Dubai Forums Dubai Tech Discussions Dubai Auto

Hi this is my first post on this forum. Please be gentle with me!
I have a 1989 Ford Sierra Saphire Cosworth based in the UK which I would like to Import to the UAE for my own personal use. The car is very special to me as I have sent over 170,000dha on Engine modifications and general upkeep over the years. I understand that it is quite difficult to bring vehicles to dubai but I know this is possible. How do I go about it? Who do I speek to? How much does it cost? Is it easier as my car is now 17 years old? Any responses would be appreciated especially the ones saying I am a fool for spending so much on an old Ford Sierra.
Regards

(I am very polite)

Let me start by saying welcome!!!!

In essence, its not hard to import cars into Dubai. However you cannot register a RHD car in this city. Sorry.

Also dude, you are not a fool. A car for a man is very important. When you have put so much into your baby and you have been with it for very long, its hard to part ways. Especially when the car is unique

Good luck man.

i think RHD is no the main issue here. I have seen cars registered in Um Al Quwain with RHD. And also switching it is not a big deal.

I think you cant import a car that is older than 5 years here. someone who knows for sure might be able to confirm that.

Cool, thanks for that. suspected that was the case so have already sourced a LHD motorsport body shell. Second question how does the government deal with self buid cars. This car will be essentially unregestired in the UK. In GB we had a system using Q plates for one off special cars can this be achieved in the UAE?

To be honest I am more interested in keeping the engine as this has cost the most.

You pose an interesting question. Will it meet GCC specs? They will test you for that if its custom built.

Also Madd, Dubai forbids RHD registration, other Emirates do not. Thats what you saw bro

Does that mean I should register in another Emirate or do I need to be a resident of that Emirate to register the car?

You can only register the car in the Emirate your residency is from.

A friend of mine owns a used car showroom in Al Aweer, i will ask him for more details on your case and get back to you. keep checking !

As Liban stated - RHD is a no go in Dubai.

Cars older than 5 years can still be imported.

You can seek to register the car as a "kit car" - although it will essentially need to meet the prescribed specifications of the GCC.

It would not meet the Gulf spec requirements.

Liban wrote:You can only register the car in the Emirate your residency is from.

Or where you live if it's different from the emirate you get your visa from (you need to show a tenancy contract in your name though).

Another problem is insurance - it's not easy to get comprehensive on cars more than 5 years old (or maybe 7).

And there's not many places to enjoy driving a decent car here - Jebel Hafit, a few roads through the mountains in RAK and behind Hatta, that's about it. Do you actually want to use it on public roads or is it more something you just want to have in the garage? You may be able to trailer it down to the autodrome for a punt occasionally.

sharewadi, you have just come up with the best idea yet. I only ever take the car to track days in the UK as I am too scared to drive it on the road 350bhp on a rwd 16 year old car with no ABS driving in the wet is scarey. I asume I would still need import papers but this should be easier to get as I can the car through british MSA testing and import as a race car. GENIUS!!!

watkinssound wrote:GENIUS!!!

Well if I do say so myself.

I truely am a genius

Did you attend the Brighton Festival of speed last year..?

If you didnt you should of because i can imagine your q.mile times are pretty quick!

Sierra and escort cosworths are serious peices of kit and are fantastic cars. Im sure yours is pretty special!

Good luck with bringing it over....I have never seen one out here so i imagine there pretty rare..

watkinssound wrote: 350bhp on a rwd 16 year old car with no ABS driving in the wet is scarey.

Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Clarkson wouldn't say scary.

It'll only cost you 90,000 dhs if you want to hire the whole track for a day (at least that's what it said here.

Don't see anything useful for you on Autodrome website.

If you find a cheaper rate, let us know. Might take my own jalopy around there one day ...

Thats not all that bad, Cheaper than Silverstone. Especially if you share the pace with 50 like minded people you can run a decent track day on that kinda money. Wonder if that is with saftey, 1st aid, recovery etc. I think we may have stumbled on something here. How many people would like to blast around a good track for a few hours for only 1800dha, no speed limit,quite safe and no tale gating at 180kph by a guy in 4x4 bigger than my house!!!

Where do I sign up

hmmm Dubai Forum Track days, i like the sound of that

watkinssound wrote: 350bhp on a rwd 16 year old car with no ABS driving in the wet is scarey.

I would say the handbrake is your friend

fayz wrote:hmmm Dubai Forum Track days, i like the sound of that

Ditto.

I was a supporter for the kart day idea brought up by someone at the first meet.

Heat shouldn't be a problem, I also have two kenlow fans on the intercooler one on the rad and no A/C (Its a race car!)

fayz wrote:hmmm Dubai Forum Track days, i like the sound of that

Real shame you are out of town this week - I would have loved to have gone karting with you or something!!

you can import a car in as a 'kit car' - not register it, keep it RHD, hook it up to a trailer and pull it to the Autodrome, trackday, drag strip etc.

As long as you dont intend to register the car - no one really cares what you bring into dubai. If I were you, I would bring in an empty shell... then ship the engine in a different shipment. Put it all together and enjoy your car on the track.

If you want to use the same car to take you to spinneys and back..... thats when you need to do your homework!

I will probably need to import a mechanic too. Not a bad idea though watch this space

the_zooter wrote:

fayz wrote:hmmm Dubai Forum Track days, i like the sound of that

Real shame you are out of town this week - I would have loved to have gone karting with you or something!!

Yeah likewise, hopefully things go well during your visit though and you'll be joining us in DXB more permanently

A Cosworth - OMG - NICE!!!

The heat, sand and dust will kill it here though. Plus the way the nutters race around here I'd be terrified of being raced down the street and someone trashing it.