Detailing & Protection in Abu Dhabi

A front/partial kit (bonnet, bumper, mirrors, headlights) typically runs AED 3,500–6,000. Full-body PPF ranges from about AED 6,900 for standard film up to AED 13,000–22,000+ for premium self-healing brands like XPEL Ultimate Plus or STEK DYNOshield.

Be wary of full-body offers priced at AED 2,000–3,000. Genuine aliphatic-TPU film costs the shop thousands per roll — a price that low usually means cheap PVC film that yellows and cracks, no registered manufacturer warranty, or a rushed install. Cheap PPF is the most expensive mistake, because removing failed film and redoing it costs more than doing it right once.

Ask three things: the film brand and grade (aliphatic TPU, not PVC), whether the warranty is registered in your name with the manufacturer, and whether edges are wrapped rather than cut on the surface. Wrapped edges and covered high-impact areas are where quality shows.

A certified, factory-trained installer registers the warranty (typically 5–10 years) and uses computer-cut patterns for your exact model. That certification is a real, verifiable mark — not just a sticker on the wall.

In the UAE the phrase 'PPF coating' is everywhere, but PPF is a film, not a coating: a physical urethane layer around 150–200 microns thick that absorbs stone chips and scratches. A ceramic coating is a liquid measured in microns that adds gloss and chemical/UV protection but stops no impacts. If a shop quotes a 'PPF coating' at ceramic-coating money, you're being quoted a ceramic coating.

The strongest combination is both: PPF on the high-impact panels (or the whole car), then a ceramic coating applied over the film for extra gloss, easier washing and hard-water-spot resistance. Most premium studios in Dubai offer exactly this package.