During 2007 ADTA began sponsoring the Ford World Rally Team, in a deal that saw Emirati driver Khalid Al Qassimi competing for the team.

In late 2006 Ron Cremen, a former rally driver from Australia and team manager for Al Qassimi approached the Abu Dhabi Government with the concept of starting a junior rally team.

[1] Team Abu Dhabi was created under the guidance of Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the Chairman of ADTA with the purpose of creating an opportunity for Abu Dhabi drivers to experience rallying at all levels.

Al Qassimi contested the Middle East Rally Championship under the banner in 2007, while he joined the Ford World Rally Team from Rally Finland as a result of ADTA's sponsorship deal with the team.

For 2011 Team Abu Dhabi has registered as a WRC Team, allowing Al Qassimi to score points for the manufacturers' championship.