Buying a car is both an exciting and painstaking process. It’s common practice to shop around and look at a range of vehicles and their specifications before deciding on the perfect model. For buyers living in the UAE, there are important additional considerations that need to be made, like finding out if the car is GCC or non-GCC compliant.

What is GCC?

GCC stands for the Gulf Cooperation Council and is an intergovernmental political and economic union, consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as active members. The council was formed based on the collective needs and issues faced by all member countries, and assists in informing and drafting policies on shared key objectives.

How does GCC Car Insurance work?

Due to the harsher terrain of the Middle East, cars are at greater risk of malfunctioning and breaking down in the Gulf States than in other countries. Because of this, vehicle manufacturers in GCC member countries produce cars with certain specs that equip them to withstand the intense heat, strong winds, and overall intense environment. These cars are known as GCC-spec cars, and they have been optimally designed for use in desert terrain.

Certain insurance companies in the UAE will refuse to sell comprehensive insurance to cars that are not GCC-compliant because they consider them to be too much of a risk. Non-GCC vehicles are generally imported vehicles that have not had the GCC modifications of locally-manufactured cars. In short, certain insurance companies only offer insurance for GCC-spec cars.

What specifications does a car need to have to qualify for GCC Car Insurance?

GCC-spec vehicles have modifications made to the internal structure that allow them to endure the extreme environmental conditions of the Gulf States. Structural changes made usually consist of the following:

Air conditioning alterations - Air conditioning systems in GCC-spec vehicles are modified to handle the extreme temperatures of the Middle East. The A/C of regular vehicles are usually not able to handle the intense heat and end up overheating after a few hours of use.

Filtration system alterations - Locally-produced cars have a stronger filtration system to tackle the high levels of dust and sand found in the area. Regular filtration systems in imported cars struggle to function during desert winds and sandstorms.

Radiator alterations - Radiators assist in keeping a car’s engine cool while running. GCC-approved radiators are bigger and more enhanced in their ability to cool the car’s engine, which is a necessity due to the more intense heat. Normal radiators are not well-equipped to handle the desert heat and non-GCC cars often break down due to overheating.

Additional rust protection - Humidity levels are extremely high in the Gulf States, especially in coastal areas. This causes cars to rust more easily. GCC-spec vehicles have additional rust protection to prevent excessive rusting.

Will I be able to purchase insurance for my car if it’s not GCC-approved?

If you have bought, or are thinking of buying a car that doesn’t possess the specs that allow it to qualify for GCC Car Insurance you still have options. Not all insurance companies will offer to cover your vehicle if it’s not GCC compliant, but there are insurance companies in Dubai who specifically offer non-GCC insurance for motor vehicles. You will likely pay less for purchasing the vehicle, but pay a higher monthly premium due to it being more at risk of breaking down.

Should I get a GCC-approved vehicle?

As mentioned earlier, you have more options for buying car insurance when you buy a GCC-spec car versus a non-GCC car. It’s also usually easier to fix and replace parts of a GCC-spec vehicle in Dubai, than a non-GCC vehicle. Having GCC car insurance also allows you greater freedom to drive long-distance, as certain neighboring countries will only allow GCC-compliant vehicles to enter their territory.

Whether your car is GCC or non-GCC, finding insurance that suits your needs is easy with Compare Insurance. Visit the Compare Insurance website and compare a range of quotes online in seconds.