Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
If you are planning on buying a car in the UAE, now could be a very cost-effective time to do so. Whether you are looking for a new or used car, industry experts say there is excess supply in the market and some great deals to be found.
While car dealers are sitting on large inventories and have come up with attractive offers for prospective buyers, private sellers who want to dispose of their vehicles fast are also willing to negotiate good deals, says Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, a mobile app that aggregates car listings from 28 UAE car websites.
“It is a very competitive market. A lot of people are leaving the country and want to sell their cars fast. You can negotiate good deals, particularly with private sellers," he says.
"Dealers are looking to dispose of old models as new models will begin to be launched. You can negotiate hard with them. We can expect some attractive offers from dealers for the upcoming Eid and towards the end of the year, particularly Christmas."
New and used car prices in the UAE have dropped by an average of 9 per cent since March, according to July data from Seez. While prices for premium brands have dropped 12 per cent over the same period, mainstream brands – which means any car under Dh180,000 – have experienced price drops of 6 per cent.
Prices for mainstream cars are the lowest they’ve been all year, says Mr Kabrit. For premium cars, prices are almost as low now as they were at their lowest point in April, he adds.
With some people’s spending power also taking a hit due to redundancy or salary cuts amid Covid-19, Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com, an online marketplace for certified used cars in the UAE, says there has been a shift in preference to cheaper used cars.
“There is more value in used cars. New cars depreciate as soon as you drive them out of the lot. It is cheaper to buy a used car from a private seller but it involves a certain element of risk and hassle. That does not exist when you buy from a pre-certified dealer and you pay for that premium,” he says.
Typically, the cheapest second-hand cars can be bought from used car dealerships because they hold a larger inventory, Mr Hammad says.
"Private sellers tend to overvalue their car price, however, they are now dropping prices. If you buy from pre-owned, certified car dealers, they charge a premium because the car has been inspected," he adds.
When purchasing a car using a bank loan, buyers must pay 20 per cent of the car’s value as a down payment. As people’s purchasing power has reduced, more consumers are now considering car leasing as an alternative to the heavy upfront cost, says Mr Kabrit.
“Once you factor in insurance, loans, interest rates, warranties and service, leasing only turns out to be 5 per cent more expensive. But it is more flexible and gives you peace of mind. There has been a 50 per cent jump in leads in our Seez app towards leasing cars,” he says.
Although private car sellers typically overvalue their cars to secure a higher margin, buyers are now more savvy and educated about a vehicle’s fair value, says Mr Hammad.
As a result, some online car platforms report that listed prices are now very close to the actual sales price. Since last year, 80 per cent of transactions on CarSwitch.com occurred within Dh5,000 of the car’s advertised price. Around 20 per cent sold at more than a Dh5,000 discount.
“Forty per cent of cars were sold within Dh1,000 of the listed price. In another 40 per cent of transactions, the car was sold within Dh5,000 of the advertised price. Buyers don’t trouble themselves to see a car when it is advertised for a price that is well outside of what they agree is fair,” Mr Hammad adds.
Deciding whether to buy a new or second-hand model is a fairly straightforward process, says Mr Kabrit.
“The variables in a car purchase are the price, down payment, service package and warranty. If you can get a good deal on a model that you can afford from a dealer that comes with a discount and a service package, go for a new car. Otherwise, used cars are a safer bet,” he says. “Think before you opt for the higher version of any model. You won’t get a higher value for high-end trims when you try to sell the car.”
Distributors of leading car brands, both premium and mainstream, say they are preparing for a surge in customer enquiries during Dubai Summer Surprises and Eid Al Adha. After a sales standstill in April during the coronavirus-induced movement restrictions, dealers say they hope to lure customers back with offers that include free insurance, warranty and service packages.
Under Toyota's Al-Futtaim Auto Fest, for example, the distributor is offering to pay the 20 per cent down payment for models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, Fortuner, FJ Cruiser, Supra, Corolla, Camry and Rav4. The deal also comes with a job loss insurance policy, which covers the buyer for six instalments or up to Dh20,000 in the event of a job loss.
“Demand is picking up from Q2 going to Q3. We have offered a lot more flexibility to our retail customers on how they pay for their vehicle. By and large, most customers were financing their vehicles through banks. From last year, we are offering more flexible solutions like leasing as well as low monthly payment financing options,” says Saud Abbasi, managing director of Al-Futtaim Toyota.
The Toyota dealership has accelerated its leasing business on various models this year for customers who don’t want to lock themselves into a four-to five-year bank loan. “On leasing, you can get away with a lower down payment. Leasing covers your service, maintenance, offers you a replacement vehicle in case your vehicle goes for servicing, and covers insurance and registration,” Mr Abbasi says.
Al-Futtaim Toyota says it is tight on inventory and “fairly comfortable with our stocks right now”. The company launched two models in the second quarter, the Toyota C-HR and Toyota Highlander, both hybrid-electric vehicle SUVs. The distributor also says that large SUVs like the Land Cruiser fared well during the crisis.
There is an emphasis on car ownership, as many consumers want to own a car to safely maintain cleanliness in the spaces they occupy
Abu Dhabi Motors, the official importer for BMW Group vehicles in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, meanwhile, says it is eager to regain lost ground. It is currently running a 'valued service' campaign, which offers customers a 50 per cent discount on parts and a 15 per cent discount on labour services.
It is also offering a selection of financing deals across its 2019 and 2020 models.
“Recent trends indicate that sales will pick up in the second half of the year. Our research demonstrates that due to concern of infection, many residents are hesitant to take public transport and surround themselves with large crowds. Therefore, there is an emphasis on car ownership, as many consumers want to own a car to safely maintain cleanliness in the spaces they occupy,” says Syed Faiz Karim, national sales operation manager at Abu Dhabi Motors.
Although leasing is a key part of the distributor’s sales strategy, with some BMW models available from Dh2,799 per month “traditional car ownership considerably outpaces leasing across our dealerships in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain”, adds Mr Karim.
Al Majid Motors, distributor of Kia vehicles in the UAE, is currently offering promotions under a new campaign where some models come with one year's free insurance, a free service package, one year's roadside assistance and a manufacturer warranty of five years or 150,000 kilometres. These offers are valid on the Sportage, Pegas, Optima, Cadenza, Cerato, Picanto, Soul and Sorrento. The dealer also dropped prices on Kia models by 4 per cent in June.
“We have some volumes of 2020 models which need to be cleared before we order 2021 models. All promotions are mainly on 2020 model cars, so this is the best time to buy them,” says Amei Ramesh, general manager, Al Majid Motors.
He adds that customers can also trade in their old car of any brand and buy a new Kia.
Audi Middle East is also running promotions across its dealerships. Audi Abu Dhabi offers customers up to 20 per cent deposit contribution, 0 per cent finance for up to five years or added value items such as unlimited mileage warranty for five years and more.
Audi Al Nabooda dealership in Dubai is offering 0 per cent interest on financing for up to five years, a five-year service package or 105,000km (whichever comes first), a five-year maintenance package or 105,000km (whichever comes first), a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, five-year roadside assistance and free registration and insurance for the first year.
Buyers can also purchase second-hand Audis through the company's approved programme and Al Nabooda Automobiles’ rental department offers various 2020 models on a one-year lease with a 30,000km allowance per year.
“Our research revealed that almost 50 per cent of consumers are considering buying cars online now. Currently, we have e-commerce sites available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for new cars only but these will be extended to include pre-owned cars, parts and accessories in the future,” says Carsten Bender, managing director of Audi Middle East.
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)
Man of the match Harry Kane
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
More coverage from the Future Forum
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The five pillars of Islam
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THREE
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Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
More on animal trafficking
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
The five pillars of Islam
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
