How to Start Car Wash Business with a Mobile App in Dubai?

Updated 25 Apr 2024
Published 12 Feb 2024
Nancy Bhargava 1468 Views
car was development company in dubai

Dubai is a heaven for automobile lovers, where every second person has a car, and there you can find almost all types of car brands, from Porsche to Suzuki.

It is famous for two things:

  • Luxurious lifestyle and
  • Automobiles.

It is the best place to start a car wash business with an app. It will connect you to a good customer base.

The city is settled around the desert, so car owners must get their vehicles washed and cleaned regularly.

It lays a solid background for establishing a car wash business in Dubai and creates opportunities for business owners.

Overall, investing in a car wash business app is a worthy idea. If your question is, How? This blog will help.

We’ve created this blog especially for UAE entrepreneurs who are ready for a car wash startup but need help knowing where to start.

Let’s continue with the blog.

Steps to Start the Car Wash Business with a Mobile App in Dubai

Before we start with the steps, remember that you need a license to start a car wash business in Dubai.

We’ll talk about it later. Let’s start with the first step.

#1. Select a Business Activity

Dubai’s compliance and regulations are a bit tough, so first, you must choose a business activity related to car care and detailing, as DED (Department of Economic Development) mentioned.

You can check their official site, where all the rules are mentioned.

You can choose between two activities:

  • Car washing and cleaning (4520009) and
  • Parking Car Washing (4520029).

#2. Reserve a Business Name

One name will not help you here, so you need to think of 3–4 names and submit them to the authorities.

After reviewing the names, they’ll provide suggestions and verify whether they are registered. So before sending the names to the authorities, ensure they are unique and suit your business.

#3. Choose a Location for Business Setup

For setting up a business location, there are some specific rules in the UAE that you also need to follow.

For example, if you want to set up a business in mainland territory, your car wash facility must be near the gas station.

Or, if you wish to apply for a parking car wash license, you must get it from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, as it is allowed in a designated parking lot. The better idea is to set the business in a free zone or an authorized area.

#4. Apply for the License

In this step, it is clear that you need to deal with the two departments, DED (Department of Economic Development) and DTA (Dubai Transport Authority).

It’ll help you establish a car wash business in Dubai with authenticity.

Now, your next question is:

What are the required documents for applying for a car wash license?

So, here is the list.

  • Copy of passport/shareholder(s) passport
  • Copy of shareholder’s visa (tourist visa, residence visa, etc.)
  • Emirates ID copy and NOC from sponsor (if applicable)
  • Options for trading names (3–4) for your car wash business
  • Copy of Ejari (tenancy contract in your company name)
  • Approval from the Chamber of Commerce and Dubai Municipality
  • Comprehensive business plan document
  • Payment receipt of trademark registration
  • Valid tenancy contract
  • Copy of your visit visa, tourist visa, residence visa, or investor visa

When submitting a license application, you must be ready with all these mentioned documents to make the process smooth.

The license fee varies between AED 10,500 to AED 14,000. Once you get the license, you need to renew it annually.

mobile app development company in Dubai

#5. Develop the Car Wash Mobile App for Business

The idea is clear: you want to start a car wash business with a mobile app in Dubai, so you need an app for it.

The better idea is to partner with a reputable app development company in UAE with a sound record of developing car wash apps for businesses in and around Dubai, UAE.

The experts must possess the required skills, knowledge and records to provide seamless apps.

The cost to develop a car wash app in UAE varies between $20,000-$30,000 for a single platform and a simple app.

If you need an advanced app, it may cost you more than $40,000. However, it is tough to predict the exact cost as it depends on multiple factors, like:

  • App requirements
  • Business requirements
  • App’s complexity
  • Size of the app
  • How many users are going to use it?
  • App development team size
  • Location of developers
  • App Designing
  • Quality analysis and other recurring expenses.

These overall factors determine the cost of car wash app development. So, including the license fee, an approximate price to start a car wash business in Dubai is $40,000–$50,000.

#6. Marketing

Your quest doesn’t end with mobile app development. Once you have an app, the next step is marketing and promotion.

Utilize digital marketing strategies to promote your mobile app, leverage social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and paid advertising to reach your target audience.

The idea is that no one knows your business until you let them know, so you must also focus on marketing and brand promotion.

#7. Partnership and Collaboration

Collaborate with other automobile businesses, such as car dealerships, car rental agencies, and gas stations. It will increase your reach among customers and boost your business’s revenue.

Mobile app for Car Wash businesses in UAE: Features to Consider

Consider the following features to start the car wash and detailing business with a mobile app:

User App Car Detailer App Admin Panel
  • User Profile
  • Address
  • Car Details
  • Book a Wash
  • Choose a time slot.
  • Cancellation Request
  • Track Washing Status
  • Notifications
  • Multiple Payment Options
  • Washer Profile
  • Job Assignment
  • Geolocation and Tracking
  • Washing Status
  • Before/After Picture Upload
  • Payment Request
  • Earning Reports
  • Notifications and Reminders
  • Ratings and Reviews
  • User Registration
  • Washer Registration
  • Order Management System
  • Payout Management System
  • Notification Management Real-time Tracking
  • Analytics and Reporting
  • Discount Coupon System
  • Customer and Washer Support
  • Earning Reports

Including the above, you can also add some advanced features to your car wash app like Keno in Dubai as follows:

  • Heat Map View
  • In-app Chat and Voice Call
  • Loyalty Program
  • Design and develop a Subscription Package
  • One-Click Carwash Request
  • Real-time Job Monitoring and Tracking
  • Discounts and Offer Management
  • Quality Monitoring and Reporting
  • Reward Management System
  • Marketing Automation Tools or Integrations
  • Advance Car Wash Bookings

car wash development company

Points to consider before starting a car wash business in Dubai?

Starting a car wash business in the UAE is lucrative. Before you embark on the journey of business setup, consider some crucial points. It will help you set up and run your business smoothly.

  • Conduct Detailed Market Research

You will invest the money as a startup, so it must bring value to your business.

Before starting the company, conduct detailed market research about the potential locations, car wash trends, competitor offerings, and potential gaps you can fill with your services in the market.

  • Strategic Location

One of the potential success factors for any business is its location. The success ratio can be high if your business is in the correct location. So, before choosing a location, view it strategically and then proceed.

  • Compliance and Regulations

Rules and compliance are slightly different than in any other country, so you must be aware of them.

Although you may already know it, it is better to consult with the authority to make your business authentic, protect it from legal issues, and obtain the license.

  • Free Zone Alternatives

Multiple free zone alternatives are available in Dubai and the UAE for businesses, so remember when starting a business that you can have facilities like financial assistance, streamlined incorporation procedures, and more.

  • Best Car Wash Equipment

Equipment plays a crucial role in car washing, as everybody likes to have a gleaming car. So, choose the right equipment you will use to provide the services. They must be of high quality and in compliance.

  • Car Wash Material

It comprises car wash detergent, shampoo, detailing chemicals, wax polish and others. These must be eco-friendly and not made up of hazardous chemicals.

  • Staff Training

Hire friendly and well-trained staff who can provide excellent customer service. It will help you increase business and word-of-mouth publicity.

  • Service Quality Measures

Decide about the quality measures to maintain the quality of services. As businesses maintain high quality, they grow more than those that do not focus on quality but only on earning.

The Final Thoughts

Due to the high personal vehicle ratio, the car wash business is one of the most trending and profitable ideas for starting a business in Dubai, UAE.

The passenger car revenue in the UAE is expected to grow by $6.4 billion by 2024. It provides the perfect background for the car wash and detailing businesses.

Following the steps mentioned in this blog, you can start your own business. A car wash mobile app for business allows customers to book services conveniently, which is the best way to reach more customers.

Our app development experts can help you implement a car wash app for your business, as we are a reputed car wash app development company in Dubai, UAE.

Arka Softwares can provide you with the right resources, and it’d be pleasant for us to answer your queries.

Nancy Bhargava

Nancy Bhargava is a Digital Editor and Content Marketer at Arka Softwares. She’s passionate about tech trends, news, and innovations with a focus on modern solutions all over the globe. She strives to create well-versed digital content that educates, informs, and guides businesses for better decision-making.

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