Sharjah labor rates on a compressor replacement job like this are significantly lower than Dubai specialist pricing. The parts cost is similar anywhere but the labor difference alone can make it considerably more affordable.
Dealer quoting full transmission replacement on an A6 at 120k without attempting a rebuild diagnosis first is a red flag. These ZF units are very rebuildable and specialists do it successfully every day.
Totally agree with everything you've said, especially about the importance of specialized care for Japanese cars. I drive a Honda myself, and finding a place that truly understands the engineering has been a game-changer. For anyone in Sharjah looking for that kind of expertise, I've had a...