They say that in Dubai, one year of driving is like three years anywhere else. The heat, the humidity, and the constant “sandblasting” on the E11 highway take a heavy toll on a vehicle. 

Last week, my odometer hit a major milestone: 100,000 kilometers. I’ve owned this car for exactly five years, and from day one, it has been covered in a full suit of PPF (Paint Protection Film). 

With a big service looming and the thought of an upgrade crossing my mind, I decided to do something most owners are terrified to do. I went to a specialist to peel back a section of the film to see what was actually happening to the paint underneath. Was the film just hiding a disaster, or had it actually worked? 

The 100,000km Battle Report 

Over the last five years, this car hasn’t been a “garage queen.” It has survived: 

• Daily Commutes: 100km a day between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, facing high-speed road debris. 

• Summer Extremes: Five consecutive summers where external temperatures topped 50°C. 

• The Elements: Countless car washes, bird droppings, and at least three major sandstorms. 

When you look at the film itself after 100k kilometers, you can see the “battle scars.” There are tiny indentations where stones should have chipped the paint. There are slight scuffs from tight parking spots. But here is the miracle: the film is still crystal clear. There’s no yellowing, no peeling at the edges, and no bubbling. 

The Big Reveal: Lifting the Mask 

We started by lifting the film off the hood—the area that takes the most abuse. As the technician slowly peeled back the car PPF, I held my breath. 

The result? A time capsule. 

The paint underneath wasn’t just “good”—it was identical to the day I picked it up from the showroom in 2021. There wasn’t a single stone chip. There was zero UV oxidation (that cloudy, faded look that usually hits cars after a few Dubai summers). The depth of the color was staggering. It looked like liquid glass, while the rest of the unprotected cars from the same year on the road today look tired and weathered. 

Why the Installer Was the Real Hero 

I realized standing there that the film didn’t just last five years by accident. I had my paint protection film installed at RMA PPF, and that made all the difference. 

RMA PPF is a studio built by genuine car enthusiasts who understand the “nitty-gritty” of how a car is put together. They don’t just “stick” film on; they understand the expansion and contraction of panels in the heat, the way adhesive interacts with different paint types, and the exact tension needed to wrap an edge so it stays tucked for a decade. 

Their 5-star Google rating is more than just a number—it’s proof of their excellence. Seeing the state of my paint after 100,000km of Dubai abuse is the only evidence I’ll ever need. They knew what worked best for my car because they treat every vehicle like it’s their own personal pride and joy. 

The Financial Payoff 

When I took the car for a trade-in valuation later that afternoon, the inspector was stunned. Because the PPF in Dubai had preserved the original factory paint so perfectly, my valuation came back significantly higher than the market average for a 100k-km car. 

The film didn’t just protect my paint; it protected my investment.