Dubai car hires from $20

Most tourists will require an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to drive in the UAE – this is issued in your country of residence prior to departure. Anyone with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) passport – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – as well as those from the UK, US and Canada don’t need an IDP, as they’re able to use the driver’s license issued by their country of origin.

If you’re planning on driving out of the UAE to another country, Oman for instance, be sure to check that the rental company is aware of that. You’ll need additional paperwork and insurance. Be sure to do your homework, know your plans and ask around, because quite a lot of companies don’t actually allow it at all.

You must be aged 21 or above to hire a car in Dubai and your license should be at least a couple of years past the issue date. You may be asked to supply proof of entry to the country, for example your visa stamp, which they’ll likely photocopy, and most times you’ll be required to pay with a credit card.

Most rental vehicles in Dubai are automatic, as stick shift can prove a bit too challenging for anyone who perhaps doesn’t drive on the same side of the road at home or is new to driving in the Middle East.

Size-wise, there really is a vehicle to suit all drivers, and the good news is that most of the cars are relatively new with not a lot of miles on the clock, so you could do as I have done and hire a vehicle you may be interested in purchasing in your home country, and try it out.

From experience, my advice is that you’re better off in a bigger SUV type of vehicle than a small, sedan runabout. The reason I say this is because there is an unwritten road hierarchy scheme in the UAE. If you’re driving around in a Nissan Sunny, for example, you may be more susceptible to tailgating and beeping, more so than if you are in a bigger vehicle, like a Kia Sportage or a Toyota ASX. These kinds of vehicles will give you more presence on the road, especially among the weaving Jeeps, Prados and G-Wagons the locals drive. From a safety perspective, four-wheel-drives have a more solid frame and are therefore safer if you’re involved in any kind of traffic accident.

All the major rental car companies have counters within all three terminals at Dubai International Airport (DXB), and although there are offices right across the city, it is more convenient to be able to walk right up and organize a rental on the spot.

The desks are all lined up one after the other, so you can’t miss them as you walk through arrivals.

Pre-booking the vehicle you know you want is a good idea, although it’s not usually a problem if you haven’t pre-arranged one, as there are generally plenty to go around. It’s wise to do your homework in advance if you know you want to hire a car, as there are websites that will compare prices and find you the best deal.

Most hire companies have no problem with you venturing into other emirates, like Ras Al Khaimah in the north or Abu Dhabi in the south, but it is best to tell them your plans as there may be mileage restrictions and additional fees per mile outside of those that apply.

Generally, the average number of miles included in a contract is between 124 and 155 per day – it can be less for what they call premium vehicles.

Off-road driving is not part of any rental agreement, so if you want to do that, stick with a tour company – they know what they’re doing and how to handle the desert conditions best – you don’t want to break your rental contract.

Make sure you drive within the Emirates’ borders – there is plenty to see here without needing to venture abroad and, besides, you can save that for another trip!

UAE law states that all rental vehicle agreements include Third Party Liability (TPL) insurance. This covers injury and damage that may be caused to other drivers, passengers and vehicles in the case of an accident that is deemed your fault.

It’s not uncommon for many of the rental companies to also request a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which covers any damage to the vehicle, but does not cover personal injury to you as a result of an accident. It’s also worth noting that it usually doesn’t cover things like the roof, windshields, tires or the vehicle’s undercarriage.

You can opt for a Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), which is obviously more expensive and covers everything above the deposit. Then there is the Full Insurance option (about AED 91-110 per day), which includes personal injury insurance and roadside assistance, but still requires a deposit.

Rental vehicle excess is often included in comprehensive travel insurance policies and provides injury cover, but global travel insurance companies will usually only allow you to claim expenses if you have the necessary agreement in place with the hire company and can prove you haven’t acted recklessly if there’s an incident.

Most hire companies in Dubai will require a deposit of some sort to cover any loss or damage to the vehicle while it is in your care. You will get this back should the car be returned in the same condition you received it in. Luxury cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis often require a much heftier deposit, in line with their value. Expect to fork out anywhere between AED 918 – 312 for a standard vehicle, and between AED 4957 and AED 10,099 for a supercar.

There are several toll points across Dubai and a couple in neighboring Abu Dhabi. All of them are signposted with red and white Salik signs. All rental vehicles are fitted out with toll tags, which register when you drive through them – the chargeable amount is added to your rental account and you’ll fix the company up for those when you pay your final bill. Abu Dhabi’s gates are different in that you are only charged tolls during peak times – between 6.30am-9am and from 4.30pm-7pm during the working week, which is now Monday to Friday. Rental companies generally add an extra dirham, so keep that in mind when checking your final rental ledger.

Any fines you acquire will be listed with the rental company and, again, you will be given a rundown of these when you return the vehicle at the end of the rental period.

The road network is well designed here, but can be a little confusing at times. As with any destination, you need to verse yourself in the road rules before hitting the highway.

Driving is on the right. This should be no problem for American travelers, but for those from Australia and the UK it will require a side switch, not to mention, double the concentration.

And it’s kilometers, not miles, per hour. If you’re used to miles per hour, you’ll need to adjust to kilometers per hour as that’s what the signage signifies.

Be aware of minimum and maximum speed zones. You shouldn’t go any slower than 60km/hour on busy highways; that is as dangerous as going too fast and you must remain in the slow lane. Maximum limits are generally 120km/hr but on some motorways outside of the city, they can be as fast as 140km/hr. Generally, speeds range from 40km/hr to 100km/hr, depending on where you are in the city.

Speed cameras are everywhere. Even if you can’t see them, they’re there. The UAE is serious about road safety and fines can be eye-watering, so make sure you remain within the assigned limit and move over safely if you need to.

Watch out for road hazards. Not so much on the major freeways, but this is the desert and there have been occasions when camels, gazelle and goats have wandered onto the road. On busier stretches, sometimes debris from another car can become airborne at speed or a rickety truck might pull out of the slow lane without looking, so just have your wits about you and try to avoid any kind of distraction while you’re driving.

Drinking and driving, no way. Alcohol is illegal in the UAE, which means there is no legal amount of liquor allowed on your breath. Fines can be as much as AED 25,000 and you could face jail time.

Seatbelts are mandatory. All passengers must be restrained and no one under the age of 10 can sit in the front passenger seat. Fines start from AED 400 per person.

Avoid rush hour where you can. The roads are the busiest between 6.30am-9am and 4.30pm-7pm with commuters and school buses moving around.

Waze is a lifesaver. The navigation app got me through my time as a road-using UAE expat. You can download it through Google Play or the App store and it is up to date and accurate, but just be aware of international data fees.

Parking is reasonably easy to come by here, except for some areas like Bur Dubai and Deira, where it can prove challenging.

When it’s busy or there is an event on you may need to drive around for a bit, but most of the time you’ll eventually find a parking spot.

All the major shopping malls have huge parking stations – most of them even dedicate some spots specifically for female drivers. Most of the major city attractions have their own parking lots, and hotels will often valet park your car for free if you’re there for dinner, lunch or brunch.

Many of the asphalt parking areas charge an hourly fee – this is posted on the pay machines which are dispersed throughout the lots. Public parking is free on Sundays and public holidays.

You can pay cash at a parking machine, or you can pay with a prepaid Nol public transport card (available at Carrefour, Lulu or Waitrose supermarkets), or you can pay using an app on your mobile phone. SMS parking prompts you when your parking is close to expiring, allowing you the option of topping it up without having to return to the car to do so, which is handy during the summer.

In some parts of the emirate, like Jumeirah Beach, parking machines are not available and you will need to pay at a fixed kiosk; signage is self-explanatory.

There are plenty of gas stations right across the Emirates – Adnoc is the most common you’ll see.

It is possible to pump your own gas in Dubai, but most drivers prefer the station hands to do it for them in return for a small cash tip (usually rounded up). Fuel is much cheaper here than in many of the country’s tourists travel from – it is an oil nation after all!

Most vehicles take Special, Super or Diesel fuel. Make sure you know when you pick your rental car what your particular vehicle takes – you won’t want to do what I had to do once and get the fuel tank flushed out by a mechanic because you pumped the wrong fuel into a friend’s Jaguar.

You should make a note too of what side of the car the pump is on and how to open the flap. There’s nothing worse than being at the front of the fuel queue and not being ready.

There are times in the UAE that fog, desert storms and even rain can wreak havoc on the roads, lowering visibility and rattling drivers.

The winter months can be particularly challenging – while it’s the most comfortable weather wise, conditions can be unpredictable. Between September and February, the UAE does experience downpours and thunderstorms, and this can lead to flash-flooding. As it only rains here on average about 25 days a year, when it does come down, it throws traffic into chaos.

From November through to March, heavy fog rolls in, again causing traffic delays as it is suggested everyone slow down on motorways until it clears about 11am. Sand storms are also challenging for motorists, and these are usually experienced during spring and summer. Not only do they whip sand across the road and reduce visibility, the ‘shamals,’ as they’re known locally, can make the roads sandy and slippery, so drive with care.