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Consumer Protection (UAE)Answered

What are my rights if a used car I bought in Dubai turns out to be faulty?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 10, 2026·1 answers
I bought a used car from a dealership in Dubai and within two weeks the gearbox failed, even though the listing described the car as fully inspected. The dealer says all used sales are final and is only offering a paid repair. I'm not sure whether 'sold as seen' is actually the end of it or whether consumer rules protect me here.

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 11, 2026
'Sold as seen' is not the end of it. UAE consumer protection law applies to used goods sold by licensed dealers, and the Civil Code separately protects buyers against hidden defects — a gearbox failing within two weeks of a sale advertised as 'fully inspected' points strongly to a fault that existed at purchase, not ordinary wear. A dealer cannot contract out of these protections with a blanket disclaimer. Your steps: put the complaint to the dealer in writing, attaching the listing (screenshot it now, before it changes), the sales contract and the failure details, and ask for repair, replacement or refund. Get an independent garage report on the gearbox — a short technical opinion on whether the fault pre-dated the sale is the piece of evidence that decides cases like this. If the dealer holds the line, file a consumer complaint with Dubai's consumer protection section at the Department of Economy and Tourism, which mediates disputes with licensed traders and can apply real pressure. Court remains available if mediation fails, with the garage report as your foundation. If the dealer digs in, a consumer-disputes lawyer can take it from the complaint stage to a claim.
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