By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
Is the company RTA licensed, and can it show you?
A chauffeur company in Dubai needs more than a trade licence. RTA grants a separate permit for Passenger Transport by Luxury Motor Vehicles, and the conditions include a bank guarantee, a suitable headquarters and a tariff above the taxi tariff.
Ask for the permit and the trade licence in the same company name, and check both expiry dates. The UAE government portal links the Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) licence search. Our guide to RTA licensed limousines walks through both documents. Assure is RTA licensed, and the licence documents come with a corporate quote on request.
Does it have a real office and a 24/7 line?
A street address is worth a visit or a map check. Assure’s office is in the Al Nisf Building on Dubai Airport Road, Al Garhoud, close to Dubai International (DXB).
Then test the line. Send a WhatsApp message at 11 pm and see who answers. A flight can land at 3 am, so a desk that closes at 6 pm is not a chauffeur service. Assure answers on WhatsApp and phone 24/7. For what a WhatsApp booking looks like, see booking a chauffeur on WhatsApp.
Are the Google reviews real and recent?
Read the newest reviews first, not the average. Look for specific details such as a terminal, a route or a driver’s behaviour, and for the company replying to complaints.
Google’s policy bans fake engagement and reviews influenced by payment, discounts or free services. A page with dozens of five-star reviews written in one week is worth questioning. Assure has real Google reviews you can read before you book. Our about page has the details.
Does the quote name the car class and what is included?
“A luxury car” is not a quote. You want a class or a model, such as a Mercedes S-Class or a Lexus ES 300h, or a van for a group. Cars from a partner network should be labelled as such, and are available subject to availability.
The quote should also state the unit: a transfer, or hours with a minimum. Then list each of these on its own line.
| Item | What the quote should say |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Included or extra |
| Salik | Included or extra, at AED 4 to AED 6 a pass plus VAT |
| Parking | Who pays at the airport, mall or venue |
| Waiting | Free minutes, then the rate |
| Extra stops | Priced in, or added on the day |
| Child seats | Type, and confirmed |
| VAT | Included or added |
What are the waiting, cancellation and no-show terms?
Ask for these before you pay, and ask for them in writing. Three numbers matter: the free waiting time after landing, the rate once it runs out, and the cancellation cut-off. The terms differ from company to company, so compare them rather than assume. Our guide to how airport waiting time works explains the clock at DXB.
Will you get the driver’s name, car and plate before pickup?
You should. Ask for the driver’s name, a mobile number, the car model and the plate. At an airport this lets you find the right person in arrivals. If another car arrives, you can check it against the message you were sent.
Is the car insured, and for which trips?
UAE third-party motor policies follow a standard wording that covers death or bodily injury to any person, passengers included. They do not cover accidents outside the UAE, so a trip to Oman or Saudi Arabia needs separate cover. Ask which applies to your route. See licensed taxis versus illegal ones for why this matters.
Can it supply child seats, larger cars or a second car at short notice?
A family of five with 5 bags does not fit one saloon. Ask the company which vans and SUVs it runs itself, and which come from a partner network. Ask for child seats by type and age, and what happens if one car becomes two on the day.
Does it issue VAT invoices for business bookings?
A tax invoice in the UAE shows the words “Tax Invoice”, the supplier’s name, address and tax registration number (TRN), an invoice number, the date, a description of the service, and the amount and VAT in AED. Ask your supplier for a sample. For monthly invoicing, read how corporate chauffeur accounts work, and use the corporate transport RFQ checklist to compare bids.
How does the company handle duty of care?
For staff and guests, ask what happens after hours, in a breakdown, or when a guest is lost. The duty of care guide gives the questions.
What are the red flags?
- No street address, or one that does not match the licence.
- Cash only, with no written quote or receipt.
- An unmarked private car and a driver who cannot name his employer.
- A price that changes between the message and the pickup.
- A different car than the one quoted, with no explanation.
- No answer outside office hours.
If the answer to two or more is yes, book somewhere else. To compare a chauffeur with a taxi or an app, see chauffeur versus taxi versus Uber.
Where to go next
Once a company passes the checks, read about the chauffeur service and the limousine service, or start at hiring a chauffeur in Dubai.
Photos in this guide
A black Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon parked at the kerbDamian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A black Rolls-Royce Phantom, the current eighth generation, parked outside a dealershipAlexander-93 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A black Cadillac Escalade ESV, the long-wheelbase Escalade, with tinted rear windowsCharles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, with flydubai aircraft parked at its standsAndy Mabbett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
