In the early 1990s, Mercedes-Benz faced one of its most unusual custom requests in history—an order so extravagant that it brought part of the company’s operations to a halt. The client was none other than Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan al Nahyan, a member of the ruling royal family of Abu Dhabi, and he didn’t want just one luxury sedan.
Instead, he asked Mercedes to build an entire fleet of S-Class cars, each finished in a distinct color of the rainbow, as a wedding present.
The interiors were also tailored to match the exteriors, meaning seven entirely bespoke luxury vehicles. As pointed out by Dubai Elevated, this request, both eccentric and massive, was so complex that Mercedes had to temporarily shut down a portion of its factory to accommodate the sheikh’s wishes.
That bold and colorful commission ultimately earned him the nickname that would follow him for decades: The Rainbow Sheikh.
Sheikh Hamad’s passion for automobiles goes far beyond a rainbow fleet. With a personal net worth estimated at $20 billion, the 74-year-old royal has built one of the world’s most eclectic and jaw-dropping private car collections. But unlike typical billionaires who opt for hypercars and high-speed machines, Sheikh Hamad gravitates toward the bizarre, the supersized, and the nostalgic.
His collection includes over 700 vehicles, dominated by off-road beasts, American classics, and customized Mercedes models. Surprisingly, his fleet includes no Bugattis or Ferraris, and not a single car made by Audi or BMW. The only remotely sporty vehicle in the collection is a first-generation Porsche Boxster.
This impressive collection is spread across multiple museums, including the Emirates National Auto Museum in Abu Dhabi, a pyramid-shaped structure housing more than 200 cars. Another museum in Sharjah is dedicated exclusively to his off-road vehicles, and he maintains a separate facility in Morocco. These museums aren’t just a showcase of wealth—they’re a testament to engineering ambition and personal vision. Each vehicle tells a story of individuality, experimentation, and often, world record-breaking innovation.
Among his most famous creations are the world’s largest SUV, known as the Dhabiyan—a 10-wheeled, 24-tonne monster measuring 10.8 meters long—and a gigantic replica of a WWII Willys Jeep that stands over 6.5 meters tall. He also owns the world’s largest pickup truck, a 64:1 scale replica of a 1950s Dodge Power Wagon, which functions as a luxury villa on wheels. Then there’s the massive Hummer H1 replica, which is 27 times larger by volume than the original, officially recognized as the largest Hummer in the world.
It is baffling to believe that Rainbow Sheikh’s fanaticism for collecting unusual cars began with the wedding present that brought Mercedes-Benz’s production line to a temporary halt. That vibrant fleet of rainbow S-Classes wasn’t just a gift for a bride—it was the foundation of a legend. Today, the Rainbow Sheikh’s name is etched into automotive lore, not just for his love of cars, but for the unforgettable moment when one man’s vision turned a luxury carmaker’s factory into a canvas of color.
