Assessment of vehicle inspection and emission standards in the United Arab Emirates

► There is no unified specification for the inspection of used vehicles in the UAE. ► Test equipment used at the inspection centers differ and are not frequently calibrated. ► Some vehicle-inspection centers lack measurement devices. This paper examines vehicle inspection in the United Arab Emirates, comparing mechanical and environmental inspection methods across different inspection centers in the country. Making use of a survey of inspectors, vehicle owners, experts and port managers, the study reveals significant differences among centers in the various Emirates and within the same Emirate in terms of the standards adhered to and the methods of testing.