- Key Highlights from the Arrival of the First UAE Car
- The First Cars in the Emirates
- Early Days on the Sand: A True-Life Scenario
- Key Features and Challenges of the First Cars
- How Life Changed After the Car’s Arrival
Nearly a century ago, the arrival of the very first car on UAE soil sparked not just excitement but a transformation that reached every corner of society. For the people accustomed to camels, dhows, and the vast open desert, this “iron box on wheels” was a marvel—and a challenge. The entry of the first car marked more than a change in transportation; it set the stage for economic progress, infrastructure, and the rise of the Emirates as a modern nation. Here, we revisit that profound early story, illuminated by eyewitness anecdotes, gritty travel, and the perspectives of those who saw—and drove—the future for the very first time.
Key Highlights from the Arrival of the First UAE Car
The first car to enter the UAE (specifically Ras Al Khaimah) is recorded as arriving in 1924, brought by Isa bin Abdul Latif Al Sarkal from Bahrain by dhow.
This pioneer vehicle was a Ford, seating four passengers and powered by a 4-cylinder engine—an unprecedented sight for the region at the time.
Al Sarkal used the car for personal and business journeys between Al Maireed and Shamal in Ras Al Khaimah and repeated the feat with a second car delivered to Sharjah four years later.
There were no paved roads at the time—the cars maneuvered over hard-packed sand and coastal trails, with most repairs handled by basic tools and resilience.
The arrival of the automobile swiftly captured the imagination of sheikhs, traders, and travelers; soon, demand for repairs and spare parts began popping up in official correspondence.
In Abu Dhabi, the first car was reportedly a Ford arriving in 1936 during the rule of Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
British Jeeps and red Dodge cars added further tales of innovation and misadventure, particularly with the rulers of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Accounts differ as to who exactly first drove a car in the Emirates—some say Al Sarkal, others credit businesspeople or sheikhs who had the means and the will to learn and embrace this new technology.
Initially, cars served students, geologists, and foreign exploration missions, but quickly transformed from a rare luxury to a practical necessity, linking the Emirates and their neighbors.
The First Cars in the Emirates
Early Days on the Sand: A True-Life Scenario
In the mid-1920s, children and villagers in Ras Al Khaimah gathered to watch as Al Sarkal’s “iron box” rumbled and clicked across the desert—a landscape that had only known the soft patter of camel hooves and the wind. On a notable day, the car broke down in deep sand, forcing Al Sarkal to call for camels to tow it back. Refusing to give up, he fixed the car at the port, and after that, every journey on four wheels felt like magic. The car became a local legend—the talk of the town and a symbol of a new age.
Key Features and Challenges of the First Cars
Pioneers had to rely completely on themselves and improvise repairs using only simple tools.
Without paved roads, sand dunes were often crossed “blind,” demanding creative driving to avoid getting stuck.
Sourcing spare parts was itself an adventure, involving long written requests to Bahrain, India, or even Britain for a single component.
Early cars became locale icons, tied to influential figures and occasions like major exploration expeditions.
The car quickly tied the Emirates to the rest of Arabia and the Gulf, becoming a centerpiece in the tale of national growth.
How Life Changed After the Car’s Arrival
Inter-Emirate travel became faster and safer; trade routes within the country grew rapidly.
People and goods moved with greater freedom between ports and oases, boosting the economic map of the region.
Rulers, merchants, and explorers all re-imagined the possible, encouraging urban development and long-distance travel.
Camels became less central to transit, the concept of a “driver” emerged, mechanic shops appeared, and the auto sector took root in Emirati life.
The story of the UAE’s first car is more than the arrival of a new technology—it is the saga of a society on the threshold of transformation. Bringing together the recall of childhood wonder with the challenges of desert ingenuity, it marked the start of modern Emirati life. From Al Sarkal and early royal fleets to the global brands of today, the four wheels that came ashore in the 1920s helped turn the Emirates from an isolated expanse into a connected, ambitious nation at the heart of the 21st century.
