Hi all,

My wife is a teacher here for ADEC, one of her fellow teachers shipped his pick-up truck from the USA to here. Well come to find out a expat can not register a pick up truck in Abu Dhabi, it is considered a commerical vehicle. Does anyone have any ideas?? Its a 2005 Dodge Ram 4.7l v8 2wd crew cab with a flod out camper shell..

Thanks

Jeff

Oh no!!!! Disaster

I think it's a very tough situation without the intervention of somebody very senior I've been after a Toyota pick-up for some time but not possible.

Maybe this teacher can work something out with the school and have it registered as a school vehicle? Careful that legally it becomes the property of the school in that case.

Or, a local could register it in his own name, but then again it legally becomes his property.

Or, just as a stop-gap, he or she can go register it in Dubai. When asked for license, and they'll notice it's an Abu Dhabi license, he can say he's in the process of transfering to live in Dubai. They might give him the benefit of the doubt and so he's ok for one year.

Or, sell it in Dubai, or to a local in Abu Dhabi.

That's too bad. I have heard that if you get the rear sealed you can use it that way but you will have to double check.

Every expat I know who has a pickup in AUH has it registered via their company. I know one guy who ended up selling his pickup as there was no other way. Kind of a silly rule now-a-days me thinks. That should be a huge note in every expat package no importing of pick'em ups. Don't see how sealing the rear would amount to anything though.

Now, i would love to take one of the landcruiser pickups home with me!

Here's some interesting history - back when there was no border fence, and in 1999 specifically, an expat could not even register a 4x4 without the approval of the Captain at the muroor! At that time, basically, all requests were approved, so it wasn't a big deal, but that was the legacy of traffic laws that said expats cannot register a 4x4, a commercial vehicle (including pick-ups), and a vehicle with window tinting.

It was aimed at deterring cross-border smuggling.

As the 4x4 rule disappeared, and then the window-tinting rule was abandoned, Dubai has already done away with the pick-up rule so hopefully, now that there's a border fence around 100% of the UAE, also that will change.

I did manage to own two pick-ups, btw 8) both had a removable fiberglass bed-cover, like a Wrangler's hardtop - those were fine as long as I put the cover back on for inspection. Also, Chevy Avalanche and Ford SportTrax are available to expats.

what about all the Tundras we have running around with AUH plates...how are they regestered

I remember a friend a few years ago queried this rule and was told that as long as it is a 4 door (twin cab) pick-up it is registerable (is that a word???!!!!) by an expat.
Hope this rule is still valid for your mates sake. If he does need to see the higher beings at the registration dept, advise him to bring the official docs from home which will prove that he has had it for sometime in his home country 9not just a buy and import job), plus play on the fact that it is 2 wheel drive already limiting access to all the terrains of the UAE.

Thank you for all your help, he did get it registered. I guess he met a friend of a friend that knew someone and got it done. Thanks again guys can't wait to meet you all out in the sand...

Thanks

Jeff