On UAE sites, machines are often called by a brand name or a local word rather than their technical name. A supervisor asks for “a shawal”, a villa owner for “a bobcat”, a contractor for “a JCB”. The words are useful shorthand, but they can send the wrong machine to site. This guide explains the common names, what each one means, and which of these machines UAE Equipment Rental supplies.
Loaders and earthmoving machines
- Shawal or shovel (شيول): a wheel loader, the large machine with a front bucket that loads trucks and moves stockpiles. We rent CAT 950 and 966 class wheel loaders with an operator. See wheel loader rental.
- Bobcat (بوبكات): Bobcat is a brand, but the word is used for any skid steer loader, the compact machine for tight sites, cleaning, levelling and loading. Our skid steer is a CAT 226B, supplied with an operator. See Bobcat rental Dubai.
- Bokleen or excavator (بوكلين / حفار): some crews call a tracked excavator a bokleen, after the Poclain brand. We rent mini excavators and CAT 320 and 330 class excavators. See excavator rental Dubai.
- JCB (جي سي بي): another brand used as a general name, usually for a backhoe loader, with a digging arm at the back and a loading bucket at the front. We do not rent backhoe loaders. For digging, a mini excavator is the closer match; for loading, a skid steer or wheel loader.
- Roller (مدحلة): a soil compactor. We rent 10–12 ton single-drum rollers with an operator. See roller and compactor rental.
Lifting machines
- Crane or kareen (كرين): on most enquiries this means a mobile crane on a truck carrier. We rent mobile cranes from 25 to 250 tons with an operator. See mobile crane rental.
- Forklift (فوركلفت / رافعة شوكية): we rent forklifts from 3 to 25 tons, including container-mast, electric and rough-terrain models. See forklift rental Dubai.
- Manlift (مان لفت): an access platform that lifts people, not loads. We do not rent manlifts; this information guide explains the types so you can brief a specialist supplier.
- Telehandler or boom loader: a telescopic handler that places loads at height. It is not part of our fleet; depending on the lift, a forklift or a mobile crane may do the job.
Trucks and trailers
- Low bed (لوبد): a low trailer that carries excavators, loaders and rollers between sites. When you rent one of these machines, the low-bed move is a separate line in the quote.
- Sataha (سطحة): a flatbed truck for goods and materials. Send cargo and truck enquiries to Cargo & Transport Enquiries on +971 55 388 5075, or see cargo transport services.
Describe the job, not only the name
The name tells us which machine you have in mind; the job tells us whether it will work. Two customers who ask for “a JCB” may need an excavator for a trench and a loader for a stockpile. Include:
- What you are moving, digging or lifting, and roughly how much
- The narrowest access point, such as the gate width
- The weight of the heaviest load and how high it must go
- The site location, dates and duration
Send the details to Equipment Rental Enquiries on +971 54 738 8695 and the team will confirm the machine before quoting.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Bobcat the same as a skid steer loader?
Yes, in practice. Bobcat is a brand and skid steer loader is the machine type. Our skid steer is a CAT 226B, which many customers simply call a Bobcat.
Is a shovel the same as an excavator?
No. A shovel, or wheel loader, loads and carries loose material with a front bucket on wheels. An excavator digs with an arm and bucket, usually on tracks.
Do you rent JCB backhoe loaders?
No. We rent mini excavators for digging and skid steers or wheel loaders for loading, and can advise which fits your job.