Car rental in Dubai

Traffic drives on the right. On highways the RTA tells drivers to use the left lanes only for overtaking and to stay at least three seconds behind the car in front. Speed limits differ from road to road and some roads also have a minimum speed, so follow the signs rather than the speed of the traffic around you.

Some streets have lanes reserved for buses and taxis, bordered by solid yellow lines and marked ONLY BUS TAXI in Arabic and English; other cars must keep out of them. Give way to the tram where it runs, and never park under the metro viaducts: parking there is illegal and the car may be towed.

The Government of Dubai portal gives public parking hours of 08:00 to 22:00 every day except Sunday, while multi-storey car parks are paid around the clock. Hours can differ by zone, so read the sign: it shows the zone code, the paid hours and how to pay, for example with a nol card at the parking kiosk or by SMS.

At the start and end of summer, when the weather changes, dense fog can form in the early morning, and roads are slippery in the first minutes of rain. Sand on the road and low sun at sunrise and sunset also cut grip and visibility, so slow down and leave more space.

When you collect the car, the rental company blocks a security deposit on a credit card in the main driver's name. Hertz states that debit cards are not accepted for this block, and Avis asks for a credit card valid for at least three months from the start of the rental. The amount depends on the car category and is shown before you pay.

The block covers charges that arrive after you return the car, such as Salik crossings and traffic fines. Avis adds an administration fee to each fine and charges post-rental costs for up to 30 days after the contract closes, and Hertz says releasing the block can take up to 29 days depending on your bank. Avis includes a collision damage waiver (CDW) in every rental, with an excess stated in the rental agreement; the optional SCDW lowers that excess, but at Hertz it must be chosen at booking or pick-up and can't be added during the rental. Any claim still needs a police report.

Visitors on a visit visa can drive light vehicles in Dubai with a licence from a GCC country or from one of the countries the RTA accepts. Others need an International Driving Permit issued abroad, carried together with their national licence. Residence visa holders must drive on a UAE licence.

Rental companies add their own conditions. Hertz and Avis set a minimum age of 21, and Avis requires 25 for SUVs and larger cars and a licence held for at least one year. Hertz asks drivers whose country isn't on its list for an International Driving Permit and a licence held for at least 12 months, and it requires a translation approved by the embassy or consulate for licences from Japan, Turkey, Greece and South Korea.

The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts, children under 10 or shorter than 145 cm may not sit in the front seat, and young children need a car seat suited to their age and size. Using a handheld phone while driving is prohibited, and Dubai has zero tolerance for drink driving. After a collision, move the car out of traffic if it can still be driven (leaving a drivable car in the way is fined) and call 999; minor accidents can be reported through the Dubai Police app. Rental companies need a police report for any damage claim.

Salik, Dubai's toll system, has no booths or barriers: the tag fixed to the windscreen is read as you drive through a gate. Gates include Al Garhoud, Al Maktoum Bridge and the Airport Tunnel. The toll changes with the time of day, gates are free between 01:00 and 06:00, and peak hours can change in Ramadan. Rental companies bill your crossings at the end of the rental under the rental terms.

Visit Dubai describes winter as a time of glorious weather and a packed events calendar. If you travel in the cooler months, or during school holidays and public holidays such as Eid, book your car early and check the terms again before you pay.

The RTA warns that summer temperatures can be extreme, so check that the air conditioning works before you drive off. During Ramadan, Salik peak hours and paid parking hours can change, so read the signs and the latest RTA announcements.