KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Long before high-performance luxury patrols became a signature sight across the UAE, a single 1979 two-door coupe quietly established the nation’s tradition of deploying specialised sports cars for official state duties.
Acquired by Abu Dhabi Police specifically to escort Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their maiden royal tour of the UAE in 1979, the historic vehicle has now been fully restored, preserving a tangible link to the early statehood era.
The vehicle played a prominent, highly visible role throughout the 1979 royal visit. Accompanied by the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the British monarch toured the young nation following her arrival aboard the royal yacht Britannia.
To ensure swift, reliable convoy management across the capital's rapidly expanding road network, police authorities deployed the 1979 Porsche, a pioneering piece then of transaxle design by Porsche.
It marked the first time a dedicated high-performance sports car joined the UAE Federal Police fleet. Unveiled globally in the mid-1970s and manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany, the platform departed from traditional rear-engine layouts by pairing a front-mounted engine with a rear-positioned transmission and differential.
This layout created near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, delivering exceptional handling stability and predictable high-speed balance that proved ideal for movements of VIPs.
To restore the historical artifact to its precise 1979 specification, technical teams embarked on a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic overhaul. Rather than relying on modern vinyl graphics, restorers painstakingly hand-painted the original law enforcement livery and police insignia directly onto the bodywork, mirroring the exact artisanal methods utilised by local authorities four decades ago.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Hammadi, Head of Police Legacy Department at Abu Dhabi Police, called it a representative of “an important chapter in the history of Abu Dhabi Police and the development of our vehicle fleet”.
“Restoring the car provides an opportunity to maintain a tangible connection to this period and share its story with future generations,” he said.
Following its handover at Al Maqtaa Museum – one of Abu Dhabi’s earliest police facilities – the vehicle will make its public debut on November 21-22 in Dubai and then return permanently to Al Maqtaa Museum, serving as a permanent historical exhibit detailing the evolution of national law enforcement.
Dr Manfred Bräunl, CEO of Porsche Middle East and Africa, said: “The UAE is now known around the world for its sporty police cars … I can’t wait to see the car on its first public display at our Icons of Porsche festival in Dubai.”