Car scratch removal in Dubai ranges from AED 150 for machine polish on a surface scratch to AED 1,500 or more for a full panel respray. What you pay depends on whether the scratch sits in the clearcoat alone or has broken through to the basecoat and primer. This guide shows how to identify scratch depth, what each removal method costs, and why fixing scratches quickly in Dubai's heat prevents rust that turns a AED 300 repair into a AED 1,500 panel job.
Surface Scratches: Machine Polish, AED 150-300
Surface scratches sit entirely in the clearcoat layer. Paint underneath is untouched. These come from car wash brushes, tree branches, or fingernails. Machine polishing with fine compound sands away the top clearcoat layer, leveling the scratch and restoring gloss. No paint added.
A single-panel surface scratch costs AED 150 to AED 250. Multiple surface scratches on the same panel run AED 250 to AED 300 total. If you have scattered surface scratches across 3-4 panels, a full-car polish runs AED 400 to AED 600 and is more cost-effective than per-panel work.
Basecoat Scratches: Spot Repair, AED 500-800
When a scratch cuts through clearcoat into the coloured basecoat, polish alone will not fix it. The repair area is sanded, primed, painted with your VIN-matched colour, and sealed with clearcoat. Blending feathers the new paint into the original so the repair edge is invisible when viewed from 1 metre away.
Spot repairs cost AED 500 to AED 800 per scratch location. Multiple scratches close together (within 20cm) may be combined into one repair zone for AED 800 to AED 1,000. If scratches are on different panels or far apart, each gets its own quote.
Deep Scratches to Metal: Filler Plus Paint, AED 800-1200
Scratches that expose bare metal must be sealed immediately. Bare metal in Dubai's coastal air rusts within 48 hours. The repair involves sanding, applying two-part filler, priming, painting, and blending. This process costs AED 800 to AED 1,200 because of the extra steps and material. For door dents with scratches, see our door repair guide.
Full Panel Respray: When a Single Scratch Covers Too Much Area, AED 1500+
If one scratch is so long or deep that a professional spot repair would leave a visible repair edge, the entire panel gets resprayed. Panel respray costs AED 1,500 to AED 2,500 depending on panel size and colour. A door: AED 1,500-1,800. Bumper: AED 1,200-1,500. Bonnet: AED 1,800-2,200. The technician assesses each scratch before committing to a full panel, because good spot repair blending often eliminates the need.
Why Fix Scratches Fast in Dubai?
Bare metal exposed in a scratch begins oxidising within 48 hours in Dubai's 50°C summer heat and coastal salt air. Rust expands under surrounding paint, turning a AED 300 repair into a AED 1,500+ panel respray in weeks. Fixing scratches promptly protects your paint investment and prevents compound damage. Our paint fade guide covers UV protection after any repair.