DIY car repair in UAE

[Barry]

After working on cars professionally for 18 years in UK/Ireland and coming here in January I've noticed something. I haven't met anyone here yet who does their own repairs. Everyone seems to go to a garage for the smallest problems. In my country, there is a big culture of DIY and fixing your own cars, in fact, that's how I actually got started out in my job, I repaired my own cars when I was younger and it went from there.

So does anyone on this forum work on/repair their own cars? I realise with Dubai being a city, some people don't have the space to do their own work. Are there community garages where you can hire a vehicle lift and tools for a few hours and have an expert for advice on hand so you can work on your own car?

[rayre]

It's an interesting point made here, and I believe this could be another golden business idea to offer DIY work space.

Although I don't know anything in car mechanics, but I would love to learn and try my hand if given an opportunity.

[Saleem]

Hi

I used to repair my car by myself and to educate myself about how to do the job and how to diagnose the problem but in Dubai you have different culture and laws and regulations so you can do any repairs you like as long as you do it in your home private parking but if you do it on the road or in a paid parking it's a violation and you may get fined and the other issue is about people reaction (some times I do change my car spark plugs or replacing brake pads or replacing fuses and lights on the building parking which is reserved for me so I find a totally strangers (2 or 3 persons) and mostly not living on the same building standing and watching me doing the job and discussing with each other in their own language about what I'm doing without even saying :Hello or Hi" which makes anyone uncomfortable.

If you plan to start that business you may consider me as a potential customer even for car washing and detailing as I spent around 1 hour detailing my car by myself after being washed on the station.

[Barry]

I would love to start a business like that but sadly I'm skint. Technicians salary is pretty low in Dubai, especially when you consider the amount of specialist stuff we're expected to know and the fact we have to constantly read, train and keep up to date with new technologies. However, if someone else wanted to take on that idea, I'd be more than happy to help.

[vanhack]

I should stop by this forum more often, I had a itch to scratch, or should I say a few bolts to round off. 4 years ago purchased a 1994 RWD manual coupe, and started to restore her, great great fun, spent loads and learnt even more. The reason behind it was so that one day I can do a long range trip in Africa or Asia and having some knowledge would be great. I have learnt so much, and these days with Youtube and manufacturer forums it is very very easy.

Issues are to get a lift here, non-existent, so jack stands and a garage it is, I have heard some folks doing the DIY in apartment building car parks too, security guards watching around and all.

If you go to www.gulfpetrolheads.com there are DIYers there, but it seems a bit quiet these days. I have started servicing my daily now as well, and find it great to do what was a mystery to me, but do need 2 cars, 1 car taken apart, and the other to get to work and via Al Quoz to pick up spares or tools.

The issue with community garage is the cost of rent, to make the business viable, the charges per hour have to be high, unlike elsewhere in the world.