The classic Porsche 924 Abu Dhabi police car undergoes a complete restoration, preserving UAE history ahead of its display at the Icons of Porsche festival.
A Porsche 924 Abu Dhabi police car, recognised as the very first sports car to join the United Arab Emirates Federal Police fleet, has officially undergone a complete restoration. Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, an integral division of Ali & Sons Holding, completed the painstaking project to preserve the country’s rich motoring heritage. Following the extensive work, technicians formally handed the vehicle back to the Abu Dhabi Police at a dedicated ceremony hosted at the historic Al Maqta Museum.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Hammadi, Head of the Police Legacy Department at Abu Dhabi Police, emphasised that restoring the vehicle maintains a tangible connection to an essential era in local policing. Saeed Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of Ali & Sons Investments, noted that the team exercised exceptional care to protect the vehicle’s authentic character for future generations.
The royal duty of the Porsche 924 Abu Dhabi police car
The acquisition of the classic vehicle directly links to a major diplomatic milestone in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi Police originally acquired the motor vehicle to escort Queen Elizabeth II during her inaugural state visit to the newly formed nation in 1979. The historic tour took place just seven years after seven emirates united to form the UAE, with inaugural ruler Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan personally guiding the royal party.
Dr Manfred Bräunl, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Middle East and Africa, highlighted that while the region is internationally famous for deploying modern supercars in police fleets, this specific model started the entire tradition. Rebuilding the vehicle celebrates a highly visible role during one of the most prominent moments in early UAE history.
Detail of the restoration work and public unveiling
Specialists at the Abu Dhabi service facility focused on returning the vehicle as close to factory specifications as possible. To protect the historical integrity of the Porsche 924 Abu Dhabi police car, the restoration team completely eschewed modern vinyl decals, choosing instead to meticulously recreate the original painted police signage directly onto the bodywork by hand.
The public will get a first look at the restored classic at the Icons of Porsche festival held in Dubai on 21 and 22 November 2026. Once the festival concludes, the vehicle will return to Abu Dhabi to take up permanent display at the Al Maqta Museum.
Marking 50 years of Porsche transaxle innovation
The public display of the Porsche 924 Abu Dhabi police car coincides directly with global celebrations marking half a century of transaxle Porsche models. Launched as the pioneer of the transaxle era, the front-engine, rear-gearbox configuration brought superior weight distribution to sports vehicles, paving the way for later models like the 928, 944, and 968.
