Export is not the same as a local sale
When you sell a car inside the UAE, the registration simply moves to the new owner. Exporting works differently: the car is taken off the UAE register, given temporary plates for its trip to the port, and processed by customs as an outgoing shipment. Most of the steps take place in Dubai, which matters if you have already relocated or are about to.
Settle everything the car owes first
The RTA will not cancel a registration while any balance is linked to the vehicle, so start here. If the car was bought on finance, the bank has to confirm in writing that the loan is closed, and that letter is often the slowest document to arrive, so request it as soon as you decide to export.
- All traffic fines on the vehicle and the owner’s file
- Any remaining Salik toll balance, however small
- The outstanding car loan, followed by the bank’s clearance letter
The export process in order
Once the car is free of debts, the rest follows a fixed sequence. Your shipping agent can usually coordinate the customs and port stages for you.
- Have the car inspected at an approved testing centre so its details can be checked against the records
- Apply to the RTA to cancel the registration for export
- Collect the export certificate and the temporary export plates
- Submit the export declaration to Dubai Customs
- Hand the car to your agent for loading and receive the bill of lading
- Arrange import duties and registration in the destination country
Documents to prepare
Gather these before your inspection appointment and make sure every name and number matches across them. A spelling difference between the registration card and the Emirates ID, or an expired passport copy, is enough to hold up clearance.
- The original Mulkiya, registered to the owner
- Owner’s Emirates ID and a passport copy
- Proof that fines and Salik have been cleared
- The bank’s letter confirming that any car loan is closed
- RTA export certificate
- Dubai Customs export declaration
- Bill of lading from the shipping agent
- Power of attorney, if someone is acting for you
Choosing a shipping method
With roll-on, roll-off shipping, the car is driven straight onto the vessel, which is usually the lower-cost choice and works well for vehicles in running order. Container shipping costs more but keeps the car sealed and protected, and you can often send personal belongings in the same container. Your decision will depend on the car’s value, its condition and the distance to its new home.
Avoiding common delays
The UAE side of an export can move quickly when the paperwork is clean, while transit time depends on your route and the next available sailing. Most hold-ups come from a handful of predictable problems. Note that the temporary export plates are valid for a limited time only, so book shipping before they lapse or you will need another trip to the RTA.
- A forgotten Salik balance or minor fine
- A bank letter requested too late
- Export plates that expire while the car waits at the port
- A power of attorney that is too general or not attested
- Details that differ between documents
Exporting your car from abroad
Being overseas does not stop you from exporting. With a power of attorney drafted for the purpose, someone you trust in Dubai can cancel the registration, sign the customs paperwork, coordinate with the freight agent and pick up the final documents for you. It should identify the vehicle clearly and list each of these powers, and if you sign it outside the UAE it must be notarized, legalized by the UAE embassy and attested in the UAE before it will be accepted, usually with an Arabic translation.
How we can help
If you are abroad or simply short on time, we can prepare a power of attorney for the export, worded to suit the RTA and customs, and guide you through its attestation. Your representative in Dubai can then complete the export for you.