Al Futtaim Motors

Al Futtaim Motors is the automotive distribution arm of the Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group and serves as the official Toyota distributor and local importer in the United Arab Emirates. The company is responsible for importing Toyota vehicles into the UAE, selling them through its dealer network, and managing aftersales services, including safety recalls and customer notifications. Its role is that of a national distributor rather than a manufacturer: it represents Toyota, one of the world's largest automakers, in the UAE market and coordinates with government authorities on regulatory matters such as vehicle safety campaigns. In practice, Al Futtaim Motors operates as a retailer and importer, linking Toyota's global manufacturing output with UAE consumers. The company handles vehicle logistics, dealer operations, and compliance with local consumer protection rules. A recent example of its regulatory role was the announcement of a recall affecting 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles in the UAE, conducted in coordination with the Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The recall covered Highlander VXR and GXR models manufactured in the United States between 2021 and 2023, and addressed a potential defect in the second-row seat reclining mechanism that could prevent the seatback from locking securely. Al Futtaim Motors is part of the Al-Futtaim Group, a large diversified privately held conglomerate headquartered in Dubai with operations across automotive, retail, real estate, and financial services. The group's automotive division represents multiple automotive brands in the region, and Al Futtaim Motors is the entity through which Toyota distribution is managed in the UAE. The company does not manufacture vehicles; its business is distribution, retail, and aftersales support. Its market position is defined by its status as the authorized Toyota importer for the UAE, giving it a central role in one of the Middle East's most important automotive markets.

Al Futtaim Motors is the automotive distribution business of the Al-Futtaim Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate with a long history in regional trade and retail. The group's automotive division has operated as a distributor for Toyota in the UAE, and Al Futtaim Motors has become the official Toyota distributor and local importer for the country. Its history is tied to the growth of the UAE automotive market and the expansion of the Al-Futtaim Group's retail and distribution activities across the Gulf. As the national Toyota distributor, Al Futtaim Motors has built a network for vehicle sales, parts, and service. The company's operations include importing vehicles manufactured by Toyota in various global plants, including the United States, and ensuring they meet UAE regulatory requirements. It also manages safety recalls and customer communication campaigns in coordination with UAE authorities. A notable recent event was the October 2026 recall announcement covering 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles, which was conducted with the Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The recall addressed a defect in the second-row seat reclining mechanism that could prevent the seatback from locking securely, and it covered Highlander VXR and GXR models manufactured in the United States between 2021 and 2023. Al Futtaim Motors continues to operate as a key part of the Al-Futtaim Group's automotive portfolio, representing Toyota in the UAE and supporting the brand's presence in the market through distribution, retail, and aftersales services.

• Al Futtaim Motors announced the recall of 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles in the UAE over a second-row seat safety defect.

Official Toyota distributor and local importer for the UAE, operating as the national sales and aftersales channel for Toyota vehicles.

• Toyota Highlander VXR

  A Toyota SUV model distributed by Al Futtaim Motors in the UAE; subject of a 2026 recall for models manufactured between 2021 and 2023.

• Toyota Highlander GXR

  A Toyota SUV model distributed by Al Futtaim Motors in the UAE; subject of a 2026 recall for models manufactured between 2021 and 2023.

• 2026

  Al Futtaim Motors recalls 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles in UAE over second-row seat defect

  Al Futtaim Motors, Toyota's official distributor and local importer in the UAE, announced the recall of 1,983 Toyota Highlander VXR and GXR vehicles manufactured in the United States between 2021 and 2023, in coordination with the Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The recall concerns second-row seat reclining mechanisms that may not engage fully and fail to lock the seatback securely, following a supplier design modification that may have caused an imbalance between the locking spring and return spring forces, increasing the risk of passenger injury in a collision. Owners will be contacted and the return springs in the reclining mechanisms will be replaced free of charge.

  Source

Read more

• Unconfirmed

  Al Futtaim Motors recalls 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles in UAE over second-row seat defect[1]UAE recalls 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles over seat safety defectgulfnews.com

  Reported: 2026-10-11

  Al Futtaim Motors, Toyota's official distributor and local importer in the UAE, announced the recall of 1,983 Toyota Highlander VXR and GXR vehicles manufactured in the United States between 2021 and 2023, in coordination with the Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The recall concerns second-row seat reclining mechanisms that may not engage fully and fail to lock the seatback securely, following a supplier design modification that may have caused an imbalance between the locking spring and return spring forces, increasing the risk of passenger injury in a collision. Owners will be contacted and the return springs in the reclining mechanisms will be replaced free of charge.

1. 1UAE recalls 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles over seat safety defectgulfnews.com