout items in the collection:
| # | Vehicle | Notable Feature | Est. Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhabiyan 10-wheeler SUV | Oshkosh base with rooftop Jeep — 600 hp | $1 million+ |
| 2 | Guinness Tallest Jeep Replica | 21 ft tall, Guinness‑certified | $500k+ |
| 3 | Dodge Power Wagon Replica | 50‑ton rolling mansion | $2–5 million |
| 4 | Supersized Hummer H1 | Two‑story drivable luxury vehicle | $500k+ |
| 5 | Mercedes “Rainbow” Fleet (x7) | Multicolor 500 SELs with gold & rifles | $60k each (~$420k total) |
| 6 | Mercedes W116 Monster Truck | Beastly monster conversion | $200k+ conversion |
| 7 | 1885 Mercedes Steam‑Powered Car | Antique automotive heritage | $1–2 million |
| 8 | 1963 Rolls‑Royce Phantom VI | Queen’s official vehicle in 1979 | $400k–$600k |
| 9 | Globe‑Shaped RV | Unconventional RV with 10 bedrooms | $3 million+ |
| 10 | 1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (Styling Garage) | Custom gull‑wing and wide‑archedd | $100k+ |
Understanding the Eccentricity
This Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Car Collection is no ordinary showroom — it is a sprawling wonderland of outlandish, record-breaking automotive artistry. His intention: to create a National Auto Museum that pushes boundaries, displays creativity, and secures his status as the most eccentric collector in automotive history thisismoney.co.uk+4thesun.co.uk+4therichest.com+4vipfortunes.com+1autocarindia.com+1reddit.com+14thenationalnews.com+14drivespark.com+14en.wikipedia.org+3drivespark.com+3wam.ae+321motoring.com+3therichest.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3drivespark.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7reddit.com+7mph.com+221motoring.com+2speedhunters.com+2speedhunters.com.
Visiting the Museum
The Emirates National Auto Museum is located about 45 km south of Abu Dhabi city. With around 200 unique vehicles inside a pyramid‑shaped structure and large outdoor exhibits, it’s a must‑visit for car enthusiasts worldwide wam.ae+3thenationalnews.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
Concluding Thoughts
The Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Car Collection exemplifies the intersection of wealth, whimsy, and automotive engineering. From his giant Hummer and globe RV to rainbow‑painted Mercedes and steam cars, every vehicle reflects a bold vision.
It’s not just about luxury — it’s about imagination, scale, and storytelling. And in that sense, the Rainbow Sheikh’s motor museum might be the most delightful and audacious expression of car collecting on earth.
