• A custom Toyota Supra at Al Wathba Custom Show, which is taking place at Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi on February 19 and 20. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A custom Toyota Supra at Al Wathba Custom Show, which is taking place at Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi on February 19 and 20. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Inside the hood of the Toyota Supra.
    Inside the hood of the Toyota Supra.
  • A Camaro with custom interior.
    A Camaro with custom interior.
  • A beastly Dodge Charger 2013 SRT.
    A beastly Dodge Charger 2013 SRT.
  • A colourful Ford Mustang 2014.
    A colourful Ford Mustang 2014.
  • Custom builds were also on display on at the event.
    Custom builds were also on display on at the event.
  • A battle of the engines takes place.
    A battle of the engines takes place.
  • A young boy covers his ears as the cars revved for the Engine Battle.
    A young boy covers his ears as the cars revved for the Engine Battle.
  • Car enthusiasts present at the Engine Battle competition.
    Car enthusiasts present at the Engine Battle competition.
  • Waseem, left, and Junaid with their Dodge Challenger.
    Waseem, left, and Junaid with their Dodge Challenger.
  • A car lover turned up wearing a unique mask at the event.
    A car lover turned up wearing a unique mask at the event.
  • A tiny robot in the boot of a Volkswagen Golf.
    A tiny robot in the boot of a Volkswagen Golf.
  • A mechanic works on a Ford Mercury Beatle.
    A mechanic works on a Ford Mercury Beatle.
  • A Camaro SS.
    A Camaro SS.
  • A Toyota Supra.
    A Toyota Supra.
  • The boot of a 2015 Mustang Ecoboost.
    The boot of a 2015 Mustang Ecoboost.
  • A Dodge Charger SRT.
    A Dodge Charger SRT.
  • Back off! screams a sign on one of the custom vehicles.
    Back off! screams a sign on one of the custom vehicles.
  • A Suzuki Hayabusa - there were also bikes on display at the show.
    A Suzuki Hayabusa - there were also bikes on display at the show.
  • A Camaro with custom exterior.
    A Camaro with custom exterior.
  • Drivers showed off their cars wearing costume masks. There were about 50 cars participating.
    Drivers showed off their cars wearing costume masks. There were about 50 cars participating.

Lifestyle

Motoring

The UAE's best custom cars compete at Sheikh Zayed Festival

Al Wathba Custom Show's Engine Battle is taking place this weekend

Katy Gillett
Katy Gillett

February 20, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Ford Mustangs, Dodge Chargers, Toyota Supras, Camaros and even a Volkswagen Golf with a robot in the boot were on display at Al Wathba Custom Show on Saturday.

Scroll the photo gallery above to see the custom cars at the show.

Petrolheads milled around Sheikh Zayed Festival this weekend as proud vehicle owners showed off their cars at an action-packed finale of the Engine Battle that began on Saturday, with the motoring event concluding on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 50 of the UAE's best custom cars were also pitted against each other in a competition held in collaboration with UAE Car Clubs, an association that brings all of the country's motor enthusiasts together.

Spectators watched as motors roared, demonstrating the power of SUVs in the Engine Battle. Others simply admired the extraordinary work done on regular motors.

Trophies were given out for the best in a range of categories, including best sports car (American and non-American), best engine, best airbrush and best sound system, to name a few.

It wasn't only cars on show, either, as bikes and classic trucks also had their own categories.

Local motoring groups such as UAE Mustang La Familia, Muscle Cars Team and La Enforcements Black Mamba were present, while service companies such as Abu Dhabi's No Mess Auto Workshop showed off what they could do.

Earlier this month, more than 800 supercars, custom cars, regular cars and motorbikes descended in a cloud of noise and blast of colour in Dubai for the Mirdif Motor Show.

  • The Mirdif Motor Show took place in Dubai on February 4 and 5. Photos: City Centre Mirdif
    The Mirdif Motor Show took place in Dubai on February 4 and 5. Photos: City Centre Mirdif
  • Supercars in a line.
    Supercars in a line.
  • Here comes a Hummer.
    Here comes a Hummer.
  • A modfied Toyota whose owner clearly enjoyed the film 'Ronin'.
    A modfied Toyota whose owner clearly enjoyed the film 'Ronin'.
  • Tiger Mini with eyes to match.
    Tiger Mini with eyes to match.
  • A small co-driver has a lie down in this red and black beast.
    A small co-driver has a lie down in this red and black beast.
  • Classic stylings on a vintage US pick-up.
    Classic stylings on a vintage US pick-up.
  • A 1970s Volkswagen Beetle in classic black.
    A 1970s Volkswagen Beetle in classic black.
  • Visitors make their way to City Centre Mirdif.
    Visitors make their way to City Centre Mirdif.
  • Three-wheelers in a line on the forecourt.
    Three-wheelers in a line on the forecourt.
  • An Expo 2020 runaround on display.
    An Expo 2020 runaround on display.
  • A modified Harley-Davidson motorcycle in fetching orange.
    A modified Harley-Davidson motorcycle in fetching orange.
  • Under the bonnet of a classic pick-up.
    Under the bonnet of a classic pick-up.
  • A peek at Pikachu's powertrain.
    A peek at Pikachu's powertrain.
  • This custom creation shows what you can do with a welder and some metal.
    This custom creation shows what you can do with a welder and some metal.
  • Some power on offer there, no doubt.
    Some power on offer there, no doubt.
  • Some wattage on display.
    Some wattage on display.
  • A 1960s Ford Mustang.
    A 1960s Ford Mustang.
  • An Expo 2020 pick-up.
    An Expo 2020 pick-up.
  • Visitors take shots of a gold and red racer.
    Visitors take shots of a gold and red racer.
  • You'll certainly get to hospital rapidly in this Nissan GT-R ambulance.
    You'll certainly get to hospital rapidly in this Nissan GT-R ambulance.
  • There's a Ford Mustang lurking beneath the 'Avatar' stylings.
    There's a Ford Mustang lurking beneath the 'Avatar' stylings.
  • A revamped Ford truck.
    A revamped Ford truck.
  • Emirati personality Yousef Al Ansari takes to the stage to welcome visitors to Mirdif Motor Show 2022.
    Emirati personality Yousef Al Ansari takes to the stage to welcome visitors to Mirdif Motor Show 2022.
  • Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a pretty fancy trike.
    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a pretty fancy trike.
  • The bikes in a line at the motor show.
    The bikes in a line at the motor show.
  • A modified Nissan GT-R honours Dubai Civil Defence.
    A modified Nissan GT-R honours Dubai Civil Defence.
  • Day-glo, but not delicate.
    Day-glo, but not delicate.

The two-day automotive extravaganza, which took place on February 4 and 5, showcased the region’s most extravagant rides, all slotted into various zones.

Thousands of visitors got the chance to view what was on offer in categories that included classic cars, custom cars, supercars, motorbikes, RC cars and government supercars.

While you're here
While you're here
Updated: February 20, 2022, 7:22 AM
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