Registering a car in the UAE requires residency, inspection, insurance and registration in the road system, but most steps can be conveniently completed online.

How to register a car in the UAE

Registering a car in the United Arab Emirates is not just a formality, but a whole process with nuances that you need to go through correctly, especially if you are a foreigner. Living in a country where it is summer almost all year round, the roads are wide, and public transport does not yet cover everything, is difficult without a car. So you decided to buy a car - what next?

First of all, to register a car in the UAE, you must have a resident status and an Emirates ID. Without them, a car can only be purchased for export, but not used in the country. New cars are usually registered by a dealer, but with used cars you will have to deal with it yourself. The first thing is a technical inspection, especially if the car is more than three years old. Then - registration of insurance, without it, the registration will simply not be accepted.

Next, you open a personal account in the road system of your emirate, pay all government fees, and then receive license plates and a registration card. If you are in Dubai, don't forget about SALIK - this is an electronic toll road system, without which you won't be able to drive around the city without worry. You need to buy a special tag, register it and top up your account - it's convenient, but requires attention.

What's especially nice is that you can register online. Applications and websites of road authorities allow you to renew your registration, pay fines, or even download a digital version of your documents. However, it's still better to have a paper copy with you when traveling abroad, especially if you plan to travel by car.

Of course, the expenses don't end there. Insurance, fuel, regular maintenance, fines for breaking the rules, and toll roads are all part of owning a car. But thanks to the low price of petrol and good quality roads, the pleasure of driving here outweighs all the bureaucratic issues. The main thing is not to get lost in the details, follow the rules and be attentive, and then your car will only please you on the streets of the UAE.