By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
Which vintage and classic cars can you book for weddings in Dubai?
Honestly, we do not know yet. Assure’s own fleet is modern, and the partner cars we list are modern too: Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maybach, S-Class and stretch limousines. No vintage car is confirmed on that list.
Classic cars do exist in the UAE, usually held by private owners and specialist hire firms. If you want one, send us the year and style you have in mind. We ask our partners and reply on WhatsApp with what is possible on your date, before you pay anyone a deposit.
Air conditioning and heat: the honest limits
This is the main risk. Many cars from before the 1980s have weak air conditioning or none. A closed cabin in a Dubai summer afternoon is uncomfortable, and silk and make-up do not do well in it.
Older engines also run hotter while idling. A queue at a hotel gate on Sheikh Zayed Road or the Palm Jumeirah crescent is the worst case. Winter evenings, from late November to February, are far kinder to old cars.
Short run, long run: planning the day around an older car
Use the classic for what it does well.
- Arrival: a 10 to 15 minute drive from the hotel to the ceremony.
- Photo run: a 30 minute loop with the engine off between stops.
- Exit: a short send-off from the venue, then a switch.
Put the couple in a modern air-conditioned car for the longer leg, such as a hotel to a reception in another emirate. Our Rolls-Royce wedding guide lists the modern options. If a stretch car fits better, read stretch limo or luxury car.
Vintage cars for a baraat entrance
A baraat moves slowly, which suits an old car with a groom on board. A short route of a few hundred metres, along a hotel drive, keeps the engine cool. The dhol players and family walk beside it.
Agree the route, the pace and any police or venue permission in advance. The baraat transport guide covers the procession. Keep a modern car near the end of the route.
Insurance, registration and who drives
We have not confirmed the RTA registration rules for classic vehicles or the insurance terms for a chauffeured classic. Do not assume them. Ask the owner for:
- the registration card and its expiry date
- the insurance certificate, and whether it covers hire with passengers
- the named driver and their licence class
- a written statement that the car is cleared for the hours and route
A chauffeur should drive. Classic steering and brakes are heavy and unfamiliar.
The backup car rule
Book a modern car for the same hours, with a named driver and a direct phone number. An older car fails more often, and a wedding timetable cannot wait for a recovery truck.
Agree in writing who pays if the backup is used. The booking checklist lists the other points to settle. See also how to choose a wedding car, our wedding car hire page, the limousine service, the fleet and the wedding transport guide. Message +971 56 684 8148.
Photos in this guide
A grey and black vintage Rolls-Royce saloon decorated with white roses on both front wings, used as a wedding carJoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A cream 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost roadster with wire wheels on a gravel driveAlexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A black 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost landaulet with a folding hood, on display in a museum hallArnaud 25 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A cream and black 1926 Rolls-Royce 20hp Barker cabriolet with white ribbons on the bonnet, ready for a weddingPeter Broster / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
