The process for buying a car in Dubai is fairly straight forward. A new vehicle is obviously more expensive than a second hand one but you won’t have to deal with vehicle testing for two years, nor will you have to worry about the legitimacy of the sale. Vehicles can be purchased new or used from a car dealer or through private sale. Unless you are a cash buyer, you will need to meet the requirements for auto finance through one of the UAE banks.
If you purchase from a dealer they will assist you with this procedure. If the vehicle is second hand, it is recommended that you have it tested. It is also recommended to check with the Dubai Traffic Police to confirm that that the vehicle is neither stolen nor has any liens or fines attached to it. You can obtain financing if necessary (at a bank or with the dealer). After you have purchased the vehicle, you will need to insure it and register it with the Dubai Traffic Police. It is likely the above procedures will be completed for you if you purchase the vehicle directly from a dealer. Here is also a link to key driving tips for Dubai.
Key Tips:
Cash for purchase, Or if financing you will need to bring:
• Passport (original and copy).
• Residence permit (original and copy).
• Driving license (original and copy).
• Bank statements for the past 3 months showing a salary transfer.
• Salary certificate from your employer.
Click here to see what fines and points you can quickly accumulate here in Dubai.
The process for buying a car in Dubai is fairly straight forward. A new vehicle is obviously more expensive than a second hand one but you won’t have to deal with vehicle testing for two years, nor will you have to worry about the legitimacy of the sale. Vehicles can be purchased new or used from a car dealer or through private sale. Unless you are a cash buyer, you will need to meet the requirements for auto finance through one of the UAE banks. 
If you are an expat then you wont have 3 month banks statements. What happens in this case? Will a letter from my employer help?
Hi! Krisel,
Assuming you are not paying cash in full, then the option is auto-finance and it is a standard requirement to provide 3 months worth of bank statements showing a salary transfer. So you will probably need to wait until you can provide these. The letter from your employer is an additional requirement when requesting a bank loan.
In the interim, you do have the option to rent a car for a few months.
I hope this helps to clarify.
Hi Louise.
Can you give me an idea of prices for rent a car for a few months? We are in the same situation as above.
Thank you
Depending on size about AED 1500 per month