By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
How far ahead should you book a wedding car in Dubai?
Book when you have a date and a venue. Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Maybach cars come through partner networks, subject to availability, and winter weekends fill first. Leave time to compare two quotes and read the terms.
Then work through the list below. Each point is something to have in writing, either in a contract or in a WhatsApp confirmation you can save.
The car: model, year, colour and photos of the actual vehicle
- Exact model and colour. “Rolls-Royce” is not enough. Ask for Phantom, Ghost or Cullinan, and the colour.
- Model year. Older cars can be fine, but you should know.
- A photo of the actual car, inside and out, not a stock picture.
- Number of seats you need. Count the couple, parents and any child. Lounge Seats in a Cullinan take three in the back.
- What happens if that car is unavailable. Agree the substitute class now.
Our Rolls-Royce wedding guide explains the models.
The time: hours, waiting, overtime and late finishes
- Start and end time. Does the clock begin at the garage or at the first pickup?
- Waiting time at the ceremony and the photo stops.
- Overtime rate, and how it is counted: per hour or per 30 minutes.
- Late finishes. Weddings overrun, so ask what happens at midnight.
The route: every address, venue drop-off rules and other emirates
- Every address with a pin: hotel, ceremony, photo stops, reception.
- Drop-off rules at the venue. Ask the events team where the car waits.
- Trips to another emirate. A leg to Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah may need a licence there, so ask which operator drives it.
- Tolls and parking. Say who pays Salik and venue parking.
The chauffeur: dress code, language and a direct phone number
- Named chauffeur or at least the dress code. Our chauffeur etiquette guide describes what to expect.
- A direct phone number for the dispatcher on the day, not only the office line.
Decoration: who supplies it and how it is attached
- Who supplies it, who fits it, and when. Ask how ribbons and flowers are fixed, and that nothing marks the paint. See wedding car decoration in Dubai.
Money: deposit, VAT, cancellation and refunds
- One total, covering hours, tolls, parking and decoration.
- VAT. The UAE standard rate is 5% per the Federal Tax Authority. Ask whether the total includes it.
- Deposit and cancellation. How much is taken, when it falls due, and what is refunded if you cancel or change the date. Our wedding car cost guide lists what moves a quote.
How do you check a chauffeur company is licensed?
- The RTA licence. In Dubai, passenger transport by luxury motor vehicles needs an RTA permit, and the RTA sets approved vehicle categories under it. Ask the company for the licence and that it covers the car and the driver. For work outside Dubai, ask which authority licenses the leg.
The RTA’s Takamul Permit lets a limousine firm and a rental company share luxury cars, with contracts registered and chauffeurs listed. Ask who actually owns the car and who employs the driver. Our limousine service page says how Assure works.
What happens if the car breaks down?
Ask for the backup in writing: the class of car, the time it takes to arrive and who pays. A wedding timetable cannot wait for a recovery truck. If a planner is handling the day, read the planner transport partner guide.
For guest coaches, see van and group transport. When you are ready, our wedding car hire page explains the quote, or you can contact us. The full set is in the wedding transport guide.
Photos in this guide
A dark maroon vintage Rolls-Royce with yellow ribbons across the bonnet, parked as a wedding carallen watkin from London, UK / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Two white Rolls-Royce Phantoms parked outside a hotel entrance in DubaiAlberto-g-rovi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A vintage Rolls-Royce with bouquets of white roses fixed to the front wingsJoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
