What UAE consumer law says about dealer warranty, repairs, replacement cars and service contracts, and where to complain. Each rule is tied to the official instrument.
In the UAE, dealer warranty and buyer rights come from Federal Law No. (15) of 2020 on Consumer Protection, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. (5) of 2023, and its executive regulation, Cabinet Decision No. 66/2023. The law defines a "supplier" as a juristic person that, among other activities, sells goods, so a dealer that is a company fits that wording; if you are unsure who the seller is, check with the authority. The supplier must implement the warranties, supply spare parts and maintenance, and replace or refund within the specified time limit. The regulation also requires a warranty document, an invoice that states the condition of a used item, and a clear statement of what the warranty excludes. The law and regulation read for this guide set no minimum warranty length. Complaints go to your emirate's economic department (in Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism) or the Ministry of Economy on 800 1222. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Which law applies to a car purchase
Article 3 of the law says it applies to all goods and services within the State, including free zones, and to operations carried out by the supplier, the advertiser or the commercial agent (text, Lexis translation hosted by the ministry). The instruments, by their official names, are on the Ministry of Economy legislation page:
Cabinet Decision No. 166 of 2026, an Arabic-only text signed on 24 September 2026, which replaces Articles 9, 40 and 41 of the 2023 regulation (Ministry of Economy, Arabic PDF). The warranty articles discussed below are not among them.
The ministry's translations carry a note that the Arabic version prevails if the two differ. The law defines a supplier as a juristic person who provides a service or manufactures, distributes, trades, sells, supplies, exports or imports a good. A sale by a dealer that is a juristic person fits that definition. For a sale between two individuals, the definition does not settle the question, so check with the authority before you rely on these rules.
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The regulation sets out paperwork duties for the supplier. Article 6 says the supplier must give the consumer a warranty document, either separately or within the invoice. The invoice items include the condition of the commodity if it is used, the warranty period, and the serial number of the commodity and its parts. u.ae adds that the invoice must be in Arabic, and that any contract clause exempting the supplier from its obligations under the law is null and void.
Article 11: a supplier may not advertise a warranty, orally or in any media, without giving the consumer the warranty document.
Article 12: the warranty must state, among other items, the supplier, the purchase date, the warranty period, the serial number, the parts covered, the consumer's obligations and the exclusions.
Article 16 of the regulation: the supplier's written mechanism for spare parts, maintenance and warranty must be in Arabic booklets written in a form the consumer can understand.
Article 19: the supplier must explicitly define the cases that cancel the warranty, and the consumer must be told before the purchase.
Used cars and warranty length
Article 7 of the regulation says the condition of the commodity must be described in the concluded contract or the issued invoice. For a used car, that means the condition belongs on paper, not only in the advertisement. Warranty length is a different matter. Article 19 says the warranty period is the one specified by the producer or the commercial agent, runs from the date the consumer receives the goods, and is extended by the time the consumer cannot use them because of repair of covered defects or delayed maintenance, where the supplier's default or delay in providing spare parts caused it. No statutory minimum warranty length for a car was found in the law or regulation text read for this guide, so do not assume a number of years. Ask the seller for the period and the exclusions in writing, and compare them with the warranty document.
The law and the regulation each set timelines. Read them as separate provisions, because their tests differ.
Replacement car: Article 17 of the regulation says that if a repair takes more than 7 days, the supplier provides a similar commodity for use without charge for the period you cannot use yours, or agrees another way to compensate you, unless the defect is attributed to your own conduct. Article 16 of the law, as replaced in 2023, sets the same 7 days for a commercial agent or distributor implementing the producer's warranty.
Spare parts: Article 14 sets 7 days from the consumer's request for regularly demanded parts, 14 days for others, and 30 days where the goods were supplied by someone other than the local commercial agent, in which case the commercial agent provides the parts if the agency agreement covers them.
Repair warranty: under Article 26 the supplier must warrant the repair and the replaced parts for at least 15 days from delivery, unless the parts or repair need longer, provided the failure did not arise from the consumer's conduct. Before repairing, it must get the consumer's consent to the cost, the repair period and the warranty period.
Repeated malfunction, the law: Article 13 of the law provides that if the same malfunction repeats 3 times during the first year in a way that substantially affects the good's functional performance, the supplier replaces it with a new one of the same type and specifications, or refunds its value.
Recurring failure, the regulation: Article 28 gives a new alternative of the same category and specifications, or the value at the time of purchase, for a recurring failure during the warranty period that results in full or partial non-use of the commodity or affects its market value or safety of use, and that does not result from the consumer's own handling. It applies after two failed repair attempts, three if the commodity is a vehicle, or when the repair attempts each take more than 15 days. Where the consumer has partly used the item and repair has failed three times or more, the refund is made after deducting the depreciation rate.
Service contracts, independent garages and extended cover
Article 18 covers periodic maintenance. The cost, date and duration of periodic maintenance must be stated in a prominent place at the supplier's service centres, and a statement of estimated maintenance cost must be provided at any time at the consumer's request. That supports asking for the estimate in writing before you buy.
Independent garages: Article 19 says the competent body "may regulate" how the warranty applies when maintenance is done at independent service centres. The text read does not state a blanket rule either way, so confirm with the warranty document and the authority.
Extended warranty and service plans sold by a dealer: no dedicated instrument was found in the pages read. Get the terms, the exclusions and the claim process in writing.
Insurance-backed warranty products may fall under Central Bank of the UAE insurance rules, which this guide does not cover.
Where to complain about a car dealer
In Dubai, start with the Department of Economy and Tourism consumer complaint eService listed on u.ae, consumer protection. u.ae says the economic department in each emirate receives consumer complaints. The Ministry of Economy also receives them on 800 1222 (Ministry of Economy, consumer complaints), and u.ae lists a Ministry consumer complaints eService. Article 35 of the regulation says the competent authority receives complaints, and the Ministry receives them in the cases agreed between the two. For that reason, the economic department of your emirate is the first route.
Include your name, address, capacity and the date.
Include the respondent's details and the offence you allege.
Attach evidence and documents: the invoice, the contract, the warranty document and messages.
The competent authority may reject a complaint that lacks the required particulars and documents.
The law requires the supplier to implement the warranties it gives and to provide a warranty document. The text read sets no minimum warranty length, so the period is set by the producer or agent. Ask for it in writing.
Does the consumer protection law cover private sellers?
The law defines a supplier as a juristic person. A dealer that is a company fits that. A sale between two individuals is not settled by the definition, so check with the Ministry of Economy or your economic department.
Does servicing at an independent garage void a warranty?
The regulation says the competent body may regulate the effect of servicing at independent centres. The text read gives no blanket rule. Check the warranty document, which must state what cancels the warranty.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, financial, tax or insurance advice. Prices, specifications and availability are indicative, vary by trim and GCC specification, and change without notice - confirm current figures with the selling dealer. Government fees, registration, import, customs and traffic regulations are subject to change; always verify current requirements directly with the relevant UAE authority (RTA, MOEI, Customs, your emirate's traffic department) or your insurer before acting. Carzle is a marketplace: vehicles are listed and sold by independent dealers, and Carzle is not a party to any sale.
In Dubai, use the Department of Economy and Tourism consumer complaint eService. The Ministry of Economy takes complaints on 800 1222. Have the invoice, contract and warranty document ready.
