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Upon settling down in a new country, expatriates are confronted with 3 issues that need resolving urgently. These are: finding a new house, finding a school for their children, and buying a new car. Whilst these issues are familiar to the 2.72 million expats settled in Dubai, they remain daunting even to expats who have experienced multiple countries. That is why getting expert help is often the best way to quickly deal with these challenges. So why not visit the Expat Motors showroom off Sheik Zayed Road and let us help you. However, before you set-off on your motoring journey in Dubai, there are a few things you must know.
Emiratis love their cars! In the UAE, 74% of all road users are either drivers or passengers of private cars. In a city the size of Dubai’s, residents use their car for most things. For example, 67% of people living in Dubai commute to work by car, whilst 60% of trips to personal appointments are done by car.
As a result, the car culture is buoyant and that is reflected in the state of the Dubai car market. The average age of a car registered in the Emirate is only 5.6 years compared to over 9 years old in the UK. This means the used car market is an attractive option because many of the models available are low-milers and have all the latest mod-cons.
As we have seen people in Dubai like to use their car and this has spawned many myths and rumours.
Even though the UAE is an oil-rich country and some of its residents are extremely wealthy, it doesn’t mean supercars are frequently seen driving along Dubai’s bustling streets. In fact, some of the cars most frequently seen on Dubai’s Road network are Mitsubishi Pajero’s, BMW X5’s, and Toyota Corollas. This means vehicles on offer on Dubai’s used car market are varied, so there is something for everyone. At the Expat Motors showroom, we have seen every type of car come through our doors from SUVs to state-of-the-art sports cars.
This is simply not true; the UAE’s financial institutions offer many car financing options that aren’t exclusive to new vehicles. In fact, many of Dubai’s used car dealers such as Expat Motors offer multiple finance options to their customers.
Even though many used car dealers don’t offer a warranty, manufacturer warranties remain valid despite the car changing owners. What’s more, many platforms offer extended warranties on used vehicles meaning you are covered in case there is something wrong with the vehicle purchased.
However, it is true that many Dubai-based used car dealers aren’t very good at aftersales and that is why Expat Motors prides itself on having systems in place to protect its customers, including a rigorous 160-point check.
Whilst this is true of some dealers, many offer customers the possibility to test drive the car they are thinking of buying. This is something we strongly encourage customers to do because it is the best way to get a feel for the car. In fact, they can do it straight from our website and book a test drive.
Before you consider buying a car in Dubai, there are some administrative steps that need completing. The Emirati law makes it illegal to sell a car to anyone under the age of 18 without a valid driver’s licence, so you must ensure you have a valid licence issued in the Emirate where the car is registered. Additionally, you will need to prove you are a legal resident of Dubai so you must bring your Emirati ID and visa along to the dealership.
Once those administrative steps completed, you are ready to take-on Dubai’s car market. For newly arrived expats, this can be daunting, so, we strongly recommend going through a dealership to buy your first car on Emirati soil because doing so makes the process far easier. At Expat Motors, we will help you navigate through all the administrative steps, so you can leave our showroom with the car that will make your life in Dubai easier. We even offer advantageous finance deals!
We don’t think there is a simple answer to this question. Whilst SUVs and other more rugged 4x4’s are very popular on the Dubai car market; they are not necessarily the ideal car for you. Looks, gas-mileage, and how you are intending on using your car are the most important things to consider when you are buying a used car.
However, if you are struggling to find the car that best suits you, we strongly recommend you contact a reputable Dubai car dealer such as Expat Motors to help you. We have the experience to help you find what you are looking for.
The main difference between Dubai’s car market and that of most other countries is the age of vehicles. Many of the model’s available 2nd hand are much more recent than in the US or Europe. However, many challenges you will encounter when wanting to buy a car in Dubai are the same as those you would anywhere else, but in a new country these can seem daunting. At Expat Motors, we are all too aware of those challenges and are happy to go the extra mile to get your Dubai car ownership journey started in the best way possible. So, why not visit our showroom or reserve the car of your dreams online.
