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Car rental in the UAE is the easiest way to truly explore the country. Distances between emirates are short, motorways are wide and modern, fuel costs around $0.82 per litre, and the fleet stays fresh: by local law, hire cars cannot be older than five years, and many guests collect a vehicle with under 1,000 km on the clock.
We operate around 200 cars in the UAE through a select group of local partners we have worked with for years. There is no faceless call centre — just real people on the ground who hand you the keys. Every car carries reviews collected after each rental, published unedited.
A couple from Manchester landed at DXB last December and met our host by the flight number. The contract was signed at the terminal kerb in five minutes, and they were on their way to the hotel before the queue for the rental shuttle had even moved.
Most guests are families with young children, business travellers on short trips, and couples on their honeymoon. There is a suitable car for every scenario: economy hatchbacks, seven-seat people carriers, convertibles, and SUVs for those Burj Khalifa photos.
We deliberately do not work with everyone here — only with partners who either skip the deposit altogether or refund it quickly and without surprises.
European cards, contactless payments, and cash are all accepted. Deposit-free options are available, and your TakeCars manager stays in touch throughout your trip.
Where to collect the car
Four airports handle almost all of our incoming traffic. Dubai has two — Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC) in the south. The capital has Abu Dhabi (AUH). Up north, Sharjah (SHJ) is Air Arabia's home base. We have direct partners at DXB and DWC, so the car comes to the terminal exit — no shuttle buses, no walking around remote car parks.
When a guest lands at DXB, we are usually in touch before the plane taxis to the gate. By the time they walk out of arrivals, the car is at the right door.
For AUH and SHJ, the car is usually driven down from Dubai. The journey takes around two and a half hours, and delivery costs roughly $95 one way. On longer rentals, this saves time: returning the vehicle in Dubai is more flexible than tying yourself to office hours in another emirate.
If you only plan to drive within one city, browse the local listings: Car hire in Dubai, Rent a car in Abu Dhabi, Car rental in Sharjah, or Hire a car in Ras Al Khaimah — each lists cars handed over locally.
In high season, a guest booked a 9pm collection. Their flight was delayed to 11pm and the office had closed. Now we set buffers — if the booking is for 11:00, set it for 10:00.
Delivery is also possible outside the airports — to your hotel or apartment. That works well for late-night arrivals when the last thing you want is paperwork at a desk.
Most tourists in the UAE start their trip here
Prices, seasons and mileage
The UAE has a clear seasonal pattern, and prices move with it. Low season runs from April to August: temperatures often above 40 °C, fewer tourists, and cheaper rentals. High season is from September to March, with the real peak in December–February and during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
In low season, an economy car (Nissan Sunny, Mitsubishi Attrage, Hyundai i10) starts from $8 a day, a mid-size car (Hyundai Creta, Elantra) from $20, seven-seat people carriers from $33, and luxury vehicles (Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes G63) from $165. In high season, the same economy cars start at $20, mid-size cars at $33, seven-seaters at $45, and luxury cars at $220–250.
For a short trip — airport, hotel, shopping mall — an economy car does the job perfectly. New, air-conditioned, automatic, no surprises.
One UAE-specific point — the daily mileage limit. Most partners include 250 km per day, which covers typical trips with room to spare. Anything beyond costs around $0.55–0.80 per kilometre. Mileage adds up: a ten-day booking gives you 2,500 km.
A guest collected a white Creta in March with 412 km on the clock and asked if we had just driven it off the showroom floor. Yes, that happens often.
In high season, book one to two months ahead, especially around Christmas and New Year. In low season, last-minute deals are common — the fleet often sits idle.
Hyundai Tucson in the UAE
Thank you for your concern. It was quick and easy. Well done!
Mitsubishi Attrage in the UAE
Everything went well, delivery and acceptance of the car was fast, all the damage to the car was fixed, agreements on the time and place of delivery of the car were observed. The car itself is in good condition, no problems, corresponds to the description on the website
Audi Q3 in the UAE
Everything is great with the car - fresh, minimal mileage, clean, delivered/picked up on time. The only roughnesses - a lot of contact persons, not always gave correct information. For example, the mileage on the website indicated 250km/day, when the car was delivered they assured that 150/day, then in fact in the contract it turned out to be 250/day. Or, for example, when returning the car - I had to talk to 3 people in sequence until they gave me the number of the driver who took the car. In general, this is not a problem, but rather a point that can be paid attention to
Mitsubishi Attrage in the UAE
It went well.
MG 3 in the UAE
everything was great with the lease. The process of registration and signing the contract was quick and transparent. The car itself was also without problems. We are satisfied with the service
Mitsubishi Xpander in the UAE
Have rented a 🚙 car in UAE. I looked at several other offers before contacting Take care. I did not regret the choice. Friendly, professional team. In addition, they were very pleasantly surprised when instead of the booked Mitsubishi they provided a new Volkswagen Teramont. Very convenient: pickup and drop-off at the airport. Warm things rested in the trunk for 10 days. Well, the car gives freedom. Beautiful and clear roads, service and wonderful team of Take Cars. Thank you!
Nissan Sunny in the UAE
It's fine.
Nissan Sunny in the UAE
everything went perfectly! The car was delivered on time, we brought another car, but it was even better (higher class and newer). We were in touch, we were allowed to extend the lease for an additional day, and we picked up the car without any problems. In general, we were very satisfied.
Nissan Kicks in the UAE
Great car rental company. Delivered on time. Tinting in the UAE is a lifesaver. No deposit which is very good. Drove 1100 km, visited five emirates. I was afraid that the car will not withstand the heat, but it just worked out great! Thank you very much!
MG 5 in the UAE
everything went well, car clean, in good condition, mileage small 👍🏻
Hyundai Creta in the UAE
Everything went very well.
Nissan Sunny in the UAE
Having arrived on vacation in the UAE at the end of February 2023, I decided to rent a car and travel around the neighboring emirates and Dubai itself. Before that I read the forums on how and through what company to rent a car (the difficulty was mainly in the absence of a credit card working in the UAE to make a deposit and the search for companies working with Russian cards). I had a choice between two car rental companies but after comparing prices I settled on LocalCarHires.com. I booked a car with the delivery to the hotel the next day, receiving and returning the car after 1.5 weeks passed without any problems (upon receipt and delivery, I and a representative of the local rental company, each on his phone took the car inside and outside checked the mileage and the amount of gasoline and I paid the passage of the UAE toll roads in the end). But since I didn't have a valid credit card, I paid the deposit in cash in the amount of 1500 dirhams. The local rental company had promised a refund in 3 weeks to my bank account or via money transfer. When I returned home and waited for my deposit to be refunded, I wrote to the local rental company representative about the deadline to send me my deposit. I gave them my bank account number (Raiffeisenbank accepts SWIFT transfers from UAE) and the second way through a money transfer system CONTACT (there are also points of acceptance in the UAE). But then the local company in the chat messaging on messaging that send via SWIFT to Russia will not work, and the system KONTAKT they do not know and can only offer Western Union (which does not accept remittances to Russia). In my correspondence with them passed 10 days and finally my annual question "When will I get my deposit refund?" and the answer of the local rental company "We are dealing with this problem. The dialogue for a refund came to a standstill. So I decided to seek help from LocalCarHires.com, the company through which I had booked my car from a local. After my explanation of the problem with the refund of the deposit, the support service contacted the local rental company and within three days, the local company returned the deposit to me (via money transfer system CONTACT, there are many money transfer offices in the UAE, including the popular Al Ansari Exchange network available in almost all malls). In my situation, the fact that I booked a car through a major rental company did not allow the locals to wash out my deposit.
Porsche 718 Boxster S in the UAE
I liked everything the car was delivered at 10:00, I forgot and only woke up at 10, but they waited for me, they took me away too at 10, I gave it with a full tank, there was a Gas Station nearby, everything was convenient on the Site, I immediately chose the model that I liked, 2 people wrote to me they explained everything in vatsap in detail, the car is just emotions, I have Kaen in Kiev, I thought to take a boxter as a second car, but I think it won't go for Kiev, but for Dubai, the very thing, you won't go with an open roof during the day, it's very hot, although some are desperate they drive (they also took a convertible, you can immediately see ours) and in the evening ride in a thrill, but if it's already uncomfortable on the highway above 100 km, I'm generally satisfied with the car and the service, I hope next time I'll take something better or if I live far from the center Something simpler for the entire stay, a taxi is expensive to go far, it's easier to take a regular car, I'm waiting for you to return the deposit, I hope there are no fines, I tried. And it's also important to keep track of the km, I dashed off 230 km from 250 available
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Deposit-free or low-deposit options
Some partners don't block any money at all; others accept a small deposit in cash on arrival.
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Real reviews under every car
Feedback is collected after every rental and published unedited, so the rating is visible at the booking stage.
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Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
What you see in the breakdown is what you pay — no surprise charges added at the desk.
Documents, payment and deposit
UAE rental rules are strict but transparent. Sort out your documents and payment in advance, and the handover will be smooth.
Documents you need
Your passport, your domestic driving licence and, in most cases, an International Driving Permit (IDP). EU/UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand licences are accepted by some partners, but an IDP removes any doubt. UAE residents also need an Emirates ID.
A guest from Edinburgh swore he had hired a car here ten times without an IDP. Rules have tightened — today most partners will not hand over the keys without it.
How to pay
Visa, Mastercard and American Express all work, along with contactless payments and cash in US dollars or dirhams. Paying the rental in cash on arrival is often the cleanest option — clearer terms, no card-decline risk.
Pick a deposit-free tariff and pay in dirhams at handover. The simplest setup for visitors from anywhere in Europe.
Deposit
Three options: no deposit at all, a flat sum from around $190 in cash or by transfer, or a card pre-authorisation. Card holds are released within approximately 25 days of return.
Age and experience
Economy and mid-size cars are released from age 21 with one year on the licence. Premium and luxury vehicles require drivers aged 25+ with five to six years of driving experience — a condition set by insurers, not by us.
Routes, parking and what to know on the road
Renting a car in the UAE lets you cover several emirates in one trip rather than relying on coach excursions.
Freedom of movement
You are free to drive anywhere in the country, as long as you stay on tarmac.
A couple covered Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman in a single weekend — distances are short and the roads are empty if you pick the right time of day.
Top day trips
Dubai → Abu Dhabi: 140 km, 1.5 hours along Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai → Hatta: mountain enclave with a kayaking lake, ~1.5 hours. Dubai → Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah: the UAE's highest peak (1,934 m) and the world's longest zipline, ~1 h 45 min. A neat one-week plan — two days in Dubai, one in Abu Dhabi, one in Sharjah, and a final stop in Ras Al Khaimah.
Desert and safari
Off-road driving in a hire car is not allowed, even in 4x4s. For a desert safari, book a dedicated tour with an experienced driver — safer, and usually a better set of photos.
Immaculate motorways meet real dunes within an hour of the centre. You just need to go there with people who specialise in it.
Parking and the heat
Dubai has plenty of paid zones — Dubai Mall is a good option: free for up to four hours, with over 7,000 spaces. Abu Dhabi uses Mawaqif: $0.50–1/hour, free on Fridays and holidays. In summer, avoid black cars: the cabin turns into an oven after two hours in the sun.
Rates in the UAE vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in the UAE: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across UAE not included.
Frequently asked questions about car hire in the UAE
Some of our UAE partners do not require a deposit, either on a card or in cash. Others require a fixed amount starting at around $190, payable in cash or by bank transfer, or place a standard hold on a credit card. Card pre-authorisations are usually released within 25 days after you return the car.
Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards issued by many international banks are generally accepted, including contactless payments. You can also pay cash in UAE dirhams or US dollars where the supplier permits it. If fines or tolls are charged after the trip, the supplier normally sends an online payment link that accepts the same cards.
Most partners ask for an IDP alongside your domestic licence, even if you hold an EU/UK or US one. Bring both in paper form and carry them with your passport in the car at all times — police checks do happen on the major routes.
The minimum age for economy and mid-size cars is usually 21, with at least one year of driving experience. Premium, sports and luxury cars generally require drivers to be 25 or over and to have held a licence for five to six years. These limits are set by the insurers.
Most UAE partners include 250 km per day. The allowance is calculated across the entire rental, so a 10-day booking includes 2,500 km. Additional kilometres cost around $0.55–0.80 each. The standard allowance is usually sufficient for sightseeing within the UAE.
Salik is the electronic toll system in Dubai — no barriers, just gantries with cameras. Each crossing costs $1 (4 AED) and is automatically debited from the rental account. Abu Dhabi runs an equivalent system called Darb. You see all charges and settle them either at car return or via an email link.
If a traffic fine or Salik charge is received after you return home, the supplier will email you the amount and a secure payment link. The link usually accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. You can then settle the charge online without visiting an office or arranging an international bank transfer.
Yes. You may drive between the emirates as long as you remain on permitted paved roads. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are connected by Sheikh Zayed Road and are about 1.5 hours apart in normal traffic. Sharjah and Ajman are 30–60 minutes from Dubai. Be aware of Salik tolls in Dubai and Darb charges in Abu Dhabi.
Most UAE rental partners do not permit cross-border travel to Oman or Saudi Arabia because the insurance is not valid outside the UAE. If your itinerary includes Oman, return the UAE rental car before crossing the border and arrange a separate rental in Oman.
No. Off-road and dune driving are excluded from rental insurance, even when the car is a 4×4. For a desert safari in Liwa or near Dubai, book an organised tour with a properly equipped vehicle and experienced driver.
Prices are generally lowest from April to August, when visitor numbers are lower and temperatures often exceed 40°C. The high season runs from September to March, with the busiest period between December and February and during the Dubai Shopping Festival. Book one to two months ahead for school holidays; last-minute offers are more common in summer.
A child seat is required for children under four, and the front seat is off limits to anyone under ten. Seat hire is roughly $8–14 per day, with boosters slightly cheaper. Mention your child's age and height when booking so the partner has the right model ready at handover.
Yes. One-way rentals are available between Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ) and Ras Al Khaimah. The fee is usually $30–80, depending on the route, and can be convenient if your arrival and departure airports are different. Some rates include a free one-way return, so confirm the terms when booking.
Card pre-authorisations are generally released within 25 days after the rental ends. Cash deposits are returned in cash, while deposits paid by bank transfer are returned to the original account. The supplier should provide an itemised record of any deductions for Salik tolls, fines or other fees.
Contact the rental manager as soon as your flight changes. They can usually move the collection time to match your new arrival, although substantial changes may affect the price or availability. The same applies to changes to your departure flight. Returning the car early is normally possible, but does not necessarily result in a refund for unused time.