DRIVER'S LICENSE
Be sure to get an International Driving License in your home country before you fly into UAE, so you can legally drive a rental car, which you can only rent until the end of a 30-day Visitor's Visa or 90-day business travel visa.

You can't buy a vehicle until you have a Residency Visa, then get the UAE driving license. If from a western country, you take no test except a vision test. Apart from taking a number to wait in line, whole process takes ~30 minutes, including getting application typed in Arabic.

Vehicle Registration is available at Tasjeel centres offering 1-step Testing for AED50 and Registration for ~AED 350, plus insurance for 13 months. You will need to bring along a copy of your passport, residence visa from the passport, Letter of No Objection from your sponsor, and pass-port size photo.

FINANCING A VEHICLE
Most Asian and European vehicle brands are available, plus some U.S. models. Prices are posted on the car, including fixed percent profit. Dealerships are a monopoly: only they have franchise for their brands of cars.

Getting financing in the "post-global-economic-crisis" is based on being able to prove you're steadily employed. Absent a letter from your employer stating you'll still be employed at the end of the financing period, what they'll want to see is a bank statement showing 3 months UAE salary.

At minimum, car financing banks want a standard form letter from your employer which states your monthly salary, and they also prefer that you have your whole salary directly deposited with them.

If you are will be over 60 during loan period they become more cautious. This is because - though professionals can work until age 70 - after 60 your residency visa is subject to annual renewal, rather than 3 years.

UAE Central Bank's policy unfortunately has directed all banks to adopt this age policy - in stark contrast with their UAE's Ministry of Labour policy on eleven professions that are desired here, and can work past 65 for five more years. (See Page 35 of the MOL Procedures Manual).

DRIVING IN THE UAE
New roads are built to high standard. Freeways are typically max. 120Km/h, but stay out of fast lanes: you might get run over by a wealthy local with disregard for speeding laws, which are quite loosely enforced. Do NOT drive after drinking: take time for a meal, as the legal blood alcohol level is zero.

Within cities, major roads that divide Districts typically have a median. On long stretch there may be median narrowing to allow U-turn, otherwise intersections are typically multi-lane roundabouts. You need good peripheral vision as many drivers do not use turn signals!!