Car Key Programming in Dubai
Lost your only key, or want a spare before you need one? We program keys, remotes and fobs at our Ras Al Khor bay, for Japanese, Korean, American, German and Chinese cars. From AED 250, most jobs finished in one to two hours.
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Would rather talk? Call +971 55 168 5050. Someone answers 24 hours.
What this service includes
A modern car key is two things at once. There is a blade that turns, and there is a chip that talks to the car. The blade is the simple half. The chip has to be introduced to the immobiliser before the engine will crank, and that handshake is what needs the right equipment and the right access to your vehicle.
Getting a spare programmed while you still hold a working key is the cheap version of this job. All keys lost is the expensive version, because the car has to be persuaded to trust a key it has never seen. That takes longer on every make, and on some it takes considerably longer.
Programming runs through the diagnostic port, so the car has to be at the bay. If the car will not start at all, it has to be brought in on a recovery truck. Tell us that when you call and we will tell you what to expect before you pay for a tow.
We check the car is yours before we touch it. Emirates ID and the mulkiya, and the names have to match. That is not us being difficult. A shop that will program a key to any car a stranger points at is a shop that will do it to yours, and you should walk out of it.
The dealer route works too. It is usually slower and usually dearer, because it runs on an appointment and a parts order. We are open 24 hours and we quote before we start.
- Spare key programming while you still have a working key
- All keys lost, programmed to your vehicle
- Remote and fob reprogramming
- Fob button and battery faults diagnosed
- Japanese and Korean vehicles
- American vehicles
- German vehicles
- Chinese vehicles
- Programmed through the car diagnostic port, at our bay
- Emirates ID and mulkiya checked before any work starts
- Price confirmed before we begin, not after
- Open 24 hours, no appointment needed
What it costs and how long it takes
From AED 250. The final figure depends on your vehicle, so we confirm it before any work starts. Call +971 55 168 5050 or send us the make, model and year. Washing and detailing prices are published in full on the services page.
Car Key Programming across Dubai
Every page below covers this service for drivers coming from that area, with travel times and directions to the bay.
Other mechanical and servicing work at the same bay
Common questions
What is the difference between cutting a key and programming one?
Cutting shapes the metal blade so it fits the lock and turns. Programming introduces the chip inside the key to your car’s immobiliser, so the engine will actually start. A key that is cut but not programmed will open the door and turn in the ignition, and the car will not run.
Can you make a key if I have lost all of them?
Yes. All keys lost is a longer job than a spare, because the car has to be taught to accept a key it has never seen rather than copy one it already knows. It costs more for the same reason. Tell us the make, model and year when you call, and we will tell you what is involved before you arrange a tow.
Will a new key erase the keys I already have?
On some vehicles, programming after all keys are lost wipes every key the car previously knew, so an old key that turns up in a coat pocket later will no longer start it. On others it does not. We check what applies to your car and tell you before we start, not after.
How long does it take?
One to two hours for most jobs, once the car is at the bay. All keys lost on a harder make can run longer. You get a time along with the price before we begin.
What does it cost?
From AED 250. The final figure depends on the make, the model year and whether you still hold a working key, because the equipment and the time involved are not the same across vehicles. We confirm the price before any work starts.
What do I need to bring?
Your Emirates ID and the mulkiya for the car, with names that match. We will not program a key to a vehicle without them. Bring any keys you still have, including ones you think are dead, because a key that no longer opens the doors can still be usable.
Which cars can you program?
Japanese and Korean, American, German and Chinese vehicles. Some models are locked down harder than others, particularly newer German cars. Send us the make, model and year on WhatsApp and you get a straight yes or no before you drive over.
Does the car have to come to you?
Yes. Programming runs through the diagnostic port, so the vehicle has to be present. If it will not start at all, it has to come in on a recovery truck. Tell us that when you call and we will tell you what to expect before you pay for a tow.
My remote stopped locking the car. Do I need a whole new key?
Often not. A remote that has lost its pairing can usually be reprogrammed, and a flat battery or a worn button contact is a repair rather than a replacement. We check that first, because it is the cheapest thing it could be.
Do you cut the physical blade as well?
Tell us when you call. Some jobs need only the chip programmed to a key you already have, and some need a blade as well. We confirm what your car needs before you drive over rather than after you arrive.
Shop #7, 44, 22nd Street, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area 2. Drive in at any hour, no appointment needed.