Dubai: There won’t be many places on earth where one could find such a variety of exotic vehicles in such abundance.
From armoured vehicles and monster trucks to vintage beauties and opulence on wheels, there is virtually no automobile one can’t find at Al Aweer Used Car Market.
If you are a resident of Dubai or a tourist, a trip to the auto market is a must, more so if you are a petrolhead.
More than 200 outlets at Al Aweer Used Car Market are certified pre-owned car divisions of authorised auto dealers.
For someone who is looking for a good, clean, used car, there are plenty of options for every segment.
But, if you are on a shoestring budget, there may not be too many options.
“You will find cars priced from Dh100,000 to multi-million dirhams in the market. This market is known for premium and luxury vehicles and most of the customers here are regulars to the market, buying and selling their cars,” said Sajid Mon, accountant at Al Mirage Motors.
He added that his company sells between five to ten vehicles every month, each worth an average of around Dh500,000.
“Some of our popular models are Range Rover, high-end Mercedes and Bentleys,” he said.
The market also offers private vehicle testing centres.
Interestingly, the used car firms offer warranty and service packages as well, tailor-made to the requirements of buyers and their vehicles.
“Most of the vehicles sold in the market are not more than three to four years old, so these vehicles are covered by warranty as most authorised dealers now offer 5 year warranty,” said Mon.
He added: “Many outlets also have a tie-up with private workshops like Dynatrade and they provide warranty and service packages to their customers.”
Brand new cars
One thing that strikes you, as you go around the market is the significant presence of brand new vehicles.
Interestingly, some of the brand new vehicles sold are sourced locally and are sold at a higher price than it is officially available with the authorised dealers. One would wonder how that is possible?
Sajid Mon explains: “Whenever there is a launch of a new or redesigned model of a vehicle, there is mostly a huge waiting list with the authorised dealer, so what we do is we book for a dozen vehicles in advance and we have customers who are ready to pay a few thousand dirhams extra.”
There are many outlets that only sell brand new vehicles.
“We mostly deal in brand new vehicles imported from Oman or bought in bulk from local authorised agents. We are not allowed to sell brand new vehicles for local customers, so export our vehicles to Africa and East Europe,” said Shafeeq Mohammad, Sales Executive at Alwan Cars.
Some of the sought-after models in Africa are Land Cruiser II, Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Patrol. But, what many buyers come looking for at this market are not the Cruisers or Patrols.
Vintage choice
The used car market houses limited-edition models and prices for the vehicles start at Dh100,000. Clint Egbert/Gulf News
Petrolheads are drawn to the market by limited edition models like, for instance, the Ferrari Enzo, which is available at 111 Used Cars for a whopping Dh12 million or a 1965 Mercedes Benz SE 300 going for Dh450,000 at Al Maidan Used Cars.
“We sourced the vintage Benz from a Saudi prince, it is a classic head-turner that any auto connoisseur would love to include in his collection,” said Mahmoud, manager of Al Maidan Used Cars, who specialises in classic cars.
When asked who are his customers, he said: “Car lovers are found everywhere. From rich businessmen to royal family members, we have customers from all walks of life.”
What would strike you the most is the presence of armoured vehicles in camouflaged paint job, completing the repertoire of the used car market.
Among these, more than 200 private used car outlets are the certified pre-owned car divisions of some of the authorised auto dealers like Gargash Motors, Al Tayer Motors and Al Futtaim Automall.
In addition to used cars, the market also houses car accessory outlets as well as shops for camping gear and off-roading equipment.
The market also offers private vehicle testing centres as well as an in-house Tasjeel/RTA testing and registration facility.
