A car in Dubai opens up what is hard to reach by metro and taxi: neighbouring emirates, the Hatta mountains, desert highways and beaches out of town. But renting here has its own rules — from the mandatory international permit to Salik toll gates and automatic camera fines. This guide is a starting point: a brief look at each topic with links to detailed breakdowns. If you are still tallying up the costs, take a look at the Dubai trip budget too.
Should a tourist rent a car
There is no single answer — it all depends on how you plan to get around.
A rental makes sense if you want to travel out of town: to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, the Hatta mountains, on a desert safari or to far-off beaches. Public transport barely runs there, and taxis work out expensive. Cheap fuel and well-developed highways make such trips comfortable and predictable on a budget.
A rental is not worth it if you plan only to get around Dubai itself. The city has an excellent metro, inexpensive taxis and Careem, while paid parking, Salik gates and rush-hour traffic easily eat up all the savings. For the city, Dubai public transport is often more convenient.
The optimal scenario for many tourists is to combine the two: use the metro and taxis in the city, and rent a car for a couple of days for specific out-of-town trips.
What you need to rent
The basic set of documents and conditions is almost the same at every rental company:
- Passport (and usually a visa/entry stamp).
- National driving licence — your regular licence.
- International driving permit (IDP) — mandatory if your national licence is issued in Cyrillic.
- Credit card in the driver’s name — for the deposit hold.
- Age — generally from 21, and from 25 for many models.
The rental desks of the major companies (Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, local firms) operate right inside DXB airport, so you can pick up a car as soon as you land.
Driving licence and IDP
This is the key point for Russians. National licences in Cyrillic are not accepted in the UAE on their own — you need an international driving permit (IDP), with the details duplicated in Latin script. The IDP is issued in advance in your home country and is valid only together with your national licence: one document is invalid without the other.
For details on how and where to get an IDP, its validity period and the nuances for different categories, see the separate article on driving licences in the UAE.
Insurance and deposit
The rental price almost always includes basic insurance (CDW) — it covers damage to the car but leaves you with an excess: the amount you pay yourself in an accident. The excess can be reduced or zeroed out by paying extra for enhanced insurance (SCDW/full coverage) — on unfamiliar roads this is a sensible expense.
The deposit is held on your credit card: roughly 1,000–5,000 AED depending on the car class. The money is not charged but frozen, and returned 2–4 weeks after the car is handed back — provided there are no unpaid fines or damage. Debit cards usually do not work for the deposit.
Salik toll roads
Salik is a system of toll gates on Dubai’s key highways (for example, on Sheikh Zayed Road). There are no barriers: a camera logs the crossing automatically. The tariff is dynamic:
| Time | Toll per crossing |
|---|---|
| Peak hours | 6 AED |
| Off-peak | 4 AED |
| Night 01:00–06:00 | free |
In a rental car the Salik transponder is linked to the company: it charges the crossings to your card after the trip, often adding a small fee per crossing. For details, see the guide to Salik toll roads.
Parking
Street parking in Dubai is paid on weekdays and Saturdays, from 8:00 to 22:00; on Sundays it is free (the UAE weekend). Payment is via apps (RTA Dubai, Smart Parking), SMS or parking meters. Malls and many hotels have free covered car parks. Do not leave your car just anywhere: towing and a fine are expensive. For all the details on zones and tariffs, see the article on parking in Dubai.
Fuel
Good news: fuel in the UAE is cheap. A litre of 95 costs about 2.4 AED (roughly 60 ₽), the price is the same across the country and is fixed by the government for a month. There is almost always an attendant at the stations — you do not need to get out of the car. For rental cars, Special 95 is usually suitable. For current figures and fuel grades, see the guide to petrol prices.
Fines and cameras
Dubai’s roads are densely lined with cameras that capture speeding, running red lights and other violations automatically. Tourists are no exception: the fine is linked to the plate and enters the system. The rental company will charge it to your card (possibly with a fee), and unpaid fines can “surface” the next time you enter the country. For what violations cost and how to check them, see the article on traffic fines.
Traffic rules and driving specifics
Traffic is right-hand, as in Russia, the roads are of excellent quality and the markings are clear. But there are some specifics: strict speed enforcement, zero tolerance for drink-driving, mandatory seat belts for all passengers and the aggressive style of some local drivers. For details on the rules, speed limits and driving manner, see the guide to traffic rules and driving.
Step-by-step rental checklist
- Get an IDP at home in advance if your licence is in Cyrillic.
- Bring a credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.
- Choose a car class to suit your route: a compact for the city, a crossover for the desert and highways.
- Compare prices online and book ahead — it is cheaper than at the airport desk.
- Check the insurance: for long trips, pay extra for full coverage.
- Inspect the car at pickup — photograph all scratches and the fuel level, and note them in the report.
- Ask about Salik and fuel: how crossings are charged and what state to return the tank in.
- Stick to the speed limit — cameras are everywhere and fines are automatic.
- Return the car on time and fine-free, so the deposit is released faster.
The bottom line: renting a car in Dubai is about the freedom to head beyond the city. Prepare your IDP and credit card, budget for Salik, parking and insurance — and the road across the emirates will be easy and predictable.
