Documents Required for Renting a Car in Dubai, UAE
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Important documents required for renting a car in Dubai
Cars are the most-preferred means to explore Dubai and Abu Dhabi so car rentals are very common amongst visitors and expats in the UAE. A car rental is an independent way to travel in Dubai which enables you to explore much more compared to taxi. With a car rental, you can go much beyond Dubai, to other emirates of the UAE. Also, if you are travelling with children then public transport can be a troublesome experience, making rental cars a preferred mode among families visiting Dubai..
The driving license requirements in the UAE keep changing so it is always a wise decision to go through the latest guidelines by Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, more importantly if you are renting a car in Dubai for the first time. In the UAE, each emirate might have its own rules so make sure that you are familiar with the rules of the emirates you are going to visit.
Main documents required for renting a car in Dubai
The kind of documents you require for renting a car in Dubai depends on your country of resident.
| Nationals | UAE ID card & UAE driver’s license |
|---|---|
| Visitors | International driver’s permit, driving license & passport |
Which license is accepted for renting a car in Dubai?
Driver’s license : For renting a car in the UAE, your driving license must be issued in the same country as the passport. Tourists from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (North), Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America can rent a car with a valid driving license issued in their own country.
Residents of the UAE : Residents of the UAE need to present their UAE ID card as well as a driving license issued in the UAE in order to rent a car in Dubai or in any other location in the UAE.
IDP : Residents of any other country need to have an International Driving Permit issued in their native country for renting a car in the UAE. For being eligible for renting a car with an IDP, the renter must also present a valid driving license issued in their country of residence.
Can I drive a car in Dubai with a UK license?
Visitors can drive in Dubai with their UK license but if you own a residence permit in the UAE then you have to have a driving license issued in the UAE to be able to drive a car in Dubai.
Renting a car in Dubai with a US license
You can drive in the UAE with a driving license issued in the USA only if you do not hold a UAE resident visa. In the latter case, you need to have an IDP or get a local driving license issued by the government of UAE.
Security deposit required for renting a car in Dubai
In UAE, all the car rental companies are required to collect a security deposit from the customer. This security deposit will be blocked on your card and refunded after 15-29 days. If you break any traffic rule or are caught by the speed cameras then the fine will be deducted from the security deposit.
How old do you need to be to rent a car in Dubai?
| Driving experience | You should have held your driving license for at least a year. |
|---|---|
| 21 years | The minimum age to rent a car in Dubai is 21 years. |
| 25 years | For renting certain high-end cars, 25 years is the minimum age in the UAE. |
This post covers all the popular queries that users may want to know about renting a car in Dubai, UAE. If you have more questions that have not been covered here, contact our booking expert team. They are available 24/7 and can be reached through phone, whatsapp and email; visit our ‘Contact Us’ page for more information.
