Yes, but it is extremely dangerous and should be avoided. A pressure of 1.6 bar (approx. 23 psi) is significantly below the standard recommendation of 2.1 to 2.5 bar (30-36 psi) for most passenger cars in the UAE, such as the Toyota Camry or Nissan Sunny. According to safety guidelines from RTA Dubai and MoI UAE, underinflated tires dramatically increase stopping distances, especially on hot asphalt like Sheikh Zayed Road in summer.
Let's break down the real costs and risks for a UAE driver. A common sedan running at 1.6 bar instead of 2.3 bar can see its fuel efficiency drop by about 5-8%, as confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure based on local driving patterns. For a vehicle doing 20,000 km per year with a typical consumption of 12 km/l on Special 95 fuel, that's an extra cost of roughly 300-500 AED on fuel alone annually. The tire wear on the outer shoulders accelerates, meaning a set of new tires might last only 30,000 km instead of 50,000 km. I've seen this in cars from the used market, where uneven wear from chronic underinflation is a red flag. Added to the increased risk of a blowout from excessive sidewall flexing in 45°C heat, this is a clear safety and financial liability.
For a GCC-spec Toyota Land Cruiser driving on desert roads, the recommended pressure might be lower for sand, but even then, 1.6 bar is still considered too low for general on-road use and risks damaging the wheel rim. The rule is simple: Inflate to the sticker on your car's door jamb before any trip. The risk of an accident or a costly tire replacement far outweighs the few minutes it takes at an ADNOC or ENOC station.
