Renting a car in Dubai as a tourist: the complete guide

1. Check your driving licence

Visitors to the UAE can drive a rental car on their home licence if it was issued by a GCC country or by one of the countries the UAE accepts directly, which include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most European countries. If your licence is from elsewhere, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP), issued in the same country as your licence, together with the original licence.

Accepted-country lists are set by the UAE authorities and can change. Before you travel, check the current rules with the RTA, or send us a photo of your licence on WhatsApp and we will tell you what you need.

If you live in the UAE on a residence visa, the rules are different: residents need a UAE driving licence. See our documents checklist for residents and visitors.

2. Documents to have ready

• Passport with your visa or entry stamp.
• Your original driving licence, plus an IDP if your licence needs one.
• A way to pay: card, cash, bank transfer or crypto.

Sending clear photos of your documents on WhatsApp before delivery makes the handover quick.

3. Minimum age

Rental companies in the UAE set their own minimum ages, often 21 or older for powerful cars. With us, most cars can be rented from 18, and some higher-performance models need the driver to be 21 or 25. Every car shows its minimum driver age on its page, and you will be asked for proof of age at delivery.

4. Deposits

Many rental companies hold a refundable security deposit on your card to cover fines and tolls that arrive after the rental. With us there is no security deposit on any car, so nothing is blocked during your trip. Fines and tolls are settled after the rental.

5. Salik tolls, parking and fines

Dubai's toll gates, called Salik, read a tag in the car automatically, so there is nothing to pay at the gate. Since 2025 Dubai uses variable pricing: currently AED 6 plus VAT per crossing at weekday peak times (6 to 10 am and 4 to 8 pm), AED 4 plus VAT at other times and free from 1 to 6 am, with a flat rate on ordinary Sundays. Tolls from your rental are added afterwards. Abu Dhabi has its own toll system, Darb, which charges at peak times.

Speed and traffic cameras are common across the UAE, and fines from the rental period are passed on to the driver. Use paid parking bays and pay for the full time. Our article on Salik and fines has more tips.

6. Insurance

Every car we rent comes with insurance included. If you are involved in an accident, do not move the car unless instructed, and contact the police and us straight away; a police report is normally needed for any insurance claim. Any questions about insurance, ask us on WhatsApp.

7. Delivery and collection

There is no need to visit an office. We deliver across Dubai, to your hotel, apartment or the airport, and collect the car at the end, free of charge across Dubai. See the areas we cover, such as Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai airport. Delivery to other emirates starts from AED 500.

8. Trips to Oman

Our rental cars may only be driven within the UAE, so self-drive to Oman is not allowed. If you would like to visit Musandam or Muscat, book a trip to Oman with our chauffeur service on WhatsApp. Visa rules for Oman depend on your nationality.

9. Rules of the road worth knowing

• Traffic drives on the right, and seat belts are required for everyone in the car.
• Speed limits vary along the same road and are enforced by cameras.
• Using a phone while driving is prohibited unless it is hands-free.
• The UAE has a zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving.
• Keep left lanes clear for overtaking and leave space; tailgating is fined.

10. Choosing the car

For a first visit, a comfortable automatic is easiest. Families usually prefer a seven-seat SUV, couples often choose a convertible for the cooler months, and many visitors treat themselves to a supercar for a day or two. Every car we rent is automatic.