Mattel has released a new Hot Wheels range under its Brick Shop line this year. The collection includes seven buildable vehicles in three sizes, with models aimed at both display and play. All sets use a stud system compatible with Lego bricks.
The range consists of the Speed Series, Elite Series and Premium Series. Each set includes a matching 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast car.
The Speed Series includes the Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar, Maserati MC20 and ’68 Camaro. Each set is in 1:32 scale, contains between 236 and 289 pieces, and is priced at $19.99.
The Elite Series includes the Corvette Grand Sport, ’90 Acura NSX and ’62 Chevy Pickup. These sets are in 1:16 scale, contain between 858 and 918 pieces, and are priced at $49.99. Features include functional steering, opening elements and metal wheel covers.
The Premium Series currently consists of one set, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It is in 1:12 scale, has 1,600 pieces and is priced at $119.99. It includes opening gull-wing doors, metal parts and decals.
So how does Mattel Brick Shop match up to Lego when it comes to build quality, diversity of pieces and overall appearance of the finished product?
History
Lego entered the dedicated display car segment in 2015 with its Speed Champions range, starting with Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche models in six-stud-wide form. A 2020 redesign to eight studs wide allowed for more accurate proportions and detailed interiors. Sets typically cost $24.99 to $29.99 and include 200 to 300 pieces.
The change to eight studs brought a significant boost in popularity, with the models now bearing a closer resemblance to their real-world counterparts.
For more advanced builds, Lego offers its Icons range (formerly Creator Expert), which has included the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and, most recently, the Shelby Cobra. These sets generally cost between $150 and $250 and exceed 1,000 pieces, with more complex building techniques and display-focused features.
In terms of pricing, Mattel’s Speed Series comes in below Lego’s Speed Champions, though with slightly fewer pieces, offset by the inclusion of a die-cast bonus car. The Elite Series sits between Speed Champions and Icons, offering larger scale and functional elements at a lower price than comparable Icons models. The Premium Series Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is markedly cheaper than Lego Icons cars of similar scale, while adding metal detailing and a die-cast counterpart.
Mattel’s previous brick-based Hot Wheels sets, produced under its Mega brand, used a different system with limited Lego compatibility and were aimed at younger children.
Build quality
Brick Shop sets use standard stud geometry, allowing full compatibility with Lego pieces. Colours and certain specialised parts differ, particularly those with integrated steering or metal detailing.
One notable distinction is Mattel’s extensive use of bespoke parts created for specific models. Lego seldom produces pieces for a single set, favouring versatility. This approach gives Brick Shop cars a smoother, more realistic appearance – often resembling a solid model rather than an assembly of bricks. Lego’s designs, in contrast, embrace the visible brick-built aesthetic.
Which should you buy?
Mattel’s Speed Series and Lego’s Speed Champions cater to younger builders and casual buyers, offering enjoyable, compact builds. The Elite and Premium Series, alongside Lego’s Icons line, target older hobbyists seeking larger, more complex models for display.
At present, Brick Shop sets are more affordable, though they can be harder to find due to high demand. Lego, meanwhile, offers a far broader catalogue, including this year’s tie-up with Formula One to produce all ten cars from the 2024 season, as well as film tie-ins such as Fast & Furious and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5.
Verdict
As a collector who only began building brick-based cars this year, I regard the arrival of a credible Lego rival as a welcome one. While Lego remains my primary choice, limiting myself to its releases would mean just 15 to 20 builds a year.
Mattel’s Brick Shop debut offers a well-judged mix of classic and modern supercars in multiple scales to suit different levels of commitment. It has some way to go before matching Lego in stature, but it is well-positioned to appeal even to loyal fans of the Danish brand.
For enthusiasts, more competition can only be positive. Lego remains the leader in brick-built cars, but the arrival of Mattel’s Brick Shop means that lead may not go unchallenged.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SEMI-FINAL
Monterrey 1
Funes Mori (14)
Liverpool 2
Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%2C%20Manal%20Khader%2C%20Amer%20Daher%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
More on Quran memorisation:
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
