How to Buy Car in Dubai?

You’ve recently moved to Dubai and experienced firsthand how comfortable it is to have your own vehicle here. The good news is that buying a car in the UAE is affordable and doesn’t require much paperwork. Whether you want a brand-new vehicle or a used one, Dubai car marketplaces provide a decent selection of both. With such a wide range on offer, no wonder you want to familiarize yourself with all the intricacies, both legal and those connected with the procedure of purchase.

Quick navigation

1. Who Can Buy a Car in the UAE?
2. Required Documents for Buying a New Car in Dubai
3. Required Documents for Buying a Used Car in Dubai
4. What are the most popular used cars in the UAE?
5. Most popular Luxury used cars in 2023
6. Most popular Non-luxury used cars in 2023
7. Buying New Car Online
8. Buying a Used Car in the UAE
9. Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Car
10. Where to Buy a Used Car in the UAE?
11. Car Registration and Other Paperwork
12. Car costs in the UAE
13. Car insurance
14. Importing a Car into the UAE

In our article, you’ll find answers about document preparation, registration, insurance, popular Dubai car marketplaces, and more. Let’s delve into it!

Who Can Buy a Car in the UAE?

Anyone who has reached the legal driving age, which is 18 years old, and has a valid driver’s licence is allowed to buy a car in the UAE.

If you got your driver's licence in one of the 43 countries approved by The Ministry of Interior (MoI), you’re allowed to swap it for a UAE equivalent without taking any driving tests. The only requirement is to hold a residence permit.

Required Documents for Buying a New Car in Dubai

If you’re interested in buying a new vehicle in Dubai, you can do it through a dealership. The vast majority of dealerships are located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but you can find their showrooms in other emirates too. You can buy a vehicle in any emirate, but you have to register it in the emirate where you reside.

To buy a new car in Dubai, you need to provide such a set of documents: a valid UAE driving licence, residency visa, passport copy, and Emirates ID card. You’re not allowed to drive your new vehicle out of the showroom without insurance, therefore, it has to be arranged in advance.

If you’re planning on taking a loan, car dealerships will require you to provide your salary certificate (along with bank statements) or a letter from your employer that confirms your income.

Required Documents for Buying a Used Car in Dubai

To buy a used car in Dubai, the set of documents is a bit different. You need to prepare the copies of your:

• UAE residency visa
• Emirates ID card
• Passport
• Car insurance agreement
• The UAE-issued driving licence
• Car’s previous registration card
• Authorized inspection certificate, for cars over 3 years old.

You can also buy a used car through a dealership. They will shoulder a bigger part of the document preparation, including the car registration process. If you buy a car from a private owner, you’ll have to deal with it on your own.

What are the most popular used cars in the UAE?

When you buy a used car, you want to be sure of its quality and reliability. To understand how reliable these or other models are, best of all if you check reviews from other owners and consult expert ratings. It will help you make an informed decision regarding the purchase.

Most popular Luxury used cars in 2023

Brands that proved to be the most desired in 2023, based on the dubizzle (online marketplace) sales report:

• Mercedes-Benz and BMW are the undisputed leaders of the luxury pre-owned Emirati car market. Mersedes-Benz models, particularly S-Clas, C-Class, and E-Class, have won drivers’ hearts due to cutting-edge handling features like MBUX Augmented Reality. BMW 5-Series sedans weren’t far behind them.
• This list wouldn’t be complete without the iconic Porsche 911 and Porsche Panamera that continued to set benchmarks for performance, luxury, and driving experience.
• Another brand that established itself as a widely preferred option was Lexus with its LS-series and LX-Series, in the high-end SUV segment.
• Other top pick SUVs included the Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Land Rover Range Rover.

Most popular Non-luxury used cars in 2023

Dubizzle prepared a list of non-luxury car brands in high demand as well, with Japanese brands being on the top:

• First and foremost Toyota, particularly the Camry and Corolla models.
• Nissan with its renowned models such as Altima and Pathfinder located solidly on the second line.
• Ford Mustang and Explorer took the third place thanks to their performance and comfort features.
• Honda completes the list of favourites, with Accord and Civic among the most popular sedan models.

Buying New Car Online

Buying a car online in Dubai is not possible, at least now. If, for some reason, you can’t visit the dealership’s showroom, you can choose a car online and book it for a test drive. When it comes to high-end vehicles, there is also an option to pre-order one through the manufacturer’s website online for import, regardless of your current location. However, getting in touch with a local dealership would still be more efficient and less bureaucratic.

Buying a Used Car in the UAE

Considering how developed the car market is in Dubai, getting a used vehicle is a decent alternative to buying a new one.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Car

You can buy a car from a private owner, but all the paperwork will fall onto your shoulders. Buying from a dealership would significantly facilitate the process because

• Dealerships handle all the administrative processes, including registration;
• Dealerships provide better consumer protection;
• Dealerships have their own service centers that ensure more convenient maintenance;
• Dealerships accept various payment methods, including cheques, bank transfers, and arranging loans.

Thanks to such online resources as Emirates Vehicle Gate, buyers can double-check car histories and ensure the fairness of the prices.

As for the disadvantages, there are:

• Purchasing a used vehicle from a dealership might result in higher costs due to additional services and protections.
• Making a deal with a private owner, in turn, lacks guarantees and protections typically provided by dealerships.

Where to Buy a Used Car in the UAE?

1. Official dealerships like Al Fahim/Emirates Motor Company, Al Nabooda Automobiles, Al-Futtaim Motors, and Al Habtoor Motors.
2. Car markets, such as Al Aweer Auto Market in Dubai, Motor World in Abu Dhabi, and Souq al Haraj in Sharjah.
3. From private owners who sell online. For instance, the Gulf News or Khaleej Times newspaper runs its ads for used cars via the Buzz On website.
4. On Dubizzle, a Dubai-focused website that covers all seven emirates, along with other similar websites like UAEclass, Open Sooq, and Kargal.

Car Registration and Other Paperwork

To register a car after the purchase, you need to:

• Prepare the insurance documents.
• Get your vehicle inspected at an authorized center if it’s more than three years old.
• Pay all traffic fines related to the vehicle.
• Apply for registration in the Ministry of Interior, Emirates Vehicle Gate, or any other official channel online or in person.
• Cover registration fees. They range from AED 400 to AED 420, depending on the emirate.
• For new cars, obtain a new registration plate with an expiry date sticker.

Car costs in the UAE

Buying a car in Dubai implies some additional expenses for maintenance. Those include:

• Car Insurance. It ranges from around AED 1200 to AED 5,000.
• Maintenance. Basic services may cost between AED 150 and AED 1,500.
• Fuel. Both the Super 98 and Special 95 are around AED 3 per liter.
• Salik charges. Buying a tag offline costs AED 100 (AED 50 for a Salik tag and AED 50 for a prepaid toll credit). Buying online will cost AED 120, where an additional AED 20 is charged for delivery. One tag scan is AED 4.

Car insurance

It’s hard to predict the cost of car insurance because it depends on many factors, including the driver’s age and driving experience, claims history and also car body type, market value, and engine capacity. You can expect to pay between AED 1200 and AED 5,000 for annual premiums for comprehensive car insurance and between AED 450 and AED 1000 for third-party insurance coverage.

Importing a Car into the UAE

If you own a car in your home country and want to take it to Dubai with you, there is an import possibility available. The procedure may, however, be a bit time- and effort-consuming. When the car arrives in the UAE, it will be subject to customs, duties, and taxes. The good news is that if your vehicle is for personal use only, it can be exempt from a 5% customs tax.

The required set of documents for importing your vehicle includes:

• A valid UAE residency visa
• UAE driving licence
• Proof of ownership
• A certificate of origin
• A bill of lading (for shipping)
• Your passport and residency visa copies
• Insurance certificate
• A roadworthiness test results (approximately AED 500)
• Vehicle clearance certificate, which costs approximately AED 5,000.