It's used when you need direct control over the gearbox for safety or performance in specific UAE driving conditions, like steep desert dunes or heavy Sheikh Zayed Road traffic. Think of it as a manual override for your automatic transmission. In popular GCC-spec SUVs like the Nissan Patrol or Toyota Land Cruiser, you engage it by tapping the gear lever or paddle shifters. A key use is engine braking on long descents, such as the roads down from Jebel Jais or Hatta, where shifting to a lower gear (using D-) saves your brakes from overheating. According to the RTA Dubai, proper use of engine braking is a recommended practice for mountain driving. Conversely, using D+ to upshift quickly can improve fuel efficiency during steady highway cruising on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi E11 road.
For cost-conscious drivers, understanding this can affect long-term ownership. For instance, over a 60,000 km period, excessive reliance on lower gears (without using D+ to upshift when possible) in a 6-cylinder SUV can increase fuel consumption by roughly 1-2 km/l. Using Special 95 fuel at an average of AED 3.10 per liter, that's an added cost of about AED 600-1,200 per year. The MOI UAE's safe driving guidelines emphasize selecting the correct gear for the road condition to maintain vehicle control. Most modern automatics, including the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage common here, will prevent dangerously high-revving shifts to protect the transmission.
