VIP Chauffeur Italy for UAE & Gulf Travellers

Polidori Exclusive Services has operated private chauffeur transport across Italy since 1966, and the VIP Chauffeur Italy program for UAE and Gulf travellers was formalised to meet the specific expectations of clients from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman — expectations that differ from those of other international markets in ways that matter for how a trip is planned: privacy, extended family travel, luggage volume, prayer-time flexibility, language support and discretion around shopping, medical and business itineraries.

This page is the central reference for the Gulf-market cluster: who the service is designed for, how privacy and cultural considerations are handled, which vehicles suit large family groups, how Arabic-language support works, and how a booking is planned around prayer times, shopping schedules or medical appointments. Every dedicated topic — from hiring an Arabic-speaking driver to requesting a female chauffeur — is explored in depth in the related guides linked throughout this page.

Because Gulf travel patterns differ from those of other international markets — larger family groups, longer average stays, a stronger emphasis on privacy, and itineraries that combine leisure, shopping and business within a single trip — this page treats those differences as the starting point for planning rather than an adjustment made after a standard booking is already underway.

Planning

What to Prepare Before You Book

A small amount of preparation at the itinerary review stage allows the right vehicle, driver and cultural accommodations to be matched in advance rather than adjusted after arrival.

• Full route across the trip, including every city or region planned, not only the arrival point.
• Total family size, including children and their ages, and whether generations are travelling together in one vehicle or split across a convoy.
• Luggage volume, particularly for longer stays where families often travel with significantly more luggage than a standard sedan can accommodate.
• Whether a female chauffeur or Arabic-speaking driver is required for some or all of the trip.
• Prayer-time flexibility requirements for longer drives, and any preference for planned rest stops.
• Halal-friendly restaurant or hotel recommendations, if lifestyle assistance beyond transport is wanted.
• Any shopping, medical or business appointments that need to be built into the schedule with fixed timing.

Sharing these details during the itinerary review stage — rather than at pickup — is what allows the same driver and vehicle configuration to be reconfirmed across every leg of a multi-city trip.

Definition

What Is VIP Chauffeur Service for UAE and Gulf Travellers?

VIP chauffeur service for UAE and Gulf travellers is a private transport program that adds a layer of cultural and practical planning on top of standard private driver service: vehicles sized for extended families rather than couples, drivers briefed on prayer-time flexibility and discretion expectations, Arabic-language support where requested, and itinerary coordination for shopping, medical and business stops that Gulf clients commonly combine into a single trip to Italy.

The service is not a separate fleet or a separate company — it draws on the same nationwide chauffeur network described on Private Driver Italy, with additional planning steps specific to Gulf travel patterns: confirming family size and luggage volume before vehicle assignment, confirming whether a female chauffeur or Arabic-speaking driver is required, and building rest stops and prayer-time flexibility into longer drives such as Rome to the Amalfi Coast or Rome to Milan.

In practice, this means the same booking process, the same fleet, and the same nationwide coverage as the standard private driver service, with a set of additional questions asked at the itinerary review stage and a set of additional briefing points given to the assigned driver before the trip begins — rather than a parallel or separate program that Gulf clients need to seek out specifically.

Audience

Who This Service Is For

UAE Travellers

Visitors from the UAE frequently combine leisure touring with luxury shopping in Milan and Rome, and often travel as multi-generational families requiring larger vehicles and coordinated luggage handling. Itineraries commonly include Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Milan within a single trip, with shopping days built in as their own scheduled segment rather than an afterthought. Many UAE families also request a slower pace between destinations, favouring two or three nights in each city over a rapid multi-stop schedule, which shapes how driver and vehicle continuity is planned across the trip.

Saudi Families

Saudi travellers to Italy typically move as extended family groups, with specific requirements around vehicle privacy, luggage capacity for longer stays, and flexibility around prayer times during long coastal or countryside drives. Family-sized vehicles with privacy glass and generous luggage space are the standard recommendation for this segment. Trips frequently last two to three weeks, combining Rome, the Amalfi Coast and a countryside stay in Tuscany, which makes continuity of driver and vehicle across the full itinerary a higher priority than for shorter visits.

Qatari and Kuwaiti Travellers

Visitors from Qatar and Kuwait often request a blend of business meetings in Milan or Rome and leisure time on the Amalfi Coast or in Tuscany, with continuity between the two halves of the trip handled by the same driver and vehicle wherever the itinerary allows it. Business travellers from these markets in particular value fixed-to-the-minute punctuality and a vehicle suited to working during transfers between the airport, hotel and meeting locations.

Bahraini and Omani Guests

Travellers from Bahrain and Oman frequently request smaller, more discreet itineraries centred on a single region — most often Rome and one additional destination — with an emphasis on privacy and a slower, less rushed pace between stops. These trips are often planned around a specific occasion, such as a family celebration or an extended rest period, and the itinerary is built with more open time between scheduled activities than the multi-city itineraries common to other Gulf markets.

Business, Medical and Shopping Segments

Across all six Gulf markets, three recurring itinerary types stand out: business travel between Rome and Milan with fixed-schedule punctuality, medical appointment transport requiring precise timing and driver waiting time, and luxury shopping days in Milan and Rome with vehicle access close to boutique entrances and secure storage for purchases during the rest of the day.

Privacy & Culture

Privacy, Discretion and Cultural Considerations

Privacy is treated as a baseline standard for Gulf clients rather than a special request. Drivers assigned to Gulf bookings are briefed on expectations around minimal conversation unless invited, no photography of clients or vehicles without permission, and discretion regarding the purpose or details of a trip when interacting with hotel staff, restaurant staff or other third parties.

Prayer-time flexibility is built into itinerary planning rather than handled as an interruption. For longer drives — Rome to the Amalfi Coast, Rome to Florence, or Rome to Milan — rest stops are planned in advance with prayer-time windows in mind, and drivers are briefed to accommodate a request to stop without treating it as a deviation from the plan.

Halal-friendly itinerary support extends to restaurant and hotel recommendations where requested, coordinated as part of the broader lifestyle assistance the company has offered since 1966, alongside personal shopping, ticketing and reservation services.

These considerations are applied consistently across every driver assigned to a Gulf booking, not only those who happen to have prior experience with Gulf clients — the itinerary review stage exists specifically so that any driver on the network can be briefed correctly before the trip begins, rather than relying on matching the family with one of a small number of specialists.

Language

Arabic-Speaking Chauffeurs and Language Support

Arabic-speaking drivers are available on request across the network, particularly for Rome, Milan and Amalfi Coast bookings, the three destinations most requested by Gulf travellers. Requesting Arabic-language support during the itinerary review stage of booking allows the right driver to be matched in advance, rather than adjusted after arrival.

Where a fully Arabic-speaking driver is not available for a specific date or route, the point of contact coordinating the booking can communicate in Arabic on the client's behalf for planning purposes, even where the assigned driver's primary working language is English or Italian. This ensures that language is never a barrier at the planning stage, even on routes or dates where an Arabic-speaking chauffeur specifically cannot be guaranteed.

Language support extends beyond the vehicle itself: written confirmations, itinerary summaries and any pre-trip questions can be handled in Arabic through the coordinating point of contact, so the planning process itself does not require the family to work in a second language if they prefer not to.

Itinerary

A Typical Gulf Family Itinerary: How the Pieces Connect

To illustrate how the individual services in this cluster fit together, consider a common ten-day pattern requested by Gulf families: arrival in Rome, several days of sightseeing and rest, a shopping and business segment in Milan, and a final leisure stay on the Amalfi Coast before departure.

• Days 1–4 — Arrival at Fiumicino (FCO) with terminal meet-and-greet, Rome sightseeing and Vatican visits with waiting time and prayer-time stops built into the schedule.
• Days 5–6 — Rome to Milan, with a full shopping day in the fashion district and, where relevant, a business meeting for accompanying family members.
• Days 7–9 — Milan to the Amalfi Coast, with the same lead driver reconfirmed for the coastal leg, focused on family leisure time and privacy.
• Day 10 — Departure from Naples Capodichino (NAP), or an onward transfer for a final coastal day.

This is one pattern among several; a Florence extension for additional shopping, a Tuscany countryside stay, or a longer Rome-only visit centred on family and rest can be planned the same way, with the itinerary review stage determining which regions and vehicle configuration fit the trip. Families combining a business segment with leisure time, or splitting a longer stay between a coastal region and a countryside estate, follow the same underlying planning process, adjusted for the specific mix of destinations and activities involved.

Planning

Seasonality and Booking Timing

Demand for VIP chauffeur service among Gulf travellers follows a distinct seasonal pattern shaped by school holidays and summer travel from the Gulf region, alongside the general Italian tourism calendar.

Period	Demand Level	Planning Note
June – August	Very high	Peak Gulf summer travel season; book multi-city, multi-vehicle itineraries well ahead.
September – October	High	Popular for shorter family and shopping trips outside peak summer heat.
December – January	High	Winter school holiday period; book airport meet-and-greet and family vehicles early.
February – May	Moderate	Best availability for last-minute bookings and flexible scheduling.

Large family convoys and bookings that require a specific female chauffeur or Arabic-speaking driver are the most time-sensitive, since they depend on coordinating both vehicles and specific personnel rather than any available car. Requesting availability at least a month ahead during peak season is recommended.

Families

Traveling with Large Families and Luggage

Extended family travel is the norm rather than the exception for Gulf bookings, and vehicle assignment reflects that from the itinerary review stage onward. A family of eight to ten travelling together with substantial luggage requires a different planning approach than a couple with two suitcases, and confirming family size and luggage volume in advance avoids a vehicle change on the day of travel.

For families larger than a single vehicle can comfortably carry, itineraries are coordinated as a small convoy — for example, two premium SUVs or a minibus paired with a sedan for elderly family members who prefer a lower vehicle entry — with one lead driver acting as the point of contact for the whole group throughout the trip.

Coverage

Areas and Regions Covered

Coverage is nationwide, with the destinations most requested by Gulf travellers being Rome, Milan, the Amalfi Coast and, for shorter luxury shopping extensions, Florence. Each of these destinations has its own dedicated hub page with region-specific detail, and each is planned with the same privacy and cultural considerations described above, rather than treating those considerations as specific to any one city.

Region / City	Typical Gulf Use Case	Dedicated Hub
Rome & Lazio	Arrival city, sightseeing, Vatican visits, business meetings	Private Chauffeur Service in Rome
Milan	Luxury shopping, fashion district access, business travel	Milan & Lake Como Private Driver
Amalfi Coast	Family leisure time, coastal touring, privacy-focused stays	Amalfi Coast Private Chauffeur
Florence & Tuscany	Shopping extension, countryside estates, day trips from Rome	Tuscany Private Driver

Because Gulf itineraries frequently combine two or three of these destinations within a single trip — for example Rome for arrival and sightseeing, Milan for shopping, and the Amalfi Coast for family leisure time — bookings are planned as a continuous route with the same lead driver reconfirmed for each leg wherever the itinerary allows it.

Coverage

Airports and Ports Served

Airport meet-and-greet is a standard part of Gulf bookings, particularly given the length of many Gulf-to-Italy flights and the value of a driver who tracks flight status and meets the family inside the terminal rather than at a general pickup point.

Airport	Code	Nearest City	Typical Drive Time
Rome Fiumicino	FCO	Rome city center	45–60 minutes
Rome Ciampino	CIA	Rome city center	30–40 minutes
Milan Malpensa	MXP	Milan city center	50–60 minutes
Milan Linate	LIN	Milan city center	20–30 minutes
Naples Capodichino	NAP	Amalfi Coast (via transfer)	60–90 minutes to coast

For families arriving on long-haul flights, meet-and-greet inside the terminal — with the driver visibly holding a name sign and assisting with luggage from the arrivals hall — is arranged as standard rather than requested separately.

Shopping, Medical & Business

Shopping, Medical and Business Itineraries

Luxury shopping in Milan's fashion district and Rome's Via dei Condotti area is one of the most requested single-day itineraries for Gulf clients. Vehicles are positioned close to boutique entrances where local access rules allow, and drivers coordinate secure storage of purchases in the vehicle so shopping can continue across multiple stops without returning to the hotel. For families splitting into smaller groups to shop separately before regrouping, a small convoy with a shared point of contact keeps the day coordinated without requiring everyone to move together.

Medical appointment transport requires a different planning approach: precise arrival timing, waiting time built into the booking rather than estimated loosely, and a driver briefed to remain on standby rather than parked at a distance. This is particularly relevant for clients combining a medical consultation in Rome or Milan with the rest of a family leisure itinerary, where a delay at the clinic should not disrupt the rest of the day's plan.

Business travel between Rome and Milan follows the same punctuality standard used for corporate and executive bookings across the network: fixed-to-the-minute pickup times, waiting time between meetings built into the booking, and a quiet vehicle environment suitable for calls or preparation between appointments. Where a business trip is paired with family travel, the two schedules are coordinated by the same point of contact so that the business traveller's meetings and the family's leisure activities run in parallel without conflicting on vehicle availability.

Process

How Booking Works for Gulf Travellers

The booking process follows the same four stages used across the network — itinerary review, vehicle and driver assignment, confirmation with flight details, and a pre-departure check — with additional questions specific to Gulf travel built into the first stage.

1. Itinerary Review

Alongside route, dates and passenger count, the itinerary review stage confirms family size and luggage volume, whether a female chauffeur or Arabic-speaking driver is required, and whether prayer-time flexibility or halal-friendly restaurant and hotel recommendations should be built into the plan.

2. Vehicle and Driver Assignment

Vehicles are matched to family size rather than a default sedan, and drivers with relevant language skills or prior experience with Gulf clients are prioritised for the assignment where available.

3. Confirmation and Flight Tracking

Flight numbers are logged in advance for meet-and-greet inside the terminal, particularly important for long-haul arrivals where flight status can shift by more than the standard delay margin.

4. Pre-Departure Check

Ahead of the travel date, family size, luggage count and any cultural requirements are reconfirmed, so nothing is adjusted on the day of arrival.

Fleet

Fleet and Vehicle Capacity for Large Families

Vehicle selection reflects the extended-family travel pattern common to Gulf bookings, with capacity confirmed before the trip rather than adjusted on arrival.

Vehicle Category	Typical Passengers	Typical Luggage	Best Suited For
Executive Sedan	1–3	2–3 large cases	Business travel, smaller groups
Premium SUV	1–4	3–4 large cases	Small families, privacy-focused travel
Executive Van / Minivan	4–7	5–7 large cases	Extended families
Luxury Minibus / Sprinter	8–16	Group luggage trailer available on request	Large multi-generational families

For groups larger than a single vehicle can carry, a small convoy is coordinated with one lead driver as the single point of contact, so the family experiences continuity even when travelling in more than one car.

Vehicles assigned to Gulf family bookings are prioritised for privacy features where available — tinted rear windows, a partition-style rear cabin in larger vehicles, and generous legroom for longer drives such as Rome to the Amalfi Coast. Water and light refreshments are kept on board as standard for family and multi-hour bookings, and drivers are briefed to offer a stop rather than assume the family prefers to continue without a break.

Why Polidori

Why Gulf Travellers Choose Polidori Exclusive Services

Polidori Exclusive Services has operated in Italy since 1966, and the Gulf-market program builds on nearly six decades of coordinating travel for international clients rather than treating cultural and privacy requirements as a new addition. That continuity matters for families who want the same standard of care from the first airport pickup to the final departure, across every city on the itinerary — whether the trip is a single week centred on Rome, or a full three-week visit spanning four regions.

• Operating in Italy since 1966, with a premium fleet suited to extended-family travel.
• Arabic-speaking chauffeurs available on request across Rome, Milan and the Amalfi Coast.
• Female chauffeur service available as a dedicated option, detailed on Female Chauffeur Italy.
• Prayer-time flexibility and halal-friendly recommendations built into itinerary planning, not treated as exceptions.
• Integrated coordination with VIP Security and Close Protection Italy for high-profile Gulf families.

For families evaluating operators, the practical distinction is whether cultural and privacy requirements are handled as standing practice or as a special request each time. A single nationwide operator with a long operating history is positioned to make that continuity the default rather than an exception — the same standard applied whether the family is arriving for a first visit or returning for a fifth trip to Italy, and whether the itinerary covers one city or four.

Standards

Security and Discretion for High-Profile Gulf Families

For high-profile Gulf families and executives, close protection and event security can be integrated alongside standard VIP chauffeur service, coordinated through the dedicated VIP Security and Close Protection Italy service. This is arranged during the itinerary review stage so that security personnel and chauffeur are briefed together rather than introduced separately.

Discretion extends to how the booking itself is handled: itinerary details are shared only with the drivers and coordinators directly involved, and requests such as a female chauffeur or specific route preferences are treated as standard operational information rather than flagged or questioned.

For families who prefer to minimise the number of new people involved across a trip, the same lead driver and, where security is engaged, the same protection personnel are reconfirmed for each leg of a multi-city itinerary wherever the schedule allows it — reducing the number of unfamiliar faces the family encounters over the course of the visit.

Local Rules

Ramadan and Seasonal Travel Considerations

For travellers visiting during Ramadan, itineraries are adjusted around iftar timing and reduced daytime activity where requested, with drivers briefed to plan longer drives to conclude ahead of sunset where possible, and to build in flexibility for evening meals and prayer. This is confirmed during the itinerary review stage rather than assumed, since travel patterns during Ramadan vary by family, and since exact Ramadan dates shift each year and are confirmed locally by moon sighting — the current-year dates can be checked via timeanddate.com's Ramadan calendar ahead of booking.

Outside Ramadan, the main seasonal consideration for Gulf travellers is summer heat: July and August bring high temperatures across most of Italy, and vehicles are air-conditioned throughout, with drivers briefed to minimise time outside the vehicle during the hottest parts of the day for family groups with young children or elderly members.

Comparison

VIP Chauffeur vs Rental Car vs Standard Taxi for Gulf Families

For a family travelling with several members and significant luggage, the practical differences between transport options become more pronounced than they would be for a solo traveller.

Factor	VIP Chauffeur	Rental Car	Standard Taxi
Privacy briefing for driver	Standard practice	N/A (self-driven)	Not available
Large-family vehicle options	Sedan to 16-passenger minibus	Limited to rental fleet size	Limited by taxi vehicle size
Arabic-speaking support	Available on request	Not applicable	Not guaranteed
Prayer-time flexibility	Built into planning	Self-managed	Not accommodated
Continuity across cities	Same lead driver where possible	Self-driven throughout	Different driver each time

A rental car can suit a smaller family confident navigating Italy's restricted traffic zones (ZTL) and comfortable driving unfamiliar roads, but loses its advantage quickly for larger groups with substantial luggage, or where privacy and language support are priorities. A standard taxi, meanwhile, is rarely sized or briefed for extended-family travel and offers no continuity between bookings — a different driver for the airport transfer, a different driver for the city tour, and no single point of contact if plans change midway through the day. For a family managing several generations, multiple stops and a schedule that may shift with little notice, that lack of continuity is often the deciding factor in favour of a dedicated chauffeur arrangement over ad hoc alternatives.

Support

Staying in Touch During the Trip

A direct contact channel — typically WhatsApp or a local phone number provided ahead of arrival — is set up before travel begins, so the family can reach the coordinating point of contact for any adjustment: an earlier pickup, an added shopping stop, or a change to the route because of an unplanned prayer-time stop or rest break.

Because a lead driver is typically dedicated to the family for the length of the trip, these adjustments are handled directly rather than routed through a call centre or a different driver each time, preserving the continuity that matters most for longer, multi-city Gulf itineraries.

Explore More

Related Guides in This Cluster

This page is the central hub for VIP chauffeur travel for UAE and Gulf travellers. The following pages cover specific markets and use cases in more depth:

• VIP Chauffeur Italy for UAE Travellers — itinerary patterns specific to UAE visitors.
• Italy Chauffeur for Saudi Families — vehicle and privacy planning for Saudi family groups.
• Italy Chauffeur for Qatar and Kuwait Travellers — business and leisure combination itineraries.
• Luxury Family Transport Italy — vehicle options for large family groups.
• Arabic-Speaking Driver in Italy — language support across the network.
• Halal-Friendly Private Travel in Italy — restaurant, hotel and itinerary support.
• Luxury Shopping Chauffeur Milan and Rome — dedicated shopping-day planning.
• Medical Appointment Chauffeur Italy — precise-timing medical travel support.
• Prayer-Time Flexible Chauffeur Service — itinerary planning around prayer times.
• Female Chauffeur for Gulf Women in Italy — the dedicated pillar for female driver requests.
• Private Driver Italy — the nationwide pillar covering the full network.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a female chauffeur available for Gulf travellers?

Yes. Female chauffeur service is available on request and should be confirmed during the itinerary review stage — ideally at the time of the initial booking request — so the right driver is assigned in advance rather than adjusted after arrival.

2. Do drivers speak Arabic?

Arabic-speaking chauffeurs are available on request, particularly for Rome, Milan and Amalfi Coast bookings, the three destinations most requested by Gulf travellers. Requesting Arabic-language support at the itinerary review stage allows the right driver to be matched before the trip begins rather than substituted on short notice.

3. Can the itinerary include prayer-time stops on long drives?

Yes. Prayer-time flexibility is built into itinerary planning for longer drives such as Rome to the Amalfi Coast or Rome to Milan, with rest stops planned in advance rather than treated as a deviation from schedule.

4. Can a vehicle accommodate a large extended family?

Yes. Vehicle options range from an executive sedan for two to three passengers up to a luxury minibus for sixteen, and larger families are coordinated as a small convoy with one lead driver as the single point of contact.

5. Is halal-friendly restaurant and hotel guidance available?

Yes, as part of the broader lifestyle assistance the company has offered since 1966, alongside personal shopping, ticketing and reservation coordination.

6. Which Gulf countries does this service cover?

The program is designed for travellers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, with itinerary planning adapted to the common travel patterns of each market.

7. Can a shopping day in Milan be combined with a leisure stay on the Amalfi Coast?

Yes. Combined itineraries across Rome, Milan and the Amalfi Coast are one of the most common Gulf travel patterns, planned as a continuous route with the same lead driver reconfirmed for each leg wherever possible.

8. Is airport meet-and-greet included for long-haul arrivals?

Yes. Flight numbers are logged in advance and the driver meets the family inside the terminal with a name sign, assisting with luggage from the arrivals hall.

9. Can a private driver support a medical appointment in Rome or Milan?

Yes. Medical appointment transport includes precise arrival timing and built-in waiting time, with the driver on standby rather than parked at a distance.

10. Is close protection or security support available for high-profile families?

Yes, coordinated through the dedicated VIP Security and Close Protection Italy service, arranged during the itinerary review stage so chauffeur and security personnel are briefed together.

11. How much luggage can be accommodated for an extended family trip?

Luggage capacity scales with vehicle category, from two to three large cases in an executive sedan up to a group luggage trailer available on request for minibus bookings. Confirming luggage volume in advance ensures the right vehicle is assigned.

12. Can business meetings in Milan be combined with family leisure time?

Yes. Business travel between Rome and Milan follows the same punctuality standard used for corporate bookings, and can be combined with family leisure time elsewhere on the itinerary using the same coordinating point of contact.

13. Is discretion guaranteed regarding the purpose of the trip?

Discretion is treated as a baseline standard: itinerary details are shared only with the drivers and coordinators directly involved, and requests are treated as standard operational information rather than questioned.

14. How far in advance should a Gulf family itinerary be booked?

For multi-city itineraries with several vehicles, requesting availability several weeks ahead — and at least a month ahead during peak season (April to October) — allows better vehicle and driver matching, particularly when Arabic-speaking or female chauffeurs are requested.

15. Can the same driver stay with the family for the entire trip?

Where the itinerary allows it, the same lead driver is reconfirmed for each leg of a multi-city trip, so the family is not introduced to a new chauffeur at every stop.

16. Are itineraries adjusted during Ramadan?

Yes. Drivers can plan longer drives to conclude ahead of sunset where possible and build in flexibility for iftar and evening prayer, confirmed during the itinerary review stage since travel patterns during Ramadan vary by family.

17. Is there a slower-paced itinerary option for families who prefer fewer stops?

Yes. Not every Gulf itinerary needs to cover multiple regions; itineraries centred on a single city or region with more open time between activities are planned the same way as multi-city trips, based on what the family requests during the itinerary review stage.

18. Can extra luggage be transported separately from the main vehicle?

Yes, for minibus bookings a group luggage trailer is available on request, useful for extended-family trips where total luggage volume exceeds what fits comfortably inside the vehicle itself.

19. What happens if the family's plans change midway through the trip?

Because a lead driver and coordinating point of contact are assigned for the length of the trip, changes — an earlier departure, an added city, or a different pace — are handled directly with that same contact rather than requiring a new booking to be set up from scratch.