Tasjeel opens new vehicle testing and registration centre in Sharjah

Sharjah: Tasjeel opened its largest auto testing and registration site in the Middle East at the Sharjah auto village yesterday.

Tasjeel Sharjah Auto Village, a joint venture between Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) Dubai and Sharjah Police, was inaugurated by Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

The new site of Tasjeel, the vehicle testing and registration service offered by Enoc, covers 42,000 square metres and is located at Interchange 3 on Emirates Road towards Ras Al Khaimah. It will help customers register and renew their vehicles in record time.

The village has a 12-lane testing and registration centre with a range of related facilities that allow customers to complete the vehicle testing and registration process within 30 minutes.

"The launch of this site reinforces our commitment to the region, and strengthens our position as the leading provider of value-added services to enrich the lives of our customers," said Hussain Sultan, Enoc chief executive and board member.

Allied units

The auto village is equipped to issue international driving licenses, an onsite auto repair shop, number plate factory, insurance booth, document typing booth, cafeteria, separate waiting room for women, mosque and ATMs. The works were completed as part of Phase I.

"Phase II is expected to be completed by mid-2007, and will provide an Enoc service station, convenience store, car wash and lube changes, and is part of our three-year-plan," said Ayas Bin Hendi, Manager of Tasjeel, noting that services will also extend during that time to Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

The village also offers comprehensive testing of used cars before they are bought or sold, enabling customers to have accurate information of the vehicle's condition.

"I am very satisfied with the new facilities," said Mohammad Sharif, a car salesman who registers about two cars a day.

"I used to go to Dubai every day to get the new cars registered, but now I don't have to. It's very good."

The Tasjeel Sharjah Auto Village is the sixth branch of the privatised vehicle testing and registration stations across the UAE, and the first one outside Dubai.

It has a capacity to serve 1,200 vehicles a day. Other locations include Al Ghusais, Al Barsha, Al Aweer, Warsan and Jebel Ali.

Working hours are from 7am to 3pm, but is expected to increase shortly to 7pm. The test fee is Dh50, renewal of registration is Dh175, and registration for a new vehicle ranges from Dh285 to Dh335, depending on whether it is a short or a long license plate.