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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.
Kia K5 in the UAE
everything is good, went well too, there was only one nuance that the cars were not brought to the hotel, as agreed, and had to go to pick up themselves, otherwise all ok 👍 thank you!
Mitsubishi Attrage in the UAE
Wonderful service! Amazing car! . The only problem was to find the solution to pay toll-free roads one month later from Russia as no cards are accepted abroad.
Mazda CX-30 in the UAE
Everything went fine, CX-30 was gone, issued a new CX-5, took it back with no problems. No deposit required, all terms and conditions were as on the website. Would recommend to everyone. Thank you so much!
Suzuki Ciaz in the UAE
The rental itself went well. The car is in good condition. Everything went smoothly. Fast delivery. On time delivery as agreed. The only thing is that this time the car was rented not prepared. The only thing the guy who rented the car said was: oh, they probably didn't have time to wash it....
Toyota Highlander Hybrid in the UAE
You failed with the Toyota. You suggested the VW Teramont. Thank you, it went great!
Volkswagen T-Roc in the UAE
It was a good experience 👍
Mitsubishi Attrage in the UAE
a car of a higher class arrived, Mitsubishi Ellipse cross)) thank you for this update. The guys were all polite, no problems. Next time I will definitely contact your company 👍
Nissan Sunny in the UAE
Everything went well, everything was fine, everything was arranged, thank you!
Hyundai Elantra in the UAE
I had to wait a bit for the delivery of the car, the car is in good condition, same class, but different brand. There are difficulties with the return of the deposit, they can not transfer it back.
Hyundai Tucson in the UAE
Everything went great, thank you so much, the car is new, gorgeous, great price.
Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabrio in the UAE
In general, getting the car is easy, the car as in the order, no deposit. Minus, the car is tired, a lot of chips, scratches and the interior is grated. It is difficult to accept such a car.
Volkswagen Jetta in the UAE
Everything went fine, the only thing I didn't understand was that the deposit for 21 is blocked, it wasn't announced on the website. If I knew about it I wouldn't have waited for the rental company to return the car, I guess I could have left the keys in the car. And that we had to wait for them for about 30 minutes, and in the end it is not clear why. But in general everything is great
Renault Duster in the UAE
Everything is fine, the car is good, everything went well! Thank you!
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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.