Import guide
Importing a Japanese car into the UAE
How importing a Japanese car into Dubai works: steering and specification, shipping, customs clearance, registration and your delivery options.
By Cathect Trading Co Published
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Last reviewed: . Rules change. We confirm the current rules for your specific car before we buy it.
How we help
We buy the car you want at auction in Japan, prepare the Japanese export documentation and ship the car to the UAE (Dubai). When it arrives you choose how to receive it:
- Door-step delivery. We arrange delivery from the port to your address.
- Port pickup, you clear the car yourself. You collect the car from the port and handle the import documents yourself.
- Port pickup with a clearing service. You collect the car from the port and a clearing service, ours or a third party, handles the import documents.
Before you ask for a quote
The UAE drives on the right, so we normally source left-hand-drive specification cars. We confirm steering and specification before bidding.
Age limits and eligibility can differ by emirate and vehicle type. We confirm them before we buy.
Arrival and delivery options
We ship the car from Japan to the UAE. For Dubai, cars usually arrive at Jebel Ali port; the port is confirmed at booking.
If you choose port pickup, you or your clearing service collect the car once customs has released it. If you choose door-step delivery, we arrange delivery to your address.
Customs clearance
The car must be cleared through customs before it leaves the port. You can do this yourself, use our clearing service or use a third-party clearing agent.
Specification, inspection and registration
Cars must meet UAE specification, pass inspection and be registered with the emirate's licensing authority, for example the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai.
Official sources
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT)
- Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Dubai?
Yes. We buy the car at auction in Japan, handle the Japanese export paperwork and ship it to Dubai.
Who clears the car through customs in Dubai?
You can clear the car yourself, use our clearing service or use a third-party clearing service. If you choose door-step delivery, we arrange delivery to your address.
Where can I check the current UAE import rules?
Check the official Dubai Customs and Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) websites, or ask your clearing agent.