IF you own a european car in UAE, good news are on the way!
As of September 12, 2025, the EU Data Act is in force. This requires, among others, car manufacturers to share all vehicle data with owners.
Although the EU law does not directly apply to UAE, the impact of such law will certainly be great to all european car owners outside the EU.
Currently, EU manufacturers are not required to provide UAE car owners with the same data access rights mandated under the EU Data Act. The regulation’s extraterritorial scope is limited to products placed on the EU market and data sharing involving EU-based recipients. However, manufacturers may voluntarily implement similar capabilities for operational consistency, and the evolving global regulatory landscape may eventually create convergence in connected vehicle data rights across different jurisdictions.
How does this benefit you (car owner)
- Complete data ownership and control
- Real-time diagnostic data such as engine performance, error codes, and maintenance alerts
- Usage patterns including driving behavior, location data, and vehicle performance statistics
- Telematics information covering acceleration, braking patterns, speed, and route information
- Service history and maintenance records
What is also important is that these data should be provided by the manufacturer securly, free of charge, in a machine readable format.
It can be said that the real world impact of this development is that the car owner can now have access and share these data with an independent car service provider such as an independent car garage! Which in essence means that you can choose to service your brand new car outside the dealships without restraints that the manufacturers often impose.
Enhanced Repair and Maintenance Options
An example:
A BMW owner in Munich can now authorize any qualified mechanic to access the same diagnostic data previously exclusive to BMW dealerships. This enables:
Lower repair costs through competitive pricing
Specialized service access to transmission specialists or electronics experts
Mobile diagnostic services that can assess vehicle issues remotely.
Addressing Previous Limitations
Breaking Down Data Silos
Before the Data Act, car manufacturers operated closed ecosystems where vehicle data was essentially trapped within proprietary systems. The Act mandates that manufacturers must open their data ecosystems to third parties under fair and transparent conditions.
Standardization Across Brands
The Act promotes standardized data sharing practices across different car manufacturers. This means fleet operators or families with multiple vehicle brands can now manage all their vehicles through unified systems rather than dealing with incompatible telematics systems.
Consumer Empowerment and Market Competition
Ending Manufacturer Lock-In
The Data Act prevents car manufacturers from using abusive contract terms that previously restricted data access. Car owners are no longer forced to:
Use only authorized service centers for repairs
Accept manufacturer-controlled data sharing terms
Pay premium prices for basic diagnostic information
Promoting Innovation
By opening vehicle data access, the Act has spurred rapid innovation in automotive services. Connected car app usage rose 56% in 2024, primarily driven by new insurance telematics and predictive maintenance tools.
Key Takeaways
- EU Data Act can impact car owners in UAE
- You have ownership and may authorise any independent service provider to use your car’s data
- competitive pricing from independent service providers such as Autopolis Garage
- Less restrinctions for new cars from dealships
- Autopolis Garage is a top-rated independent service provider in DIP 2 Dubai
