![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRVPJIR4YZAR6SS7EDL2ZOO5RI.jpg?smart=true&auth=43535e65f8ae151ed87322c467e8b16aef5ad78bc5ed843d24f341ca5b8aaf59&width=400&height=225)
Models on display
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5HK2KFQSUBTGO2IUZIWRMTL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=27bbb68735da84c492a6d5aaf942fc9672e8870eaf986a459a8b1ffea8ff8c9f&width=400&height=225)
Ben Matar, a pilot for Etihad, owns what he believes to be the UAE's largest collection of model airplanes, which he estimates to be worth $90,000. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FR3UNTAN7HATN3E36FUSKY2T44.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c358a00cf84b1b12c52e6bf7160638b3d1419557118d4c57031ed89fd1767f2&width=400&height=225)
An Etihad 777-300 and Eva Air 787 are among the 900 plane models in Ben Matar's collection.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTN3MLJAOGP4XL3ROX32IVSUSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=57ee0731e84910ad8eadd313d15301b3f375ad01c1dc2becb2c87aa4acf19839&width=400&height=225)
He estimates his collection to be worth $90,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFCZR3JS4VHRXPSVJ2YJGVAXTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f6f108ab40857e7480e2ceba8a8a1590531fa2a2ab4674feb2f9563c07d06226&width=400&height=225)
A Singapore Airlines 747.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLUME7UDIUSCEHYN2UOBQIWRBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=673c4ede684a66e9bfeaab2095fc614521d11b4e48f38a2553bad08f3310684e&width=400&height=225)
There are 900 model planes in his collection.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZQI6ZTJJ3RJQK33LGUUKZVBOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3aedfe9f651cb6756ec172e989a1cd7a523e2aa4ede563541c415e397554ba8e&width=400&height=225)
He believes it to be the UAE's largest collection of model airplanes, which he estimates to be worth $90,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKVKOSJZJNFQQGR7RL244Q3NAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e69643625aa449e1ed464008e7a46c041312d43640822f1f74330dc86be3048c&width=400&height=225)
More of his models.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6S73OCJBQYYAS6UKURG7VV5FPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7ddccb4fe2785b53ed75d47aaa2ee1200d74241ad98407a1d0b01c6afe403ad&width=400&height=225)
Finding enough space to store them can be a problem.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRVPJIR4YZAR6SS7EDL2ZOO5RI.jpg?smart=true&auth=43535e65f8ae151ed87322c467e8b16aef5ad78bc5ed843d24f341ca5b8aaf59&width=400&height=225)
Models on display
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5HK2KFQSUBTGO2IUZIWRMTL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=27bbb68735da84c492a6d5aaf942fc9672e8870eaf986a459a8b1ffea8ff8c9f&width=400&height=225)
Ben Matar, a pilot for Etihad, owns what he believes to be the UAE's largest collection of model airplanes, which he estimates to be worth $90,000. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FR3UNTAN7HATN3E36FUSKY2T44.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c358a00cf84b1b12c52e6bf7160638b3d1419557118d4c57031ed89fd1767f2&width=400&height=225)
An Etihad 777-300 and Eva Air 787 are among the 900 plane models in Ben Matar's collection.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTN3MLJAOGP4XL3ROX32IVSUSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=57ee0731e84910ad8eadd313d15301b3f375ad01c1dc2becb2c87aa4acf19839&width=400&height=225)
He estimates his collection to be worth $90,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFCZR3JS4VHRXPSVJ2YJGVAXTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f6f108ab40857e7480e2ceba8a8a1590531fa2a2ab4674feb2f9563c07d06226&width=400&height=225)
A Singapore Airlines 747.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLUME7UDIUSCEHYN2UOBQIWRBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=673c4ede684a66e9bfeaab2095fc614521d11b4e48f38a2553bad08f3310684e&width=400&height=225)
There are 900 model planes in his collection.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZQI6ZTJJ3RJQK33LGUUKZVBOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3aedfe9f651cb6756ec172e989a1cd7a523e2aa4ede563541c415e397554ba8e&width=400&height=225)
He believes it to be the UAE's largest collection of model airplanes, which he estimates to be worth $90,000.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKVKOSJZJNFQQGR7RL244Q3NAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e69643625aa449e1ed464008e7a46c041312d43640822f1f74330dc86be3048c&width=400&height=225)
More of his models.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6S73OCJBQYYAS6UKURG7VV5FPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7ddccb4fe2785b53ed75d47aaa2ee1200d74241ad98407a1d0b01c6afe403ad&width=400&height=225)
Finding enough space to store them can be a problem.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRVPJIR4YZAR6SS7EDL2ZOO5RI.jpg?smart=true&auth=43535e65f8ae151ed87322c467e8b16aef5ad78bc5ed843d24f341ca5b8aaf59&width=400&height=225)
Models on display
Meet the Etihad Airways captain who owns around 900 planes
Ben Matar has what he believes to be the UAE's largest collection of die-cast model aircraft
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
21 May, 2020
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