Qatar stunned the world by unveiling its homegrown, stealth-jet-inspired hypercar that was meant to compete with Ferrari. Nine years have passed, and the only prototype of the “Qatari Batmobile” now lies abandoned in Doha, covered in desert dust

In 2016, Qatar made headlines in the automotive world by unveiling its first homegrown hypercar prototype, a radical concept called Elibriea. Designed by 27-year-old engineer Abdul Wahab Ziaullah, the car was billed as a glimpse of what the country could achieve in high-performance automotive engineering. It was a bold move, meant to announce Qatar’s entry into a field dominated by European and Japanese supercars, and it attracted the attention of enthusiasts and media alike.

Years later, the prototype of the Qatari Batmobile was found abandoned in a parking lot in Doha, covered in a thick layer of dust. The Elibriea project reflected the broader phenomenon of ambitious automotive concepts showcased at car shows around the world, many of which fail to materialize beyond the display floor. Funding, logistics, and feasibility often create insurmountable barriers, and Elibriea would ultimately illustrate those challenges.

The initial concept phase was funded through the Qatar National Research Fund, a grant program within Qatar Foundation, the state-established, publicly funded foundation. While this funding was indirect and not a direct government expenditure, it provided Ziaullah with the resources to develop the design while he was at Texas A&M University in Qatar.

Over the years, the concept matured into a full-scale prototype, with private backing from the Ali Bin Ali Group, a Qatari conglomerate whose branding appeared prominently on the car’s splitter.

The prototype and its fanfare

The prototype made its official debut at the Qatar Motor Show in January 2016. With a mid-mounted GM V6 engine producing approximately 525 horsepower, a carbon-fiber body, scissor doors, and a weight of roughly 1,000 kilograms (about 2200 lbs.), Elibriea was visually striking. Its angular, wedge-shaped body drew comparisons to stealth jets, with multiple outlets likening it to the Lockheed F-117. Ziaullah even claimed the car could reach 0–100 kilometers per hour in the three-point-something second range during limited airstrip runs at Al Khor airfield and surrounding roads.

The design was divisive. Media outlets and local fans quickly nicknamed it the Qatari Batmobile. While some celebrated the audacious styling and the idea of a homegrown supercar, many critics ridiculed its disjointed proportions and extreme angles. The car’s bold appearance succeeded in drawing attention but failed to convince the broader automotive community that it could evolve into a production-ready hypercar.

Production ambitions and unrealized promises

Ziaullah announced intentions to follow the concept with a production vehicle named Equvallas. This mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive hypercar was planned to feature around 800 horsepower and continue the carbon-fiber construction. Pre-orders were promoted as opening in March 2016 with deliveries expected by December of the same year. In reality, the leap from a 525-horsepower prototype to an 800-horsepower production model lacked a visible supply chain, factory plan, crash-testing roadmap, or homologation strategy.

Several issues made production nearly impossible. The prototype was not road-legal at unveiling and would have required suspension adjustments before Ministry approval. Qatar had no established auto manufacturing infrastructure, no tier-one suppliers, and no regulatory framework for bringing a hypercar to market. The communications around the project escalated ambition far faster than technical or financial capacity could support, a common story among show cars that generate initial excitement but fail to leave the display hall.

From showcase to storage

Years after the Qatar Motor Show, the Elibriea prototype faded from public view. Social media threads and car-spotting forums in Doha, including Reddit, eventually captured images of the car sitting under a building overhang, largely covered and coated in dust. The front quarter was exposed, revealing its sharply faceted, wedge-like geometry, triangular planes, and deep cut-outs. Multi-spoke front wheels appeared dirty and slightly deflated, and the cover was creased and torn near the splitter. The branding of the Ali Bin Ali Group remained visible in Arabic on the lower lip. The scene suggested a prototype that had been carefully handled but ultimately stored and abandoned, a quiet testament to an ambitious idea that never made it to production.

Lessons from Elibriea

Elibriea’s story is a familiar one in automotive circles. Countless concepts are revealed at motor shows worldwide with grand claims and dramatic styling, only to disappear when confronted with the realities of manufacturing, regulation, and capital intensity. Elibriea highlighted the challenges of taking a student-driven, university-supported design through to a commercial hypercar. From the QNRF-funded concept to the Ali Bin Ali Group-sponsored prototype, the project captured imagination but ultimately lacked the infrastructure, financing, and practical roadmap required to succeed.

While the prototype now sits largely forgotten, it remains a symbol of ambition and creativity. Elibriea was Qatar’s first attempt to establish a homegrown hypercar identity and its radical design still captures attention. Its rise and fall underscore the complexities of automotive innovation and the gap between vision and execution, offering a lasting story for enthusiasts and dreamers alike.