How Many Car Museums Are There in the UAE? A Tour of the Top Destinations for Enthusiasts from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah, Al Ain and Dubai

The UAE… A Compact Paradise For Car Enthusiasts

The UAE is famous today as a playground for supercars and luxury vehicles on its roads, but another, equally exciting layer waits for enthusiasts behind museum doors and private halls. Whether you love original classics, desert-ready 4x4s, or eccentric private collections, you will find more than just one car museum in the country. The question “How many car museums are there in the UAE?” is not answered with a single number, but with a journey through four main categories: national public museums, classic car museums, off-road–focused museums, and large private collections open to visitors.

This guide walks through the most important car museums in the UAE, highlighting what makes each one special, what types of cars you will find, and what kind of experience it offers, along with a comparison table to help readers choose the destination that best fits their interests.

How Many “Real” Car Museums Are There In The UAE?

If we define a “car museum” in the classic sense (dedicated building, permanent collection, doors open to the public), we can speak of four main, widely recognized museums in the UAE:

• Emirates National Auto Museum – Abu Dhabi (Al Dhafra region)

• Sharjah Classic Car Museum – Sharjah

• Al Ain Classic Car Museum – Al Ain city

• Al Serkal Classic Cars Collection – Dubai

On top of that, there are places that are sometimes counted as specialized museums or large semi-public private collections, such as:

• Off Road History Museum in the Al Madam area – Sharjah

• Some private showrooms that house big collections of classic or exotic cars and welcome visitors by appointment

So in practical terms you can say there are four core car museums, rising to five or six if you include specialized 4x4 museums and large private collections that function like museums.

Emirates National Auto Museum: A Giant Pyramid Full Of Surprises

• Location: Al Dhafra area (south of Abu Dhabi), on the road toward Liwa

• Type: National/private museum displaying the collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan (“The Rainbow Sheikh”)

• Key highlights:

  • A huge pyramid-shaped building in the middle of the desert

  • Hundreds of unique vehicles, from American classics to enormous trucks and wildly modified, outsized replicas of familiar cars

• The experience:

  • Feels like stepping into a parallel world for car lovers; many exhibits are closer to art pieces than ordinary vehicles

  • Ideal for visitors who want striking photos and a highly unconventional automotive experience

This museum represents the boldest and most eccentric face of the UAE’s car museum scene.

Sharjah Classic Car Museum: A Moving History Book

• Location: Sharjah, near Sharjah International Airport

• Type: Official, government-run classic car museum, covering the history of cars from the early 20th century

• Approximate number of vehicles:

  • Over 100 classic cars and motorcycles, from the early 1900s to roughly the 1970s

• Main sections:

  • Early automotive era (veteran and vintage cars)

  • Pre–World War II period

  • Post-war era, including icons from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s

  • Examples of luxury cars and models that were used in the region

• The experience:

  • Information panels in Arabic and English explaining each car’s background and specifications

  • Suitable for families, students, and classic‑car fans who want a “time travel” experience rather than just a flashy display

Sharjah Classic Car Museum is the clearest, most structured reference for classic car history in the UAE.

Al Ain Classic Car Museum: A Local Touch In The Oasis City

• Location: Al Ain city, Emirate of Abu Dhabi

• Type: Classic car museum/collection, smaller in scale but with a strong local flavor

• What it offers:

  • A selection of classic and modified cars, some tied to the culture of desert racing and local road life in Al Ain and the UAE

  • A more intimate atmosphere compared to Sharjah’s museum, focusing on the passion of local individuals and clubs

• Who it suits:

  • Al Ain residents and visitors who want a museum that feels like a community car club turned exhibition

  • Anyone interested in the history of tuning and motorsport in the eastern region

Al Serkal Classic Cars Collection: A Private Museum In The Heart Of Dubai

• Location: Dubai, typically in the Deira or Al Quoz area depending on the collection’s current home

• Type: Large private collection of classic and luxury cars, open to the public at specific times

• Collection profile:

  • Rare European and American classics

  • High-end luxury vehicles that once served as state or protocol cars

• Visit style:

  • Feels more like a private salon or gallery than a formal government museum

  • Visits may require prior arrangement or adherence to announced opening times

This venue attracts enthusiasts who care about rare details and cars with stories, rather than simply the number of vehicles on display.

Off Road History Museum: Off-Road Heaven In Al Madam

• Location: Al Madam area, Emirate of Sharjah

• Type: Specialized museum dedicated to off-road and 4x4 vehicles

• Nature of the collection:

  • Hundreds of four-wheel-drive vehicles from different eras

  • Focus on icons such as Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, جي‑كلاس, and other desert legends

• The experience:

  • Perfect for off-road addicts, campers, and fans of desert culture

  • Feels like walking through a complete historical archive of the region’s 4x4 story

This venue is often categorized as a specialized museum, but it clearly deserves a place in any list of car museums in the UAE.

Comparison Table: The Main Car Museums In The UAE

Numbers are approximate and meant to give a general sense of scale, not a fixed official inventory.

How To Choose Which Car Museum To Visit

• If you like crazy, oversized, and one‑off builds:

  • Emirates National Auto Museum should be at the top of your list, with its giant trucks and unusual creations.

• If you want a structured lesson in automotive history:

  • Sharjah Classic Car Museum is the best fit, especially for families and school trips.

• If you’re based in Al Ain or enjoy a more local atmosphere:

  • Al Ain Classic Car Museum offers a mix between a museum and a passionate hobbyist club.

• If you’re into rare and prestigious classics:

  • Al Serkal’s collection in Dubai will appeal to you, especially if you appreciate protocol and state cars.

• If you’re a hardcore off-road and desert fan:

  • Off Road History Museum in Al Madam is your natural destination, with row after row of 4x4 legends.

Practical Tips For Visiting Car Museums In The UAE

• Check before you go:

  • Official opening hours for each museum (these can vary between seasons).

  • Entry fees, if any, and whether there are family or group discounts.

• Plan your trip:

  • Some museums lie outside city centers (for example Emirates National Auto Museum in Al Dhafra), so plan your fuel, driving time, and breaks accordingly.

• Respect the rules:

  • Avoid touching vehicles unless there are clear signs that you may do so.

  • Follow any photography guidelines, especially regarding flash or restricted areas.

With a bit of planning, a tour of the UAE’s car museums can provide rich editorial material for your magazine and strong visual content for social media.